Abstract:
The present invention pertains to the technological field of apparatuses for making beverages as defined in class A47J of the international patent classification (IPC). Problem to be solved: Traditionally, the access for servicing or removal to the liquid volume storage tank of an apparatus for making beverages having a liquid volume storage tank is limited and difficult. Solution to the problem: An apparatus for making beverages includes a liquid volume storage tank, the liquid volume storage tank being accessed through small detachable portions provided in the external body and in the thermal conservation means.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for making beverages, and more particularly an apparatus for making beverages provided with at least one liquid-volume storage tank. According to the invention in question, the liquid volume storage tank further has thermal storage characteristics, enabling the liquid volume to be kept hot or cold. 
         [0002]    Generally, the core of the invention concerns the means of access to the liquid volume storage tank, which is enclosed within the carafe of the beverage apparatus. Said liquid volume storage tank access means permits the maintenance and/or removal of said tank without it being necessary to disassemble the entire casing of the apparatus for making beverages. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As known to those skilled in the art, the present state of the art comprises a multitude of designs and constructions of beverage making apparatus or beverage dispensing apparatus. 
         [0004]    The vast majority of these apparatus, especially those skilled in the preparation of beverages, comprise at least one liquid volume storage tank, where, as a rule, water is stored. In this sense, it is common for water to be stored under conditions suitable for the preparation of the beverage, that is, in apparatus for the preparation of hot beverages, it is normal for water to be stored at high temperature, and in apparatus for preparing cold beverages is normal Stored at low temperatures. 
         [0005]    Thus, it is common for, regardless of the water heating or cooling medium, the liquid volume storage tank of the apparatus for making (or simply dispensing) beverages is also associated with a thermal preservation medium, i.e. means capable of maintaining or prolonging the temperature of the liquid volume. 
         [0006]    Among these thermal preservation media are the active media (electric resistance, Peltier pellets, among others) and passive media (thermal blanket, expanded polystyrene coating, among others). 
         [0007]    With respect to apparatus for making (or simply dispensing) beverages provided with a liquid storage tank and a thermal storage medium, it is to be noted that the assembly formed by the storage tank of liquid volume and passive medium of are arranged in the interior of the housing of the beverage apparatus and in particular are arranged so as to use the smallest possible physical volume and in order to provide for other systems and/or equipment housed around it. 
         [0008]    This means that, basically, the access—for removal or maintenance—of liquid storage tank is too complicated, requiring, at a minimum, the dismantling of the whole casing of the apparatus for making beverages and, in the worst case, the dismantling of the whole casing of the apparatus for making beverages and other systems and/or equipment arranged on the under said storage tank of liquid volume. 
         [0009]    In this regard, it is possible to state that the current embodiments of apparatus for making beverages do not privilege the maintenance thereof and, more specifically, do not privilege the maintenance and access to the liquid volume storage tank. It is from this scenario that the invention in question arises. 
       OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to disclose a beverage dispensing apparatus provided with a liquid volume storage tank consubstantiated by easy access to said liquid volume storage tank. 
         [0011]    In particular, it is an object of the invention in question that, even if there is an assembly formed by a liquid volume storage tank and a passive thermal storage means enclosed within the housing of the beverage making apparatus, it is easy access to said liquid volume storage tank. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it is intended that the removal and/or maintenance of the liquid volume storage tank may be performed without making it necessary to fully disassemble the housing of the beverage apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The above-mentioned objects are achieved by means of the invention on-screen, which discloses an apparatus for making beverages provided with a liquid-volume storage tank which, comprising at least one outer casing, at least one liquid-volume storage tank And at least one thermal storage medium comprises easy access to said liquid volume storage tank. 
         [0014]    According to the invention in question, the liquid volume storage tank and the thermal storage medium are disposed within the outer casing, and, in addition, the liquid volume storage tank is substantially enclosed by the thermal conservation storage medium. 
         [0015]    In general terms, the invention in question is highlighted in that the outer casing comprises at least one detachable portion and the thermal preservation means comprises at least one detachable portion, both portions being detachable (the detachable portion of the Outer casing and the detachable portion of the thermal preservation medium) disposed aligned with each other and aligned relative to the position of the liquid volume storage tank. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The preferred embodiment of the subject invention is detailed in detail on the basis of the following figures, which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows schematically the interior of the beverage dispensing apparatus according to the invention in question; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  schematically shows the lower portion of the beverage dispensing apparatus according to the invention in question; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show, in perspective, the assembly formed by the liquid volume storage tank and heat conservation passive means; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows, in exploded perspective, the assembly formed by the liquid volume storage tank and heat conservation passive means; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate, schematically and exploded, the apparatus for making beverage according to the invention in question. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]      FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7  illustrate the preferred embodiment of the subject invention. 
