Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“A SELF-CLEANING HEATING CHAMBER AND A FINNED TUBE FOR A BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automated beverage dispensing systems, particularly to machines that prepare and dispense filter coffee. More specifically, it pertains to a heating chamber for a fully automated coffee vending machine that enables heating of milk with optional addition of water, and integrates a cleaning mechanism to prevent clogging, thereby providing an automated internal cleaning system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Automated beverage vending machines are widely used to prepare and dispense hot drinks such as coffee and tea in various commercial and public environments. Most of the existing machines rely on either premixed powders or dip bags, with hot water and milk dispensed separately during beverage preparation. In certain semi-automated systems, coffee decoction is prepared in a separate container, and hot milk is added to the cup at the time of dispensing. These conventional approaches often lack thorough mixing between the decoction and milk, leading to inconsistent beverage quality. Additionally, the mixing typically occurs outside the dispensing system, which may affect temperature retention and overall flavor homogenization.

[0003] Many vending machines do not have adequate mechanisms for preventing residual dripping after dispensing, which can cause spillage, mess, and hygiene issues at the dispensing area. Furthermore, the absence of foam or froth generation limits the ability of some systems to produce certain beverage textures expected by users, especially in traditional filter coffee varieties.

[0004] Another issue that arises in conventional vending machines is in terms of maintenance. Fully automated self-cleaning systems are either absent or only partially implemented in vending machines. As a result, internal components that come into contact with raw materials or final beverages may require frequent manual cleaning, reducing operational efficiency and increasing the risk of contamination.

[0005] A further challenge that arises is raw material wastage. Machines that do not offer cold storage or reusability of unused milk or decoction often lead to higher consumption and spoilage of ingredients, raising operational costs.

[0006] Thus, there is a need to develop a heating chamber with a fully automated internal cleaning mechanism in order to fill the gap between traditional coffee brewing standards and the efficiency of modern-day beverage vending machines while maintaining quality and hygiene practices, which are typically absent in most conventional hot beverage vending machines.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The principal object of the present invention is to address the above limitations of existing vending machines, namely, coffee vending machines.

[0008] An objective of the present invention is to provide a heating chamber that enables direct use of stored milk and decoction by pumping from the freezer to reduce raw material wastage.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a heating chamber for effective heating and texturizing (frothing) of milk, and enhancing the beverage’s mouth feel and quality.

[0010] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning mechanism for the heating chamber that eliminates post-dispensing drips/droplets from the heating chamber and its outlets to maintain the cleanliness of the machine without the need for manual intervention.

[0011] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a dedicated steam-condensing unit that helps avoid pressure accumulation and protects downstream drain systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a heating chamber that heats milk, water to a precise temperature. The heating chamber uses steam to facilitate homogeneity and temperature control. Also, the unique design enables control of the foam and froth formation in the dispensed coffee and enhancing the beverage’s mouth feel and quality. In the heating chamber, milk, water, and steam enter through their respective inlets. The steam raises the internal temperature and may also create turbulence to assist mixing. The chamber ensures thorough blending before the final beverage is dispensed. Further, a separate dedicated heating chamber is used for hot water preparation that dispenses hot water. The diluted milk used in the process can either be created by adding water to milk or by using raw, thicker milk that is only heated, depending on the taste and strength required.

[0013] According to an embodiment, a self-cleaning heating chamber for a beverage dispensing machine is disclosed. Said self-cleaning heating chamber includes a lid having a steam inlet, one or more liquid inlets and a steam exhaust, wherein the lid is substantially flat in dimension and includes plurality of holes; a bottom chamber having a hollow interior with a liquid outlet towards a bottom end of the hollow interior, wherein top end of the hollow interior includes an extended flat region with plurality of holes that corresponds to the holes of the lid, and one or more attachment means adapted to fit on the plurality of holes to removably secure the lid on top of the bottom chamber,

[0014] In an embodiment, the bottom chamber is progressively curved inwards from the top end to the bottom end to keep the liquid towards the center of the bottom chamber.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the bottom chamber is progressively slanted towards the liquid outlet to allow complete dispensing of the stored liquid.

