Patent Publication Number: US-2010126355-A1

Title: Apparatus, container and method for producing and consuming soluble drinks

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention refers to an apparatus, container and method for producing and consuming soluble drinks. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     For some time now, the use has been known of automatic machines configured to prepare and dispense soluble drinks. 
     These machines comprise a liquid solvent tank, generally water, which is heated and which, at command, is sent, by means of a pump and through a conveyor pipe, towards an area in which a number of capsules are placed. The capsules contain doses of soluble substances in the form of powder which, mixed with the water, become consumable drinks. 
     The capsules are permeable to water and the mixing with the soluble substances occurs inside the capsules during the transit of the water. 
     These machines are equipped with a dispensing device underneath which an area is provided where cups, or other containers, normally disposable, are placed to receive and contain the dispensed drinks and to enable a user to drink such drinks. 
     A capsule for containing soluble drinks is known from patent application publication WO 2005/092160. 
     According to this document, the capsule is made of a lower cup portion forming a base with a dispensing mouth, and of an upper closing portion forming an inlet mouth for the solvent liquid. 
     Between the lower portion and the upper portion a containment chamber is defined in which there is placed a dose of a soluble substance in the form of powder which is mixed with hot water under pressure and transformed by the water into a drink that is then collected in an underlying cup. 
     Another capsule for containing soluble drinks is known from patent application publication WO 2005/018395. 
     According to this document, a capsule is provided, which comprises a container body, in which two superimposed chambers are defined. 
     The container body has an upper opening that is normally closed with a perforable diaphragm and an inner edge, which delimits the two chambers and on which a second perforable diaphragm is disposed. 
     Between the two diaphragms a dose of soluble substance is contained, while the second chamber is formed below the second diaphragm and is provided, at the lower extremity, with a dispensing mouth. 
     Pressurized water is introduced into the first upper chamber by means of an injector unit of a dispenser machine, which perforates the first diaphragm and dispenses water under pressure. 
     Inside the first chamber, the pressure increases gradually and the second diaphragm is pushed onto the tips of the filtering element until the element is perforated by the tips. 
     The dissolved drink flows through the filtering element and is then collected inside the second lower chamber and, from this, is dispensed outside through the dispensing mouth, which is formed of a series of openings such as to control the speed of dispensing of the drink. 
     One more capsule for containing soluble substances is known from patent application publication WO 2004/087529 A1. 
     According to this document, the capsule comprises a truncated-cone shaped body with an upper opening, which is closed by means of a first sheet of plastic or aluminum material and which has a bottom wall with a section that re-enters the body. 
     Between the first sheet and the bottom wall, a first containment chamber is defined containing a dose of soluble substance. 
     This bottom wall forms a lower edge, which delimits an opening with a width that is substantially the same as that of the body and which is also closed with a second sheet of plastic or aluminum material. 
     Between the bottom wall and the second sheet, a second chamber is defined underneath the first chamber. 
     The capsule is intended to be used in an automatic machine having an injection apparatus for injecting water under pressure. 
     This apparatus comprises an injector that perforates the first sheet, introduces water under pressure into the first chamber and then also perforates the second sheet. 
     The soluble substance dissolves inside the first chamber and collects in the second lower chamber, flowing through the holes obtained in the bottom wall and is therefore dispensed through the hole obtained in the second sheet. 
     Another capsule for containing soluble substances is known from patent application publication WO 2005/080223. 
     According to this document, the capsule has a container body chamber defining, inside, a containment chamber for containing a dose of soluble substance. The container body has an upper opening that is sealed with a sheet of perforable material and a bottom defining a central area delimited by a predefined fracture line. 
     The capsule is used in drink dispenser machines having an injector unit that injects water under pressure into the containment chamber, after perforating the sheet of perforable material, and a pressing unit designed to push on the central area so the central area fractures and returns inside the chamber, leaving the central area open allowing the drink can flow out. 
     The pressing unit has a part, which is in contact with the central area and which has a predetermined section, so that, penetrating inside the chamber to a small extent, a passage of desired and variable dimensions for the drink is defined between it and the edges of the opening defined by the removal of the central area. 
