STIRRER OR SPOON DISPENSER FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINES

• US 20130032609A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SaGa Coffee S.p.A. (BNP Paribas S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Righetti, Marco, Talini, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/103
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/10 having mechanical dispensing means , e.g. with buttons or handles

Abstract

The stirrer dispenser for beverage dispensing machines comprises a first channel (21) for containing a stack of stirrers (PI), which exhibits a first opening (21A), wherefrom single stirrers are extracted and ejected by an ejector (31) provided with an alternating movement (f31). The ejector to this end exhibits an engagement member (45, 47) wherewith single stirrers (PI, P3) are engaged and ejected from said opening at each stroke of said ejector. The dispenser, moreover, exhibits at least a second channel (23) next to the first channel (21) and exhibiting a second opening (23A). The two openings (21A; 23A) are side by side along the movement direction of the ejector (31). Moreover, there is provided a stroke delimiter (51) that limits the stroke of the ejector (31) when at least one stirrer (PI) is present in the first channel (21), so that the ejector (31) picks up the stirrers from the second channel (23) only when the first channel (21) is empty.

Claims

1. A stirrer dispenser for beverage dispensing machines and the like, comprising at least a first channel (21) and a second channel (23) for containing a stack of stirrers (P1), said channels respectively exhibiting a first opening (21A) and a second opening (23A), wherefrom single stirrers are picked up and ejected by an ejector (31) provided with an alternating movement (f31), said ejector exhibiting an engagement member (45, 47) wherewith single stirrers (P1, P3) are engaged and ejected from said openings at each stroke of said ejector;

wherein said first opening (21A) and said second opening (23A) are side by side along the movement direction of said ejector (31); and

wherein a stroke delimiter (51) limits the stroke of said ejector (31) when in said first channels (21) there is provided at least one stirrer (P1), so that the ejector picks up (31) the stirrers from the second channel (23) only when the first channel (21) is empty.

2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein:

said ejector (31) is controlled for performing an alternating movement comprising a loading stroke, wherewith the ejector is moved to a position for picking up a stirrer from said first opening (21A) or from said second opening (21B), and an ejection stroke, wherewith the ejector is moved from the pick up position to an ejection position; and

said stroke delimiter (51) limits the loading stroke of the ejector so that the pick up position corresponds to the first opening (21A) of the first channel (21) when at least one stirrer (P1) is present in the first channel, whereas when the first channel (21) is empty, the pick up position corresponds to the second opening (23A) of the second channel (23).

3. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said stroke delimiter (51) comprises an abutment fixed to say ejector and interfering with the stirrers contained in the first channel (21).

4. Dispenser according to claim 3, wherein:

said ejector (31) comprises;

a seat (45) for single stirrers (P1, P3) picked up from one or the other of said first channel (21) and of said second channel (23);

a retaining surface (49) of the stirrers into the respective channels, arranged behind said seat relative to the movement direction of ejector in the stirrer ejection step;

a step (47) between said seat (45) and said retaining surface;

and said abutment is arranged on said seat (45).

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said abutment is arranged at an end of said seat.

6. Device according to claim 4, wherein said retaining surface (49) has, in the movement direction of ejector (31), such size as to close both said first and said second opening (21A, 23A) when the ejector (31) is in the ejection position.

7. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein:

said first channel (21) and said second channel (23) have a development about vertical;

said first opening (21A) and said second opening (23A) are arranged at the bottom ends of said first channel (21) and of said second channel (23);

in said first channel (21) and said second channel (23) there are respectively arranged a first weight (25) and a second weight (27) acting on the respective stacks of stirrers (P1, P3); and

the first weight (25) is shaped for not interfering with said stroke delimiter (51).

8. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said alternating movement is an oscillation movement.

9. Beverage dispensing machine, comprising a dispenser according to claim 1.