Abstract:
An automatic dispenser of frothed milk and pre-made liquid coffee received from refrigerated milk and pre-made liquid coffee containers that selectively delivers cold and hot Italian-style coffees, such as, cappuccino, latte, espresso, and other. The refrigeration mechanism is based in Peltier effect and has a chamber to store the milk and pre-made liquid containers which are accessible to a user. The heating mechanism includes a hot water tank and cone-shaped heat exchanger assemblies to heat the frothed milk and pre-made liquid coffee, respectively. The milk and pre-made liquid coffee are drawn by two separate pumps through fluid conduits from the refrigerated containers to the air valves to be frothed. If a user selects hot beverage, the flow is directed to the heat exchanger and then discharged through a nozzle to a cap. If a user selects cold beverage, the flow is directed to the nozzle to be discharged to the consumer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an automatic dispenser of frothed milk and pre-made liquid coffee that delivers cold and/or hot Italian-style coffees, such as, cappuccino, latte, espresso, and others. And, more particularly to the type that includes refrigerated milk and pre-made liquid coffee supplies from which milk and liquid coffee are drawn, frothed and dispensed. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many coffee machines exist nowadays that brew coffee beverage with an incorporated system to froth milk and deliver the mix of frothed milk and brewed coffee in a final beverage called cappuccino, latte, etc. However, none of them discloses the features of the present invention. 
     The present invention discloses an automatic machine that operates with a pre-made liquid coffee alone or in combination with milk. As it occurs in a conventional commercial coffee/cappuccino maker, it is required a trained personnel to operate the machine and thus the quality of the brewed coffee beverage depends on the experience of the operator. The present invention overcomes this shortcoming as this machine does not use ground coffee beans neither pressurized hot water, but pre-made espresso coffee ready to be consumed. 
     Another advantage of this invention is that is portable. The disclosed machine herein does not need to be connected to a tap water supply as other commercial machines do when pre-heated water passes through coffee grounds to produce the desired coffee beverage. 
     Another advantage of this invention is that the machine includes a simple refrigeration mechanism to refrigerate liquid coffee and milk containers that operates at 12 Volts based in the well known Peltier effect. This is a simple mechanism that does not require, as in the conventional refrigeration mechanism, a compressor neither gas, thereby making the manufacturing production of the machine less costly. 
     Another novelty of this invention is the cone-shaped heat exchanger assembly that is automatically emptied by gravity for each service and includes a removable member that can be easily opened for cleaning and sanitation. This technical solution has been studied and developed to overcome any problem of milk deposits that are always difficult to clean when they are inside a conventional coil exchanger. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide an automatic dispenser that delivers cold or heated frothed milk and liquid pre-made coffee. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that is easy to operate thereby being accessible to any user. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that is practical and versatile permitting the selection of hot or cold milk and hot or cold coffee. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a machine that includes air inlet valves to selectively and independently froth the milk and coffee through their respective conduits. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that includes such a pump permitting the drawing of the liquids and emulsification of air and the milk, and in the same manner, air and the liquid coffee. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that does not need water supply except the water contained in the heating mechanism. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that includes a heating mechanism to heat the frothed milk and liquid coffee, respectively. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that has a compact structure and is volumetrically efficient to transport and store. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser that has such a heating mechanism permitting a user to easily and effectively clean the internal surfaces of the heating exchanger assemblies. 
     It is still an object of this invention to provide a dispenser that provides a simple refrigeration mechanism that operates at 12 volts to refrigerate coffee and milk containers. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a machine that is less costly to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of this invention will be brought out in the following part of the specifications, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view from the top of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the fluid flow from the coffee and milk supplies to the discharging point. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of this invention, taken along of line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of this invention, taken along line  4 — 4 . 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the preferred cone-shaped heating assembly. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the heating assembly shown in the FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational cross-sectional view of an alternate heating assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGS. 1,  3  and  4  thereof, it will be seen that the present invention referred to with numeral  10  basically includes housing  20  with refrigeration mechanism  30  and heating mechanism  40  and electrical actuating mechanism  50 . 