         [0023]    As will be appreciated, and in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, there is disclosed an apparatus for making beverages, which may comprise a simple water purifier known to those skilled in the art, or an apparatus Which, in addition to comprising water purification and dispensing systems, further provides at least one skilled means of preparing beverages based on external flavoring means, for example, an espresso machine, an ice-cream machine (refrigerators), or a conjugated machine capable of making espresso (and other hot drinks) and iced beverages (soft drinks and others). 
         [0024]    However, irrespective of the purpose of the beverage dispensing apparatus, that is, irrespective of the type of beverage to be prepared, filtered and finally dispensed, it is the sole prerogative that it is composed of at least one beverage tank. Storage of liquid volume, which can be stored to store cold water, hot water, water at natural temperature, ready-to-drink beverages at high temperature, low temperature ready beverages, and other non-exhaustive options of related liquids in one form or another, With the beverage to be prepared/filtered/dispensed. 
         [0025]    Thus, it is to be noted that among the system and elements not shown as not incorporating the core of the invention in question, the apparatus for making beverages heretofore disclosed comprises an outer casing  1 , a liquid-volume storage tank  2  and a liquid thermal storage medium  3  dedicated to said liquid volume storage tank  2 . 
         [0026]    In general terms, said outer casing  1  can be interpreted as the chassis/cabinet of the beverage making apparatus, that is, it can be interpreted as the body which, in addition to structural function, defines the external portion of the apparatus for making drinks. In the illustrative figures, only the lower portion of the outer casing  1  is shown, which can be split. 
         [0027]    The liquid volume storage tank  2 , in brief, comprises a simple tank arranged to contain, in its internal space, a certain amount of liquid. Thus, it can be inferred that the liquid volume storage tank  2  comprises a closed chamber type provided with at least one liquid inlet pipe and at least one liquid outlet pipe. 
         [0028]    The thermal storage medium  3  (in particular, thermal storage medium) in turn comprises—in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention—a tripartite body (composed of a central portion  31 , an upper portion  32  and a lower portion  33 ) of expanded polystyrene or the like, molded according to the external shape of the liquid volume storage tank  2 . It is to be emphasized that said tripartite body, which could be split, can be made in any Material that has thermal insulation properties. 
         [0029]    Until then, the existence of beverage makers composed of an outer casing  1 , a liquid volume storage tank  2  and a thermal storage medium  3  is normal and widely contemplated in the present state of the art. 
         [0030]    In addition, it is normal for the liquid volume storage tank  2  and the thermal storage medium  3  to be disposed within the outer casing  1  and in particular that the liquid volume storage tank  2  is substantially enveloped by the thermal conservation medium  3 . 
         [0031]    However, and as previously explained, according to the apparatus for making beverages provided for in the present state of the art, once the apparatus is mounted, it becomes difficult to access the liquid volume storage tank. 
         [0032]    It is in this respect that the present invention is highlighted. 
         [0033]    That is because the outer casing  1  comprises at least one detachable portion  11  and, in addition, the thermal preservation means  3  comprises at least one detachable portion  33 , said detachable portions being arranged in alignment with each other and aligned relative to the positioning of the Liquid storage tank  2 . 
         [0034]    Such construction enables, as best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , that the simple removal of the detachable portion  11  and detachable portion  33  enables direct access to the liquid volume storage tank  2 , without the need to disassemble the apparatus to make drinks. 
         [0035]    This allows said liquid volume storage tank  2  to be removed from the interior of the apparatus to make beverages—for replacement, maintenance or repair—without it being necessary to change the arrangement of other systems and internal elements. 
         [0036]    Preferably, both the detachable portion  11  and the detachable portion  33  are of a sizeable shape and size to enable the integral removal of the liquid volume storage tank  2 . However, this aspect is purely optional, and the invention in question could to provide a detachable portion  11  and a detachable portion  33  of minimal shape and size so as to provide access—still direct—restricted to some portion of particular interest of the liquid volume storage tank  2 , such as some drain portion or injection of cleaning fluid, for example. 
         [0037]    Preferably but never imitatively, the detachable portion  11  is disposed in the lower region of the outer casing  1  and, consequently, the detachable portion  33  comprises the lower portion of the thermal conservation means  3 ). 
         [0038]    It is to be emphasized that both the detachable portion  11  and the detachable portion  33  are reattachable in the beverage maker. Thus, upon replacement, maintenance or repair of the liquid volume storage tank  2 , the detachable portion  11  and the detachable portion  33  may—and should—be repositioned at their locations of origin. 
         [0039]    Accordingly, both the detachable portion  11  and the detachable portion  33  have attachment means. 
         [0040]    In the case of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the detachable portion  11  is secured to the outer casing  1  by means of screws, and the detachable portion  33  is secured to the thermal storage means  3  (especially to the intermediate portion  32  of the transfer medium  32 ). Thermal conservation  3 ) by means of interference fit. 
         [0041]    Once the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, it is important to make it clear that it does not limit the scope of the invention in question, which is in fact outlined in the appended claims, further including possible equivalent means.