     One more capsule for containing soluble substances to make drinks is known from US patent application publication 2006/0236871. 
     According to this document, the capsule comprises a container body for containing a dose of soluble substance. 
     The container body is shaped like a glass and has an open upper extremity, which is sealed with a sheet of perforable material, and a lower extremity, which can be completely closed or open in the center, but sealed with a lower diaphragm of perforable material; between the upper extremity and the lower extremity there is defined a containment chamber for containing a dose of soluble substance. 
     The capsule is made to be fitted in a seat of an automatic dispenser machine, which has an upper injector of water under pressure. After perforating the sheet of perforable material that closes the upper extremity, the injector moves inside the upper recess without tearing it and introduces water inside the containment chamber to dissolve the soluble substance through the openings obtained in the upper selector element. 
     The dispenser machine also has a lower hollow tip which, when the pressure inside the containment chamber increases and the lower extremity of the glass-shaped body bends outwards, is designed to perforate this lower extremity or, in another version of the capsule, to perforate the lower diaphragm, positioning in the corresponding recess without tearing it. 
     The dissolved drink flows through the openings obtained in the lower selector element and is dispensed outwards through an axial cavity on the lower tip. 
     A further embodiment of a pod for containing soluble substances is known from patent application publication WO 92/07775. 
     According to this document, a pod is provided with a container body for containing a dose of a soluble substance. 
     The container body has a truncated-cone shape and is closed at the upper larger base by a convex wall extending outwards. 
     Similarly, the bottom of the container body is shaped like the upper convex wall and protrudes inside a containment chamber defined in the container body. 
     The container body has, substantially in a median area, a porous transversal diaphragm, which is fixed around the perimeter of the inner wall of the container body. 
     The upper convex part has, centrally, a weakened area to be perforated by a perforating part, which is fitted to a corresponding drink dispenser machine and which consists of an axially hollow needle having gaps for dispensing water under pressure, the gaps being positioned so as to direct water jets onto the inner face of the upper wall, which then spring the wall off towards all the areas of the containment chamber, so that the water can be distributed in a substantially uniform way in all these areas. 
     The dispenser machine, besides the perforating part, which was previously described, also has a receptacle inside which the capsule must be placed in order to be used. 
     This receptacle comprises a second container body, which is open at the top and which has a substantially truncated-cone shape like the body of the capsule, but slightly bigger so as to be able to contain it inside. 
     In turn, this second container body is housed in a collector device of the dispenser machine designed to collect the formed drink and convey the drink outside. 
     The bottom of this second container body has a series of perforators turned towards the bottom of the container body, which has a lower thickness than the walls, so that it can be easily perforated. 
     When the injector of the dispenser machine injects water under pressure inside the containment chamber, after perforating the upper wall, the pressure inside this chamber increases and the bottom wall bends outwards, entering into contact with the perforators of the second container body. These perforators are axially hollow and can penetrate inside the containment chamber where, after injection of water the liquid mix has formed that produces a drink, allowing this mix to flow and to be dispensed outside after passing through a filter located in the collector device. 
     Yet another capsule for containing soluble substances to make ready drinks is known from patent application publication WO 2006/045536. 
     According to this document, the capsule comprises a container body inside which there is defined a containment chamber of a dose of soluble substance. 
     This container body has a perforable extremity and an opposite base extremity that is open but sealed with a sheet of perforable material after the capsule has been filled with the soluble substance. 
     The dispenser machine that uses this capsule has a supporting element for supporting the base extremity of the capsule, or, more specifically, of the sheet of perforable material that is normally kept bent outwards by injecting a small volume of suitable gas. 
     The supporting element has a plurality of perforator elements designed to perforate the sheet when the drink is required to be dispensed. 
     The dispenser machine also comprises a bell-shaped body, which is designed to couple with the supporting element, superimposing itself on the capsule and which has, at the top of the inner wall, a perforator/injector linked with a dispensing channel of water under pressure. The perforator/injector is designed to inject water under pressure inside the containment chamber after perforating the perforable extremity. 