[0016] In yet further embodiment, the heating chamber further includes a middle section having a plurality of holes and corresponding to the dimensions of the lid.

[0017] In another embodiment, the top lid and the bottom chamber are removably secured with a gasket placed in between to prevent air and liquid leakage from the heating chamber.

[0018] In an embodiment, the top lid and the bottom chamber are made of materials that are capable of withstanding high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.

[0019] In another embodiment, the steam inlet, one or more liquid inlets, the steam exhaust of the top lid, and the liquid outlet of the bottom chamber include one or more valves.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the opening and controlling of the valves is selectively controlled by a control unit of the beverage vending machine based on the type of beverage selected by a user.

[0021] In an embodiment, the one or more attachment means are nuts and bolts.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the heating chamber includes one or more pumps to pump liquid selected from coffee and milk.

[0023] In an embodiment, the steam inlet allows pressurized steam from a steam boiler through valves into the heating chamber.

[0024] In an embodiment, one or more liquid inlets are connected to the steam inlet for heating the liquid during inflow to the heating chamber.

[0025] In another embodiment, the steam inlet is extended inside the bottom chamber to allow pressurized steam to froth and heat the stored liquid in the bottom chamber.

[0026] In yet another embodiment, the pressurized steam is circulated in the bottom chamber to help in cleaning the bottom chamber.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the steam exhaust of the heating chamber is connected to a finned tube having a plurality of external fins, wherein the finned tube is adapted to condense the excess steam released from the heating chamber into water for drainage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will be more fully understood, and further advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0029] Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of a self-cleaning heating chamber for a beverage dispensing machine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 1B illustrates an exploded view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2A illustrates a front view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2B illustrates a side view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 2A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0033] Figure 3 illustrates a section view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 2B, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0034] Figure 4 illustrates a finned tube that is fluidly connected with the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the present disclosure herein may be employed.

[0036] At the outset, for ease of reference, certain terms used in this application and their meanings as used in this context are set forth. To the extent a term used herein is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition that persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Further, the present techniques are not limited by the usage of the terms used in the application, as all equivalents, synonyms, new developments, and terms or techniques that serve the same or a similar purpose are considered to be within the scope of the present claims.

[0037] The articles “a” and “an” as used herein mean one or more when applied to any feature in embodiments of the present invention described in the specification and claims. The use of “a” and “an” does not limit the meaning to a single feature unless such a limit is specifically stated. The article “the” preceding singular or plural nouns or noun phrases denotes a particular specified feature or particular specified features and may have a singular or plural connotation depending upon the context in which it is used. The adjective “any” means one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity.

[0038] It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0039] As used herein, the term "or" includes "and/or" and the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as "at least one of" when preceding a list of elements modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0041] The present invention provides a heating chamber with automatic cleaning means for a beverage dispensing machine. The described heating chamber is adapted to receive any cold liquid, preferably milk, stored in a separate compartment at a temperature below room temperature. The vending machine accommodates a wide range of ingredients, offering flexibility in drink preparation. Said heating chamber is adapted to accommodate various milk types, such as, but not limited to, almond or oat milk (typically used as vegan alternatives), dairy milks with differing fat percentages. This allows for tailored richness and texture. Furthermore, the vending machine is adapted to include diverse decoctions, including, but not limited to, classic cappuccino blends with an array of flavored options, ensuring a broad spectrum of customizable beverage choices.

[0042] The heating chamber uses heating means or steam to facilitate homogeneity and temperature control. The heating chamber further includes means to add water to dilute the received liquid, such as milk, pumped from the compartment. The steam raises the internal temperature and may also create turbulence to assist mixing. The heating chamber allows precise control of the foam and froth formation in the liquid or milk, thereby enhancing the dispensed beverage’s mouth feel and quality. Additionally, a separate dedicated compartment is used for hot water preparation that dispenses hot water in the heating chamber. The diluted liquid or milk can be heated and simultaneously diluted by adding heated water to the liquid, depending on the taste and strength required. Thus, the heating chamber ensures thorough blending before the final beverage is dispensed.