     Housing  20 , in the preferred embodiment, has side walls  21  and  21 ′, rear wall  22 , front walls  23 ,  23 ′ and  23 ″, top walls  24 ,  24 ′ and  24 ″, bottom wall  25  and hinged cover  26 . Hinged cover  26  allows a user to access milk and liquid coffee supplies M and C 1  and C 2 , respectively, which are located inside refrigeration chamber  31 . Housing  20  also includes drainboard  29  that is removably mounted to front wall  23 ″, as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     Liquid coffee supplies C 1  and C 2 , in the preferred embodiment, are liquid coffee ESPRE® manufactured by SOPRALCO S.R.L. at Via Roma Nord 151 Villa Poma Mantova Italy. 
     Refrigeration mechanism  30 , as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes refrigeration chamber  31  defined by lateral walls  32 ,  32 ′,  32 ″ and  32 ′″, bottom wall  33  and hinged cover  26 . Refrigeration chamber  31  is isolated with material A. Refrigeration mechanism  30 , in the preferred embodiment, is based in the well-known Peltier effect. Plate member  35  is made out of metal and includes elongated planar section  35 ′ and outwardly projected sections  35 ″ and  35 ′″. Elongated planar section  35 ′ is disposed along the width of wall  32 . Plate member  35  is connected to a 12 Volts electric transformer  27  that polarizes the former. Transformer  27  transforms the electrical power from 110 Volts (AC) to 12 Volts (DC). In this manner, elongated planar section  35 ′ turns cold and outwardly projected sections  35 ″ and  35 ′″ turn hot. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, plate member  35  is connected to lateral wall  32  thereby transmitting the temperature of the former to lateral wall  32  and thus to walls  32 ′,  32 ″,  32 ′″ and  33 . This effect generates a temperature inside refrigeration chamber  31  of approximately 3° C. (37° F.). Milk supply M and liquid coffee containers C 1  and C 2  are stored in refrigeration chamber  31 . Refrigeration mechanism  30  also includes fan members  36  and  37  that are positioned at a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to sections  35 ″ and  35 ′″. Fan members  36  and  37  are designed to cool heated sections  35 ″ and  35 ′″ of plate member  35 , as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Fan members  36  and  37  are mounted to rear wall  22  of housing  20 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the milk and coffee are drawn through suction pipes  11  and  12 , respectively. Suction pipes  11  and  12  are made out of stainless steel metal and also are designed to pierce milk and coffee supplies M and C 1  (the same apply to supply C 2 ). The uppermost section of pipe members  11  and  12  are connected to hose or flow conduit  13  and  14 , respectively. Alternatively, hose or flow conduit  13  and  14  may be inserted through the accessible opening of supplies M and C 1  without the need of pipes  11  and  12 . The adjournment of the milk and coffee flow will be described below. 
     Heating mechanism  40 , in the preferred embodiment, basically includes water tank  41  and heat exchanger assemblies  42  and  42 ′. Water tank  41  contains hot water heated by heating coil member  141  and is isolated with material B. Heat exchanger assemblies  42  and  42 ′ are positioned inside water tank  41 . Heat exchanger assemblies  42  and  42 ′ have a cone configuration. Heat exchanger assemblies  42  and  42 ′ are similar and are designed to heat milk and liquid coffee, respectively. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, heat exchanger assembly  42  includes removable member  43  and rigid member  44 . Member  43 , in the preferred embodiment, has even lateral wall  45  and top wall or cap  46 . Rigid member  44  has outer groove  47  that is outwardly projected with respect to wall  48 . Groove  47  has a C-shaped cross section. Groove  47  is disposed around and along member  44  forming a spiral. FIG. 6 illustrates cone-shaped members  43  and  44  assembled. Lateral wall  45  of removable member  43  and the internal surface of groove  47  define space  147  through which the milk (or liquid coffee in heat exchanger assembly  42 ′) flows while is heated. Top wall or cap  46  has flange  146  that is cooperatively placed over flange  144  of rigid member  44 . Member  44  also has tubular inlet  49  and tubular outlet  149 . Inlet  49  and outlet  149  are connected to member  44 , specifically, to the beginning and end of elongated groove  47 . 
     Side wall  21  of housing  20 , in the preferred embodiment, has thermostat  127  mounted thereto and is designed to control the temperature of the water in heating mechanism  40  below the boiling point. There is a minimum of evaporation of the water and therefore the refill of water tank  41  is needed only after several hours of use. 
