CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/058966, filed on Apr. 9, 2018, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 17165972.5, filed on Apr. 11, 2017, the entire contents of which are being incorporated herein by reference

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of beverage preparation in a beverage preparation apparatus using capsules containing ingredients. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for use in vehicles such in a car for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The beverage preparation apparatus using capsules containing beverage ingredients such as ground coffee are very popular for their convenience, the consistent quality and quick preparation.

Certain beverage machines have been developed more specifically for being installed in vehicles such as the one described in EP1277428B1. The device is an espresso coffee machine designed for a vehicle using a low power source, comprising a reservoir for the water which is connected to a pump to convey water to a heating element, which itself is connected to an extraction head for a portion of coffee, a mobile fastener for the head with a means which makes it possible to displace the said fastener from a position of opening to a position of closure and vice versa.

A problem for the use of a beverage machine in a vehicle is that the fluid circuit of the machine can freeze when the machine is not in use and the vehicle is parked under winter conditions. The ice may damage certain components of the machine such as the fluid circuit including the pump, fluid tubes and the tubular fluid heater. The maintenance of the fluid circuit under positive temperature by heating or continuous water fluidic recirculation cannot be envisioned for long as this would consume too much electrical power from the energy accumulator of the vehicle when the vehicle is parked.

The present invention aims at solving the inconvenient of the prior art by proposing a simple reliable solution that resolves the problem of water freezing in the fluid circuit of the device and a solution that does not require much electrical power for solving this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this, the invention relates to a beverage preparation apparatus for preparing a beverage comprising:a water tank for storing water,a brewing unit for receiving a dose of beverage ingredients,a water line for supplying water from the water tank to the brewing unit including a pressure pump for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit and a fluid heater for heating liquid,a control unit for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump,

wherein it further comprises a fluidic interrupter positionable in fluidic interruption position for interrupting the fluidic communication between the water tank and the water line and, reversely, positionable in fluidic communication position for restoring the fluid communication between the water tank and the water line. Furthermore, the control unit is preferably arranged for automatically activating an anti-freeze mode by activating the fluidic interrupter in fluidic interruption position and by running the pressure pump to at least partially empty the water line from water contained therein. More preferably, the control unit is arranged for running the pressure pump after the fluidic interrupter has been positioned in fluidic interruption position and at least substantially all water is emptied from the water line.

Therefore, a solution is thought of which provides de-coupling of the water tank from the fluid circuit and provides a purging of the fluid circuit automatically. The components which can be sensitive to freezing, when the apparatus is no longer powered for an extensive period of time, are preserved. The solution is energy efficient since no heat or no long working time of electrical components is necessary.

In possible mode, the control unit is arranged for fully emptying the water line.

In an aspect, the fluidic interrupter is driven by an electrical motor controllable by the control unit between the fluidic interruption position and a fluidic communication position. A motor of low power consumption can be used thereby contributing to provide an energy efficient and an automated solution.

In an aspect, the apparatus comprises a fluidic metering device in the water line for providing to the control unit information indicative of the flow rate of liquid in the water line and the control unit is arranged for stopping the pressure pump after the flow rate falls below a predetermined threshold, preferably at zero (+/−1.0) ml/min. Preferably, the control unit is preferably arranged for delaying of a predetermined time (e.g., 2-3 seconds) the interruption of the pressure pump after the flow rate falls below a predetermined threshold to ensure the water line downstream the flow meter has had time to empty. Therefore, the removal of the water in the water line can be controlled precisely and be stopped e.g. when no significant flow can be measured. Depending on the type of pump, the formation of damage by ice is prevented by removing sufficient water from the water line while possibly maintaining sufficient the priming of the pressure pump when the flow is resumed in working conditions.

In another aspect, the control unit is arranged for receiving information related to a power status of an external electrical power circuit and for activating the anti-freeze mode as a response to such information, such as in response to an information indicating that the status of a vehicle's electrical power circuit is no longer under power. Therefore, the anti-freeze mode can, for example, be implemented when the vehicle, the beverage apparatus is installed in, is parked. The status on the low voltage power circuit of the vehicle provides an indication to the beverage preparation apparatus that the vehicle is no longer maintainable in tempered temperature conditions by the heat system of the vehicle and a freezing risk may occur. The beverage preparation apparatus may comprise an autonomous electrical energy accumulator (e.g., electrical battery) enabling to implement the mode in full autonomy, i.e. without requiring electrical power from the vehicle itself. The anti-freeze mode can be delayed from the time the information is received by the control unit on the status of the external power circuit.