[0043] Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of a self-cleaning heating chamber for a beverage dispensing machine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The self-cleaning heating chamber 100 for a beverage dispensing machine includes a bottom chamber 101 and a lid 102, which are removably connected with attachment means 109. The removable lid 102 is adapted to enclose the bottom chamber 101 and includes one or more inlet and outlet ports. The lid 102 further includes gaskets 103 to ensure complete sealing of the bottom chamber. The gasket 103 is installed between the top lid 102 and the bottom chamber 101 to prevent leakage of air or steam, and liquid from the bottom chamber 101 during pressurized mixing.

[0044] The lid 102 further includes a milk inlet 105 fluidly connected to a dedicated milk pump that delivers cold milk from a milk compartment (not shown here) into the heating chamber 100. Said lid 102 further includes a steam inlet 104 that allows steam to enter the chamber for heating and agitation of the pumped cold milk. The chamber 100 additionally includes a steam exhaust 106 that discharges excess steam remaining within the heating chamber post-dispensing of the prepared hot milk. The steam exhaust 106 is further connected to a finned tube or pressure relief system (not shown here) that condenses the hot steam before draining out of the vending machine through an outlet.

[0045] The bottom chamber 101 is curved at the bottom such that any liquid is pulled towards the bottom by the action of gravity. This prevents milk residues from sticking to the side of the chamber 100 and also prevents wastage of the heated milk. Additionally, the bottom chamber 101 is designed in a slanted manner towards a hot milk outlet 107 that transfers the heated milk towards a dispensing unit (not shown here). In an additional embodiment, the heating chamber 100 includes a water inlet 108 to allow controlled addition of hot water, based on the type of beverage to be dispensed.

[0046] Figure 1B illustrates an exploded view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The heating chamber 100 comprises three parts, namely the lid 102, a middle section 110, and the bottom chamber 101. Each of the parts is adapted to withstand high-temperature and mild-pressure conditions.

[0047] The lid 102 is substantially flat and rectangular in structure. The lid 102 includes the water inlet 108 fluidly connected to the steam inlet 104, steam exhaust 106, and milk inlet (not shown here). This ensures that dilution can be performed while milk is being dispensed into the chamber bottom 101 to ensure thorough milk dilution without the requirement of additional mechanical means for dilution.

[0048] The middle section 110 is also substantially flat and rectangular in structure, but hollow in the center to allow the steam inlet 104 and the steam exhaust 106 to extend towards the bottom chamber 101. The dimension of the middle section 110 matches with the lid 102. Said middle section 110 includes a plurality of holes that match with the corresponding plurality of holes of the lid 102.

[0049] The bottom chamber 102 includes an extended flat region at the top end that matches the outer dimension of the lid 102 and the middle section 110. The interior of the bottom chamber 101 is hollow and progressively curved towards the bottom end. This ensures that the pumped fluid stays near the bottom and does not stick to the sides of the bottom chamber 101. The bottom chamber 101 includes the hot milk outlet 107 at the bottom end for dispensing the heated liquid. Additionally, the bottom end is slanted towards the milk outlet 107 to ensure complete dispensing of the prepared hot milk. This prevents wastage of the material.

[0050] The lid 102, the middle section 110, and the bottom chamber 101 include a plurality of corresponding matching holes. Said holes are designed to align with each of the parts and secured using an attachment means 109 for complete sealing of the heating chamber. Such attachment means 109 may be selected from, but not limited to, nuts 109a and bolts 109b or screws. Additionally, each of the parts, the lid 102, the middle section 110, and the bottom chamber 101, includes a gasket that securely fits in between the parts to prevent liquid or air leakage from the chamber 100.

[0051] The attachment means 109 (Figure 1A and 1B) is made of bolts 109a and nuts 109b (Figure 1B), which securely fasten the lid 102 and the middle section 110 on top of the bottom chamber 101, ensuring a robust connection. The said attachment means 109 provides a stable and reliable installation.

