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US 9,254,060 B2Granted
Multi-beverage vending machine
AssigneeSaes Getters S.P.A.
InventorsFrancesco Butera, Stefano Alacqua, Emanuele Nicolini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An instant drink vending machine is described. The instant drink vending machine has a water supply system for obtaining mixed warm water with a temperature selected among a set of pre-determined temperatures comprised between an upper and a lower value corresponding to temperatures of hot water and cold water to be mixed, said system including thermostatic shape memory alloy devices.
Claims14
An instant drink vending machine comprising:
- a water supply system comprising a connection to a water main supplying water at a first temperature lower than 100° C., the water supply system including
- a heater supplying hot water at a second temperature higher than said first temperature and comprised between 100° C. and 120° C., said heater further having at least two heater outlets controlled by valves, the heater being supplied with water at the first temperature from the water main, and
- at least one thermostatic shape memory alloy device having a first water inlet connected to one of the valves controlling one of said at least two heater outlets, a second water inlet connected to the water supply system, and an outlet supplying water at a first selected temperature comprised in a range between the first temperature and the second temperature and less than 100° C., said at least one thermostatic shape memory alloy device comprising a shape memory alloy spring made of a Ni—Ti based alloy containing at least 70% wt of Nickel and Titanium,
- a first vending outlet connected to one of the at least two heater outlets, the first vending outlet providing water at the second temperature for preparation of a first instant drink, and
- a second vending outlet connected to the at least one thermostatic shape memory alloy device supplying water at the first selected temperature for preparation of a second instant drink by mixing water at the first temperature with water at the second temperature.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.