PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION, PARTICULARLY DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, OF BEVERAGES

Abstract: A process for producing beverages, particularly for producing home-made mineral water (2), from an aqueous influent (3) of any composition, which process comprises stages consisting in: demineralizing the aqueous influent (3) by distillation; sterilizing the distillate (23) formed in the demineralizing stage; and remineralizing the distillate (23) by forming a solution of the same and a mineral additive (35) of predetermined composition. An apparatus (1) is also described for implementing the above process.

Description: PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION, PARTICULARLY DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, OF BEVERAGES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages, particularly mineral water of desired characteristics. BACKGROUND ART Certain beverages are known to be produced industrially from appropriately conditioned mineral wa¬ ter to which natural and/or synthetic flavourings are added, and also domestically using drinking water from the public mains. The drinking water supplied by the water mains normally presents a disagreeable taste due to the conditioning substances added to it, and not infrequently is also dangerous to the health by virtue of containing pollutant substances such as atrazine. The above problems are only partly solved by home-made drink making apparatuses, which are normally based on ion-exchange resins and filters. These, however, eventually lose their effectiveness, and may indeed harbour bacteria in the form of pollutants accumulated in the filters and resulting in the formation of stagnant pockets. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a process and apparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages, designed to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and which provides for both long-term reliability and troublefree, low-cost production. According to the present invention, there is provided a process for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages from an aqueous influent of any composition, characterized by the fact that it comprises stages consisting in: demineralizing said aqueous influent by distillation; sterilizing the distillate formed in said demineralizing stage; and remineralizing said distillate by forming a solution of the same and a mineral additive of a predetermined composition. According to the present invention, there is also provided an apparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages from an aqueous influent, characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination, a storage tank; an evaporator defined by a boiler of given volume and having heating means; a condenser connected to the distillate outlet of said boiler; a mixer; a collecting tank for said beverage; a hydraulic circuit for connecting said storage tank and said condenser and for cooling the same; and selectively activated hydraulic connecting means between said storage tank and said boiler, between said distillate outlet and said condenser, between said condenser and said mixer, and between said mixer and said collecting tank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.l shows a schematic view of an apparatus for producing beverages in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for producing beverages in accordance with the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Number 1 in Fig.l indicates, schematically, an apparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages 2 from an aqueous influent 3. According to the present invention, apparatus 1 comprises an influent storage tank 4 connected by an on-off valve 5 to a water supply 6, e.g. the public wa¬ ter mains. Via a circulating pump 9 and a device 11 for cooling beverage 2, a first pipe 7 connects storage tank 4 hydraulically to a boiler 8, and is controlled by a first on-off valve 12. A second branch pipe 13 upstream from valve 12 connects first pipe 7 hydraulically to the cooling circuit 14 of a condenser 15. Downstream from boiler 8, a third pipe 16 with a second on-off valve 18 connects boiler 8 hydraulically to condenser 15. According to the present invention, downstream from condenser 15, a fourth pipe 21 is provided with a three-way valve 22 for selectively feeding the condensa¬ te 23 from condenser 15 to a storage vessel 24 and from there to a drain tank 25, and to a mixer 26 via a filter 27, in this case an active-carbon type. Downstream from mixer 26, a collecting tank 28 with a tap 29 is provided for collecting and dispensing beverage 2, and is cooled by device 11, in this case a Peltier-effect device connected to first pipe 7 and having a temperature sensor 39f. According to the present invention, a fifth branch pipe 31 upstream from filter 27 is provided for feeding part of condensate 23 in fourth pipe 21 from condenser 15 to a respective tank 32 for collecting and dispensing distilled water 33. Mixer 26 presents a dispenser 34 for soluble tablets 35 having a predetermined mineral composition, and with which to remineralize condensate 23 from condenser 15 and filter 27, and produce beverage 2. Apparatus 1 is conveniently equipped, in the Fig.l example, with a control system 36 for controlling the various operations in the process for producing beverage 2. Control system 36 is a microprocessor type, and presents respective registers 37 in which the minimum and maximum performance times of the various operations for producing beverage 2 are stored; and a data input board 38 having a known counter (not shown) for controlling the performance time of the various operations in the process, and connected by respective cables 30 (shown by the dotted lines in Fig.l) to a number of sensors 39 on, and for controlling the respective operating parameters of, the various component elements of apparatus 1. Control system 36 also presents an output board 40 for controlling the various actuators on apparatus 1, such as valves 5, 18 and 22, pump 