[0052] Figure 2A illustrates a front view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The heating chamber 200 depicts a curved shape at the bottom end, enabling the entire liquid or milk to be collected near the bottom end by the action of gravity. This also allows complete draining of the liquid or milk through the milk outlet provided at the bottom end of the heating chamber.

[0053] Figure 2B illustrates a side view of the self-cleaning heating chamber 200 of Figure 2A. The bottom chamber 101 is designed with an angled profile inclination of the bottom end towards the milk outlet 107. This ensures complete draining of the heated liquid or milk. The bottom chamber 101 includes the connection of the milk outlet 107 at the lowest point of the inclined bottom end for the complete drainage of the liquid from the bottom chamber 101.

[0054] Figure 3 illustrates a section view of the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 2B. The sectional view of the self-cleaning heating chamber 100 depicts the steam inlet 304, the water inlet 308, the steam exhaust 306, the gasket 303, and the milk outlet 307. The steam inlet 304 is extended inwards towards the hollow bottom chamber 301A. This enables the inflow of the liquid along with steam and optionally water deep inside the bottom chamber 301. This prevents the liquid from sticking to the sides of the chamber and also prevents the backflow of the liquid or steam.

[0055] In an embodiment, all the inlet and outlet ports of the heating chamber include valves that selectively open and close to allow inflow and outflow of the liquid or steam. The operation of said heating chamber 100 is controlled by a control unit (not shown here) which operatively controls the valves for selective inflow and outflow from the heating chamber 100. In a preferred embodiment, one or more valves are one-way valves.

[0056] Figure 4 illustrates a finned tube that is fluidly connected with the self-cleaning heating chamber of Figure 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The finned tube 400 is specifically designed to handle post-process steam discharge from the heating chamber 100. The finned tube 400 rapidly condenses steam using air-cooled fins before draining it out of the vending machine. The finned tube 400 includes a steam inlet 402, which is connected to the steam exhaust 106 of the heating chamber 100, external fins 404, and a condensed water outlet 406. The steam after heating milk or decoction enters the finned tube 400 through the steam inlet 402 and comes in contact with the external fins 404 that facilitate rapid cooling by dissipating heat into the surrounding air. This results in rapid condensation of steam into water, which flows out through the condensed water outlet 406. This mechanism ensures safe pressure reduction, dry discharge, and minimal energy loss for the vending machine. The finned tube 400 serves as a dedicated steam-condensing unit before drainage, helping to avoid pressure accumulation and protect downstream drain systems.

[0057] The control unit includes a processor and a memory to store a plurality of pre-defined programs for dispensing various types of beverages, such as, but not limited to, filter coffee, flavoured coffee, or black coffee. Depending upon the type of coffee, the pre-set programs may be configured with at least a pre-determined temperature of the beverage, pre-determined amount of decoction, the type of mixing, and the like, to ensure the quality and taste of the dispensed beverage. A user or a consumer selects the desired type of beverage displayed on a display unit of the vending machines, which the processor of the control unit receives to execute the corresponding pre-defined program.

[0058] In an example, the process of dispensing a preferred coffee beverage begins with the selection of a type of coffee by the user. The vending machine stores a decoction of coffee and milk, prepared from raw materials, in separate chambers or compartments. Said raw materials may be selected from, but not limited to, coffee beans or coffee powder. Said chambers are maintained at a pre-set low temperature to prevent spoilage, thereby ensuring optimal quality. Upon receiving the selection, the machine activates one or more pumps connected to the compartments storing the coffee decoction and milk. Based on the selection of coffee beverage, a pre-determined amount of cold milk is pumped by the dedicated milk pump from the milk compartment, and a pre-determined amount of coffee decoction is pumped from the decoction compartment.