     When the dispensing of a drink inside the capsule is required, the capsule is placed above the supporting element with the bell-shaped body in a position away from the supporting element to allow the positioning of the capsule. 
     Afterwards, a mechanism moves the bell-shaped body closer to the base element and the perforator/injector penetrates inside the containment chamber, injecting water under pressure into the containment chamber. 
     Inside the containment chamber, the pressure gradually increases and the sheet of perforable material bends towards the perforator elements, which perforate it. 
     Among the perforator elements, drink collection channels are defined that convey the drink towards a dispensing mouth towards the outside. 
     This state of the art has a series of drawbacks. 
     A first drawback is that, to be able to dispense and consume a soluble drink, a high number of components must be available that must be eliminated after use, such as, e.g., a container, an empty capsule inside which the wet powdered dose remains that generated the drink, a pack enclosing each capsule in a sealed way before this is used, the box containing the various capsule packs, and the box containing the containers for the dispensed drinks. 
     Another drawback is that the dispenser machines must have a specific mechanism that captures the capsules to move them to the position of use and a duct and a tank for conveying and collecting the used capsules. 
     A further drawback is that unless the collection tank and the conveyor duct are repeatedly emptied, the dispenser machine stops, interrupting the production and the dispensing of drinks. 
     Another drawback is that known dispenser machines must have high overall dimensions, due to the necessary presence of the tank for collecting the used capsules and for this reason they cannot be placed on desks in the event of wanting to make personal use of them. 
     A further drawback is that one type of drink, e.g., coffee, contained in a capsule, pollutes the contents of a capsule containing a different type of drink, e.g., tea, and which is used afterwards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the invention is to upgrade the state of the art. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, container and method for producing and consuming soluble drinks that makes the machines for preparing and dispensing soluble drinks simpler and more compact. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, container and method for producing and consuming soluble drinks that allows avoiding any pollution between different drinks. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, container and method for producing and consuming soluble drinks that allows considerably reducing the components to be disposed of after use, thus considerably cutting the production costs of soluble drinks. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, container and method which allow making machines for the production and the dispensing of soluble drinks of compact dimensions, such as to allow these to also be placed in small areas, such as, for example, a corner of a desk, and to also be used in a personal way by an individual user. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for producing and consuming soluble drinks is provided comprising: a dispensing device for dispensing a solvent liquid for dissolving doses of powdered soluble drinks; a container of said doses of soluble drinks to be dissolved, wherein the container comprises connection means with the dispensing device and collection means for collecting a dissolved drink accessible from outside, in such a way as to consume said dissolved drink directly from the container. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, a container for producing and consuming soluble drinks is provided that comprises: a containment body; a first containment compartment of at least one dose of soluble drinks to be dissolved defined in the body; an inlet obtained in the first containment compartment for the introduction of a solvent liquid dispensed by a dispensing device; a second collection compartment of a dissolved drink, open and accessible from the outside, defined in the body separately from the first compartment and connectable to the first compartment by connection means, the second compartment allowing a user to drink the dissolved drink directly from the container. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method for producing and consuming soluble drinks is provided, comprising the following steps: arranging in a first compartment of a container a dose of powdered soluble drink; introducing into the first compartment a solvent liquid in such a way as to dissolve inside this the dose and obtain a dissolved drink ready to drink; dispensing the dissolved drink; wherein after the dispensing step the collection is envisaged of the dissolved and dispensed drink in a second compartment of the container, separated from the first compartment and accessible from the outside, in such a way as to be able to drink the dissolved drink directly from the second compartment. 