9, mixer 26, cooling device 11, etc., on the basis of information received from sensors 39 via board 38 and processed by a known microprocessor (not shown) on system 36 according to a given program stored in a known memory area (not shown) on system 36. According to the present invention, system 36 may conveniently be provided with a known console and screen (not shown) for displaying normal operating messages, and also alarms relative to malfunctioning of apparatus 1. According to the present invention, the process for producing beverage 2 substantially comprises a first stage wherein aqueous influent 3 is demineralized by distillation. In this first stage, aqueous influent 3 is withdrawn by pump 9 from storage tank 4, and a first part of a first fraction 42 of influent 3 is fed, by opening valve 12, to boiler 8 for washing the boiler, and is drained into tank 25 by opening a second valve 43 connecting the bottom of tank 8 to drain tank 25 along a pipe 41. Valve 43 is then closed and boiler 8 filled with a second part of first fraction 42 of influent 3, as indicated by a level sensor 39a; valve 18 on top of boi¬ ler 8 is closed; and, by means of a resistor 46, the second part of first fraction 42 of influent 3 inside boiler 8 is heated under pressure to a predetermined temperature controlled by temperature sensor 39b (which may be replaced by a pressure sensor for detecting a given overpressure) . On reaching said predetermined temperature, the heating is cut off, and boiler 8 maintained for a given length of time at above atmospheric pressure to completely sterilize said second part of first fraction 42 inside boiler 8. At this point, valve 18 downstream from boiler 8 is opened, and overhead is drained along pipe 16 into condenser 15 and via pipe 21 and three-way valve 22 into storage vessel 24. When this is full, as indicated by level sensor 39d, system 36 opens a fourth on-off valve 52 along pipe 52a between storage vessel 24 and drain tank 25, so as to drain overhead 51 into tank 25, which is fitted with a level sensor 39c for indicating when it is full. Condenser 15 is cooled by continuously feeding a second fraction 47 of aqueous influent 3 (along branch pip® 13) into cooling circuit 14, which second fraction 47 is then fed back into storage tank 4, the heat capacity of which is high enough to act as a disperser and so substantially restore second fraction 47 of influent 3 to its original temperature. Level sensor 39d in vessel 24 also informs system 36 when all of overhead 51 has been drained off. On receiving said signal, system 36 feeds conden¬ sate 23 through three-way valve 22 and active-carbon filter 27 to a device 48 for remineralizing and collecting beverage 2, and consisting of mixer 26 and collecting tank 28, where condensate 23 may conveniently be remineralized by dissolving a tablet 35 from dispenser 34. The remaining distillate in boiler 8 is drained off along pipe 41 (by opening valve 43) . Mixer 26 also presents a level sensor 39e for controlling the volume of condensate 23 inside the mixer, and for supplying system 36 with an input signal for releasing tablets 35. According to the variation shown in Fig.2, wherein any parts similar or identical to those already described are indicated using the same numbering system, mixer 26 may conveniently be fitted with a number of dispensers 34 for soluble tablets 35, each having a predetermined mineral composition, possibly differing from the others, and with or without natural or synthetic flavourings for producing, with the same apparatus 1, a number of different beverages 2 catering to a wide range of different tastes. In this particular embodiment, collecting tank 28 provides for directly collecting condensate 23 from filter 27, and is connected hydraulically upstream from mixer 26, which presents a tap 29 for beverage 2 and may conveniently be fitted with a device (54) for charging beverage 2 with gas. In this embodiment, therefore, con¬ densate 23 from filter 27 is collected directly inside cooled tank 28, and is fed as required into mixer 26 for preparing and dispensing the required beverage, thus enabling a wide range of different beverages to be produced on the same apparatus. The advantages of the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. In particular, apparatus 1 provides for producing, even domestically, a wide range of water-based beverages (from drinking wa¬ ter, such as fizzy or natural mineral water, to soft drinks, such as orangeade, etc.) at a lower cost as compared with currently marketed beverages. Moreover, apparatus 1 is extremely versatile and reliable, 'by virtue of providing for troublefree, low-cost changeover from one beverage to another, by simply changing the tablet inside the dispenser. To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to the apparatus as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, tank 4 need not necessarily be connected directly to water mains 6, but may be topped up each time in batch manner, e.g. manually using a bucket or jug, and with mains or well water. Similarly, tank 25 may be drained manually or by means of a pipe.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) A process for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages (2) from an aqueous influent (3) of any composition, characterized by the fact that it comprises stages consisting in: demineralizing said aqueous influent (3) by distillation; - sterilizing the distillate (23) formed in said demineralizing stage; and remineralizing said distillate (23) by forming a solution of the same and a mineral additive (35) of a predetermined composition. 2) A process as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by the fact that said distillate (23) is formed by removing respective overhead and bottom products of said distillation. 3) A process as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said sterilizing stage is performed by means of heat during distillation of said influent (3) ; said distillation being performed at least partially at above atmospheric pressure. 