In addition or alternatively, the control unit is arranged for receiving information as to a temperature indication from at least one temperature sensor sensing ambient air or liquid and for activating the anti-freeze mode as a response to such temperature information, such as in response to an information indicating that the temperature of ambient air and/or liquid falls below at least one predetermined threshold. The temperature input may be used as a cumulative condition to the power input or as an alternative condition. For this the apparatus comprises at least one temperature sensor arranged for sensing the ambient temperature or the temperature of water in the water line or water tank. Alternatively or cumulatively, the control unit may be arranged for receiving information from an external temperature sensing such as one pertaining to the vehicle.

In a preferred mode, the brewing unit is openable for insertion of the dose of beverage ingredients in the brewing chamber and closable for brewing the dose of beverage ingredients in the brewing chamber, by means of a motorization unit comprising an electrical motor and wherein, in the antifreeze mode, the control unit activates the electrical motor to open the brewing unit when running the pressure pump to at least partially empty the brewing chamber from water contained therein. The solution for emptying at least partially water from the water line is simple and does not require additional components or derivations. Water can be collected directly in a reservoir for collecting the used dose of ingredients.

In the preferred mode, the apparatus comprises an electrical accumulator arranged for supplying low-voltage electrical current to the fluidic interrupter, the activation motor of the brewing unit, the pressure pump, the control unit and optionally a water heater.

Preferably, the water tank and the water line are removably and fluidically connectable via a coupling comprising a first coupling part at an outlet of the water tank and a second coupling part at an inlet of the water line. The fluidic interrupter is arranged for separating such coupling parts for interrupting the fluid communication and for re-engaging the coupling parts for restoring the fluid communication. By separating the water tank from the water line, the water line is automatically vented and easy to purge. There is also no risk that water from the water tank can be transferred to the water line after purging of the water line.

Furthermore, the first coupling part may comprise a one-way valve. The second coupling part may comprise an opening member for opening the one-way valve during engagement. The one-way valve may be associated with elastic return means for closing the outlet of the water tank when the fluidic interrupter is in fluidic interruption position. The coupling between the water tank and the interrupter is therefore mechanically simple and enables an automatic and immediate closing of the water tank when the coupling is separated for fluidic interruption by the interrupter.

In the still preferred mode, the fluidic interrupter comprises an activation member connected, via a transmission, to the electrical motor for moving the second coupling part relative to the first coupling part between the fluidic interruption position and the fluidic communication position. In the particular mode, the activation member is arranged to be moved along an axial direction relative to outlet of the water tank such as by comprising a thread linking with a geared wheel of the transmission. The activation member so moves helicoidally along the axial direction. The activation member is arranged in connection with the second coupling to pull coupling part towards the fluidic interruption position and push it towards the fluidic communication position. The activation members may be arranged differently with the second coupling part such as by moving rotationally or curvedly.

In more general aspect, the water tank comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls; such side walls forming an angle relative to the bottom wall comprised between 91 and 100 degrees, preferably between 92 and 95 degrees. The slight flaring of the side walls combined with the removability of the water tank facilitate the removal of ice that may form in the water tank.

The water tank may also be thermally insulated. In particular, the water tank comprises double-glazed sidewalls with an inner air or gas layer. The water tank is preferably closed by a top lid affixed thereon. The lid may be arranged for closing with the side walls of the water tank in a liquid tight manner. As a result, spillage of water is prevented when the vehicle is moving or parked on a steep slope.

Preferably, the lid comprises a pressure-relief valve arranged for allowing fluid to escape the water tank above a certain internal pressure applied thereon. The pressure-relief valve enables fluid to escape as water expands when transforming into ice within the water tank. The pressure-relief valve can be any kind of one-way valve such as a slit valve, a duck-bill or ball-type valve. In a preferred mode, the valve is a slit valve such as made of silicone, EPDM or TPE.

The invention may also relate to the vehicle comprising the beverage preparation apparatus.