     The apparatus, the container and the method for producing and consuming soluble drinks thus allow preparing and dispensing soluble drinks which are collected directly in the same container containing the doses of powdered soluble drinks to be dissolved, from which the dissolved drinks can be drunk directly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional characteristics and advantages will appear more evident from the description of embodiments of an apparatus and a container for producing and consuming soluble drinks, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a very schematic and cross section view of an apparatus for producing and consuming soluble drinks according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a very schematic cross section and interrupted view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for producing and consuming soluble drinks; 
         FIG. 3  is a very schematic cross section and interrupted view of a third embodiment of an apparatus for producing and consuming soluble drinks; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section interrupted view of a detail of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section interrupted view of a second embodiment of the detail of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a container of doses of soluble drinks with small dimensions and from which a dissolved drink can also be drunk; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a container of doses of soluble drinks with bigger dimensions and from which a dissolved drink can also be drunk. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment is shown of an apparatus for producing and consuming soluble drinks, indicated by  1  and hereinafter briefly indicated as apparatus  1 . 
     The apparatus  1  comprises a dispensing device  2  for dispensing a solvent liquid, normally water, which is mounted on an automatic dispenser machine “M” for dissolving doses  3  of powdered soluble drinks previously arranged inside a container  4 . 
     The container  4  is formed of two shells, respectively a first outer shell  5  and a second inner shell  6  that can be positioned inside the first outer shell  5 . 
     Both the first outer shell  5  and the second inner shell  6  are preformed, in such a way as to form a first compartment  7  and a second compartment  8  respectively. 
     Furthermore, as can be seen in the  FIG. 1 , between the side walls of the first outer shell  5  and the second inner shell  6  an inter-space  9  is defined that forms connection means for connecting the first compartment  7  to the dispensing device  2 , described in detail below. 
     The second inner shell  6  forms, in a substantially central area, a path that places in mutual communication the first compartment  7  and the second compartment  8  and which, in this embodiment of the apparatus  1 , is made like a duct element  10  that elevates from a bottom wall  11  of the second compartment  8 . 
     The duct element  10  has a longitudinal cavity  12  and defines a first extremity  13 , turned towards the inside of said second compartment  8  which has an outlet opening  14 , and an opposite second open extremity  15  turned towards the first compartment  7  and communicating with the first compartment. 
     Inside the duct element  10  a filter  16  is fitted that is designed to filter the dissolved drinks during their transit along the longitudinal cavity  12  to be collected inside the second compartment  8 . 
     The connection means connecting the first compartment  7  with the dispensing device  2  comprise a duct defined in the inter-space  9  and indicated by  17  which is obtained in a handle  18  that is part of the container  4 , and a coupling part  19  meant to be coupled with the dispensing device  2 , as described below, which has a coupling opening  20  normally seal-closed with laminar perforable means, such as, e.g., a sheet of aluminum. 
     In the handle  18 , the coupling element  19  forms an overturned hollow seat  21  meant to receive inside it perforating means  22  for perforating the previously described aluminum sheet, when the container  4  is coupled with the dispensing device  2  in a dispensing configuration of solvent liquid, in this specific case hot water under pressure. 
     For this reason, the hollow seat  21  is shaped in such a way as to couple with the perforating means  22  and guide them during coupling. 
     The perforating means  22  comprise a stem member  23  which axially has a cavity  24  and which is connected to a pump  25  comprised in the dispensing device  2 ; the pump  25  is in turn connected to a tank  26  meant to contain a reserve of water to be heated, e.g., by means of a heating element  27  fitted inside the tank  26 , which is to be sent on request to the container  4  to dissolve a dose  3  of soluble drink. 
     The stem member  23  defines a first perforation extremity  28  meant to perforate said laminar perforable means and having a dispensing opening  29 , and an opposite extremity  30  that is connected to the pump  25 . 
     On the stem member  23  there is fitted, sliding along stem member  23 , a cursor  31 , which moves along the stem member  23  pushed at an extremity by the coupling element  19 , the position of which can vary according to the dimensions or to the capacity of the container  4 , when the latter is coupled with the dispensing device  2  and at the opposite extremity by elastic contrast means, such as, for example, a spring  31 A. 
     On the cursor  31  there are fitted starting and stopping means  32  for starting and stopping the pump  25 . These starting and stopping means  32  can comprise, e.g., a microswitch  33  which can be operated with an eccentric body  34  fitted on the cursor  31 , more specifically on an outer surface  31 B of this, in such a way that the sliding movements along the stem member  23  start or stop the pump  25 . 