4) A process as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by the fact that a first fraction (42) of said aqueous influent (3) is distilled, while a second fraction (47) of said aqueous influent (3) is circulated for cooling the condenser (15) of said distillate (23) . 5) A process as claimed in Claim 4, characterized by the fact that said aqueous influent (3) is stored in a tank (4) from which it is withdrawn by a pump (9) and divided into said first (42) and second (47) fractions; said second fraction (47) being fed back into said storage tank (4) after being fed into said condenser (15) ; and said storage tank (4) being of such a volume as to present a high heat capacity enabling the storage tank (4) to act as a heat disperser. 6) A process as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by the fact that said stages are performed discontinuously and controlled by a processing unit (36) , which provides for: - withdrawing said aqueous influent (3) from a storage tank (4) ; feeding a first part (41) of a first fraction (42) of said aqueous influent (3) into a boiler, by opening a first valve (12) , for washing the boiler (8) , and subsequently draining said first part (41) of said first fraction (42) into a drain tank (25) via a second valve (43); closing said second valve (43) and filling the boiler (8) to a predetermined level with a second part (44) of said first fraction (42) of the influent (3) ; - closing a third valve (18) on top of the boiler (8) , and heating said second part (44) of said fraction (42) inside the boiler (8) so as to pressurize the boi¬ ler (8) ; cutting off the heating and maintaining the pressure inside the boiler (8) long enough to sterilize said second part (44) of said first fraction (42) of the influent (3) ; 5 - opening said third valve (18) , draining the overhead into a condenser (15) , and, via a fourth valve (22) downstream from the condenser (15) , feeding said overhead into said drain tank (25) via a storage vessel (24) of given volume located upstream from the drain 0 tank (25) ; feeding the distillate (23) from the condenser (15) through an active-carbon filter (27) and to a de¬ vice (48) for remineralizing and collecting the beverage (2). 5 7) A process as claimed in Claim 6, characterized by the fact that, in said remineralizing and collecting device (48) , a mixer (26) is filled to a predetermined level with the distillate (23) ; at least one soluble tablet (35) with a predetermined mineral composition is o fed into the mixer (26) ; and the mixer (26) is then activated to fully dissolve said tablet (35) and so obtain the distillate of said beverage (2) ; the device (48) presenting cooling means (11) and at least one tap (29) for withdrawing said beverage (2) at a 5 predetermined temperature. 8) An apparatus (1) for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages (2) from an aqueous influent (3), characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination, a storage tank (4) ; an evaporator defined by a boiler (8) of given volume and having heating means (46); a condenser (15) connected to the distillate outlet of said boiler (8) ; a mixer (26) ; a collecting tank (28) for said beverage (2) ; a hydraulic circuit (7) for connecting said storage tank (4) and said condenser (15) and for cooling the same; and selectively activated hydraulic connecting means (12) between said storage tank (4) and said boiler (8) , between said distillate outlet and said condenser (15) , between said condenser (15) and said mixer (26) , and between said mixer (26) and said collecting tank (28) . 9) An apparatus (1) as claimed in Claim 8, characterized by the fact that it comprises a control system (36) ; a first pipe (7) hydraulically connecting said storage tank (4) and said boiler (8) via a device (11) for cooling said beverage (2) and via a regulating valve (12) ; a second branch pipe (13) hydraulically connecting said first pipe (7) to a circuit (14) for cooling said condenser (15) ; a third pipe (16) located downstream from said boiler (8) and fitted with a valve (18) hydraulically connecting said boiler (8) to said condenser (15); and a fourth pipe (21) located downstream from said condenser (15) and fitted with a three-way valve (22) for selectively feeding the conden¬ sate (23) to collecting and drain means (24, 25) and to said mixer (26) via an active-carbon filter (27) . 10) An apparatus (1) as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that said collecting tank (28) is cooled by a cooling device (11) connected to said hydraulic circuit (7) . 11) An apparatus (1) as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, characterized by the fact that it comprises a fifth branch pipe (31) upstream from said filter (27) , for feeding part of the distillate (23) , coming from said condenser (15) along said fourth pipe (21) , to a respective tank (32) for collecting and distributing distilled water (33). 12) An apparatus (1) as claimed in Claim 11, characterized by the fact that said mixer (26) presents a dispenser (34) for soluble tablets (35) having a predetermined mineral composition and with which to mineralize said distillate (23) . 13) An apparatus (1) as claimed in Claim 11, characterized by the fact that said mixer (26) presents a number of dispensers (34) for soluble tablets (35) having a predetermined mineral composition; each dispenser (34) containing tablets (35) of a different composition and possibly containing natural or synthetic flavourings. 14) An apparatus (1) as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 8 to 13, characterized by the fact that it comprises a tap (29) on said collecting tank (2-8) or said mixer (26) ; and a device (54) for charging said beverage (2) with gas as it is drawn off from said tap (29). 15) A process and apparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages from an aqueous influent, substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: PIRONE BRUNO, PIRONE, BRUNO
Applicants: PIRONE BRUNO, PIRONE, BRUNO
Application year: 1993
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: B01D3, C02F1