Cleaning system for a beverage machine, preferably a coffee machine

A metering apparatus for a cleaning system of a beverage machine that produces coffee and drinks containing coffee, milk or milk froth, comprising:

• a storage container for containing cleaning balls or tablets;
• a dispensing chute that dispenses the cleaning balls or tablets into the cleaning system;
• first and second metering screws positioned between said container and said dispensing chute and that control conveyance of the cleaning balls or tablets from said container to said dispensing chute,
• said first screw being rotatable in a first direction of rotation and said second screw being rotatable in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation in which said first screw is rotatable,
• said first and second screws being controlled to rotate and individually transfer each of the cleaning balls or tablets to said dispensing chute,
• said first and second screws being spaced apart from one another to define a plurality of spaces therebetween, each of said plurality of spaces being configured to receive and hold a respective one of the cleaning balls or tablets;
• and
• a wall below said first and second metering screws, said wall having an opening situated below one of said spaces between said first and second metering screws and sized to allow only one of the cleaning balls or tablets at a time to pass from said one of said spaces between said first and second metering screws that is above said opening through said opening in said wall and into said dispensing chute situated below said wall.