     Inside the handle  18  an elastic shutter  35  is also fitted and is meant to be pressed by the stem member  23  when the container  4  is coupled with the dispensing device  2  and, instead, to stretch itself and occupy the coupling opening  20  when the container  4  is separated from the dispensing device  2 . This way, dripping is prevented through this coupling opening  20  when the extremity  28  is extracted. 
     In this first embodiment of the apparatus  1 , the container  4  has a substantially round shape and is shaped like a cup which, as previously said, can be of different dimensions according to the type of drink it contains; the first compartment  7  and the second compartment  8  are, therefore, superimposed on one another as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The duct element  10  has, at the first extremity  13 , the outlet opening  14  which can have different embodiments. 
     In a first embodiment it is envisaged that the opening  14  be obtained directly at the first extremity  13  like a simple hole. 
     In a second embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the opening  14  substantially occupies all the first extremity  13  and inside the duct element  10  a sliding cap  36  is arranged, which has a head  37  that peripherally has an elastic edge  38  which, normally, is kept in forced-seal position against the inner walls of the outlet opening  14 . 
     When the sliding cap  36  moves outwards, pushed by the pressure indicated by the arrows “P” produced by the dissolved drink which rises through the longitudinal cavity  12  due to the gradual increase in pressure generated inside the first compartment  7 , caused by the introduction of hot water under pressure, the elastic edge  38  moves beyond the edge of the outlet opening  14  and enlarges outwards, creating an annular passage  39  through which the dissolved drink comes out to be collected inside the second compartment  8 . 
     In a third embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , it will be seen that the first extremity  13  of the stem member  10  shapes an annular edge  40  in relief outwards. 
     On the first extremity  13  a cover  41  is fitted that shapes, in substantial correspondence to its base, a series of parallel ribs  44 , which between them define passages with profiles that form a further edge  42  in relief towards the inside, which has a profile joined with that of the edge  40 . 
     The relief edge  42  is obtained at a distance from an upper wall  43  of the cap  41  such as to allow the free sliding of the latter for a section “T” along the stem member  10 , before the edges  40  and  42  come into contact with each other. 
     In cross section, both the edges  40  and  42  show rounded borders, so as to facilitate the start of overriding of the edge  42  over the edge  40 . 
     The sliding of the cap  41 , in this case too, is caused by the pressure “P” produced by the dissolved drink, which rises through the longitudinal cavity  12 . 
     When the edge  42  starts to override the edge  40  due to the pressure thrust on the cap  41 , it dilates slightly outwards and the dissolved drink can flow through the passages defined between the ribs  44 , and be collected in the second compartment  8 , ready to be drunk. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  two further embodiments will be seen of the container  4 , indicated by the numbers  50  and  60  respectively. 
     In particular, in the version shown in  FIG. 2 , it will be seen that a first compartment  51  and a second compartment  52  are arranged side by side and defined in a first shell  53  and in a second shell  54  respectively. 
     In this second embodiment as well, between the first shell  53  and the second shell  54  an inter-space  55  is defined that communicates with the inside of the second compartment  52  through openings  56  upstream of which filters  57  are fitted. 
     Inside the first compartment  51  a dose  58  is placed of a powdered drink and a duct  59  connects it to the dispensing device  2 . 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that the container  60  is substantially similar to the container  4  in its first embodiment. 
     In fact, the container  60  is again composed of an outer shell  61  and of an inner shell  62  which shape a first compartment  63  and a second compartment  64  respectively. 
     Between the outer shell  61  and the inner shell  62  is again defined an inter-space  65  and a duct  66  connecting the first compartment  63  to the dispensing device  2 . 
     In the inner shell  62  an outlet opening  67  of the dissolved drinks is provided connecting the first compartment  63  to the second compartment  65  through the inter-space  65 , which is protected by a filter  68  located upstream. 