     Electrical actuating mechanism  50 , in the preferred embodiment, includes a plurality of actuating buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  with respective micro switch members  51 ′,  52 ′,  53 ′ and  54 ′, and electrical pump members  60  and  60 ′. Actuating buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 , in the preferred embodiment, are mounted to front wall  23  and represent cold coffee, hot coffee, cold milk and hot milk, respectively. Pump members  60  and  60 ′ are similar and independently work for milk and coffee flow. Pumps  60  and  60 ′, in the preferred embodiment, work at 12 volts and are of the volumetric category and gear type with following technical characteristics: plastic material, direct current motor with brush collector and working voltage range 9-12 Volts. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram that explains the fluid flow in the present invention. Once a user actuates one of actuating buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  or  54 , respective micro switch member  51 ′,  52 ′,  53 ′ or  54 ′ is electrically activated, that in turn actuates pump  60  or  60 ′. Simultaneously, respective throttle valves  55 ,  56 ,  57  or  58  releases squeezed hose or flow conduit  15 ,  16 ,  17  or  18  thereby delivering the desired liquid. For example, if hot milk is desired, a user will actuate button  53  and pump  60  will draw cold milk from refrigerated milk supply M through probe  11  and hose  13 . Hose  13  is connected to air valve  62 . Air valve  62  draws air from the atmosphere and the air inflow is manually controlled by adjusting button  63 . Then, the milk injected with air is suctioned into pump  60  through hose  13 ′. Pump  60  has the dual function of emulsifying and directing the flow to heating mechanism  40  through hose  13 ″. Hose  13 ″ is connected to tri-phased connector  19 . Connector  19  connects hose  13 ″ with hoses  15  and  16 . When button  53  is actuated, flow travels through hose  16 , which was previously squeezed, and then to inlet  49  of heat exchanger  42 . Upon passage through heat exchanger assembly  42 , the frothed milk is heated to the temperature set in thermostat  127 . Finally, the hot frothed milk is discharged through nozzle  28  to cap P. Nozzle  28  rotates in that manner that a user can fit cap P of different sizes in the space defined by nozzle  28  and drainboard  29 . 
     If hot coffee is desired, a user will actuate button  52  and pump  60 ′ will draw cold coffee from refrigerated coffee supply C 1  or C 2  through probe  12  and hose  14 . Hose  14  is connected to air valve  62 ′ with adjusting button  63 ′. Then, the coffee injected with air is suctioned into pump  60 ′ through hose  14 ′. Emulsified flow leaves pump  60 ′ through hose  14 ″. Hose  14 ″ is connected to tri-phased connector  19 ′. Connector  19 ′ connects hose  14 ″ with hoses  17  and  18 . When button  52  is actuated, flow travels through hose  17 , which was previously squeezed, and then to inlet  49 ′ of heat exchanger  42 ′. Finally, the hot frothed coffee is discharged through nozzle  28 ′ to cap P. 
     In the event a user desires to consume cold frothed coffee alone or with milk, buttons  51  and/or  54  are actuated. The drawn milk and/or coffee, flow as above described up to pumps  60  and  60 ′. Then, the flow travels through tri-phased connector  19  and  19 ′ to hoses  15  for milk and hose  18  for liquid coffee. Finally, the frothed coffee is discharged through nozzle  28 ′ and milk through nozzle  28  to cap P. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment for a heat exchanger. Heat exchanger assembly  242  also has a cone configuration as assemblies  42  and  42 ′ previously described. Heat exchanger assembly  242  includes removable member  243  and rigid member  244 . Removable member  243  includes lateral wall  245  and top wall or cap  246 . Lateral wall  245  has inner groove  247 . Member  244  is similar to above described member  44 . Member  244  has lateral wall  241  and outer groove  248 . When cone-shaped members  243  and  244  are together, inner and outer grooves  247  and  248  are aligned defining space  249 . Inner and outer grooves  247  and  248  are disposed around and along lateral walls  245  and  249  forming a spiral, respectively. Space  249  has a circular cross section and defines the conduit through which the milk or coffee flows while is heated. 
     The sanitation system consists of a very simple method of replacing milk and coffee supplies M and C 1 /C 2  with hot water containers. All buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  or  54  are subsequently actuated and the cleaning water flow is discharged through nozzle members  28  and  28 ′. The operation is repeated until the outcoming water is complete clean. Heating mechanisms  40  and  40 ′ are disassembled by pulling handle members  145  and  145 ′ of top wall or caps  46  and  46 ′. Removable members  43  and  43 ′ (not shown) are removed and a user can easily clean removable and rigid members  43 ,  43 ′,  44  and  44 ′. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in limiting sense.