[0059] The pumped milk is fed to the heating chamber through the inlet nozzle on top of the heating chamber. In an optional embodiment, the milk is diluted with water based on the user-selected coffee beverage. The received milk or the diluted milk is then heated to a pre-determined temperature via a heating means. In a preferred embodiment, steam is injected into the heating chamber through the steam inlet to heat the milk to the pre-determined temperature without altering its consistency to obtain a prepared milk. In an alternate embodiment, a separate inlet of the heating chamber may pump hot water to mix with the pumped cold milk in the heating chamber to heat the milk to the desired temperature level while providing the required dilution of the milk.

[0060] After the control unit determines that the prepared milk has reached the desired temperature and/or dilution, the heating chamber dispenses the prepared milk into a dispensing nozzle fluidly connected with the dispensing outlet of said chamber. In a further embodiment, the heating chamber includes a vent that is adapted to release the excess steam generated within the heating chamber while preparing the milk.

[0061] The coffee decoction stored in the decoction compartment is then pumped towards a heating chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the heating chamber is a steam-jacketed chamber with an internal pipe that carries the coffee decoction. The pipe surrounded by steam heats the decoction to the desired temperature. The heated milk and the coffee decoction are finally dispensed to a dispensing nozzle that forms a homogenous mixture in the desired proportion prior to outflow from the dispensing nozzle.

[0062] The above-disclosed heating chamber advantageously ensures hygiene and operational reliability. This systematic integration of cold storage, selective pre-heating, steam-powered mixing, modular dispensing, and condensate management ensures consistent, high-quality preparation of liquid beverages such as South Indian filter coffee and other coffee variants in a fully automated, hygienic, and efficient manner.

[0063] The present invention provides effective heating and texturizing (frothing) of liquids such as milk, and enhancing the beverage’s mouth feel and quality. Further, the automatic cleaning mechanism for the heating chamber eliminates post-dispensing drips/droplets from the heating chamber and its outlets after dispensing the prepared raw material, thereby maintaining the cleanliness of the vending machines without the need for manual intervention.

[0064] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within understood that the phraseology or the terminology employed herein is for description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0065] The advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0066] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might fall there within.
, C , Claims:We Claim:

1) A self-cleaning heating chamber for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising:
a lid having a steam inlet, one or more liquid inlets, and a steam exhaust, wherein the lid is substantially flat in dimension and includes a plurality of holes;
a bottom chamber having a hollow interior with a liquid outlet towards a bottom end of the hollow interior, wherein top end of the hollow interior includes an extended flat region with a plurality of holes that correspond to the holes of the lid, and
one or more attachment means adapted to fit on the plurality of holes to removably secure the lid on top of the bottom chamber,
wherein the bottom chamber is progressively curved inwards from the top end to the bottom end to keep the liquid towards the center of the bottom chamber.

2) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom chamber is progressively slanted towards the liquid outlet to allow complete dispensing of the stored liquid.

3) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating chamber further includes a middle section having a plurality of holes corresponding to the dimensions of the lid.

4) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top lid and the bottom chamber are removably secured with a gasket placed in between to prevent air and liquid leakage from the heating chamber.

5) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top lid and the bottom chamber are made of materials that are capable of withstanding high-temperature and pressure conditions.

6) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steam inlet, one or more liquid inlets, the steam exhaust of the top lid, and the liquid outlet of the bottom chamber include one or more valves.

7) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 6, wherein opening and controlling of the valves is selectively controlled by a control unit of the beverage vending machine based on the type of beverage selected by a user.

8) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more attachment means are nuts and bolts.

9) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, further includes one or more pumps to pump liquid into the heating chamber.

10) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steam inlet allows pressurized steam from a steam boiler into the bottom chamber via valves.

11) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more liquid inlets are connected to the steam inlet for heating of the liquid during inflow to the heating chamber.

12) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steam inlet is extended inside the bottom chamber to enable the pressurized steam to froth and heat the stored liquid in the bottom chamber.

13) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pressurized steam is circulated in the bottom chamber to help clean the bottom chamber.

14) The self-cleaning heating chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steam exhaust is connected to a finned tube having a plurality of external fins, wherein the finned tube is adapted to condense the excess steam released from the heating chamber into water for drainage.