     The operation of the apparatus  1  for producing and consuming soluble drinks is the following: with reference to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , when a container  4  is coupled with the dispensing device  2 , the coupling element  19  rests and pushes against the cursor  31 , which is forced to slide along the stem member  23  downwards, defeating the contrasting force of the spring  31 A. The eccentric body  34  triggers the micro-switch  33  and the pump  25  starts to pump up hot water from the tank  26 , conveying it to the container  4  through the longitudinal cavity  24  of the stem member  23  which, during the positioning of the container  4 , i.e. more specifically, the insertion of the hollow seat  21  of the container  4  on the perforating means  22 , perforates with its own first extremity  28  the aluminum sheet that seal-closes the coupling opening  20 . 
     At the same time, the perforation extremity  28  presses on the elastic shutter  35  keeping this raised off the coupling opening  20  and placing in communication the cavity  24  with the duct  17  and, therefore, with the first compartment  7 . 
     The hot water under pressure is then pushed inside the first compartment  7 , where a dose  3  of a soluble powdered drink has been previously placed. 
     The hot water dissolves the powdered drink making it completely liquid and the pressure pushes it up along the duct element  10  until it reaches the outlet opening  14 , filtered by the filter  16 . 
     In the event of the opening  14  being made like a simple hole, the drink flows out of this according to the arrows “F” and collects inside the second compartment  8 , ready to be drunk. 
     In the event of the outlet opening  14  being made as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pressure “P” of the dissolved drink rising along the duct element  10  pushes on the head  37  of the sliding cap  36 , which is lifted up until the elastic edge  38  goes beyond the surround of the outlet opening  14 , opening up towards the outside and creating the annular passage  39 , through which passes the dissolved drink in liquid state that is collected in the second compartment  8 . 
     In the event of the outlet opening  14  being made as shown in  FIG. 5 , the pressure “P” of the dissolved drink pushes on the cap  43  moving it by the distance “T”, so that the edges  40  and  42  come into contact with each other. 
     As the thrust continues, the edge  42  tends to go beyond the edge  40 , but to do this, the cap  41  must dilate slightly towards the outside and this dilation is enough to allow the passage of the dissolved drink between the ribs  44  and, therefore, for it to reach the outlet opening  14  and, from here, the second compartment  8  in which it is collected. 
     When the quantity of dissolved drink collected inside the second compartment  8  reaches a value selected by the consumer, the operation of the pump  25  is interrupted; the spring  31 A returns the cursor  31  upwards until the stem member  23  is completely covered. 
     The quantity of dissolved drink can be determined in various ways, such as, e.g., by means of a timer, or of a volume or weight detection device designed to detect the quantity of drinks collected inside the second compartment  8 , or again automatically, by fitting onto the cursor  31  a microswitch  33  that couples with an eccentric body having several coupling positions, to each of which corresponds a pre-established volume of dispensable water, or again by simply separating the container  4  from the dispensing device  2 . 
     The perforation extremity  28  is covered by the cursor  31  and the connection opening  20 , no longer crossed by the perforation extremity  28 , is closed by the elastic shutter  35  to prevent dripping. 
     The consumer can grip the handle  18  and pick up the container  4 , separating it from the dispensing device  2 , and drink the drink collected in the second compartment B directly from there. 
     Once the drink has been completely consumed, the container  4  is thrown away together with the empty dose of powdered drink still inside the first compartment  7 . 
     The operation of the apparatus  1  is also the same in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the hot water under pressure reaches the first compartment  51  passing through the duct  59  and coming from the dispensing device  2 , which remains unchanged with respect to what has been previously described. Inside this first compartment  51 , the dissolving occurs of the drink, which, due to the pressure “P”, penetrates the inter-space  55  and reaches the outlet openings  56 , after being filtered by the filters  57 , and is then stored in the second compartment  52 . 
     The user grips the container  50  and, after separating it from the dispensing device  2 , can drink the drink directly from the container  50 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the hot water under pressure coming from the pump (not shown) reaches the first compartment  63  of the container  60 , passing through the duct  66 . 
     When the dose of the drink contained in the first compartment  63  has completely dissolved, it is pushed towards the outlet opening  67 , after being filtered by the filter  68 , and after this is collected in the second compartment  64 . 
     The user grips the container  60 , separating it from the dispensing device  2 , and can therefore drink directly from there.