Machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products and recirculation method
AssigneeAli S.P.A.—Carpigiani Group
InventorsAndrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, having: at least one tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed and having a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed; at least one dispensing tap having: an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the containment tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice, a tubular duct having formed in it a first internal cavity which is provided with at least one radial opening.
Claims16
A machine for dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid food product, comprising:
- a tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed, the tank including a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed;
- a dispensing tap comprising:
- an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice,
- a tubular duct including a first internal cavity including a radial opening, the tubular duct being movably inserted in the external conduit and being movable between a dispensing position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product release orifice through the first internal cavity and the radial opening, and a recirculation, dispensing inhibit position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice through the first internal cavity and preventing fluid communication between the inlet orifice and the product release orifice.
A method for recirculating a liquid or semi-liquid product in a machine, comprising the following steps:
- providing:
- a tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed, the tank including a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed;
- a dispensing tap comprising:
- an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice,
- a tubular duct including a first internal cavity including a radial opening, the tubular duct being movably inserted in the external conduit and being movable between a dispensing position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product release orifice through the first internal cavity and the radial opening, and a recirculation, dispensing inhibit position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice through the first internal cavity and preventing fluid communication between the inlet orifice and the product release orifice;
- causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to recirculate by withdrawing the liquid or semi-liquid product from the tank through the discharge orifice, causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to flow at least partly inside the external conduit of the dispensing tap and returning the liquid or semi-liquid product into the tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.