Beverage preparation machine

摘要

The present invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) having a tank (2) for containing a food-grade fluid, said tank comprising: (i) a reservoir body with side, bottom and top walls, (ii) at least one filling opening, (iii) at least one dispensing opening comprising a dispensing valve for establishing a fluid connecting between said machine and said tank, said tank having a weight WE when less than 5% of its total volume is filled, and a weight WF when at least 5% of its total volume is filled with fluid, said valve being reciprocally movable between a first position where the tank has a weight WE and the valve is open and a second position where the tank has a weight WF and the valve is closed characterized in that said machine comprises a switch disposed in the vicinity of at least one wall of the tank (2), so that: —when the tank has a weight WF said tank is in a first position so that it contacts said switch, and —when the tank has a weight WE said tank is in a second position, away from said switch, said machine further comprising a user warning means that is actuated when the switch does not contact the tank wall so as to warn the user that the tank needs a refill.

主权项

1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a tank for containing a food-grade fluid, the tank comprising: a reservoir body with side, bottom and top walls, at least one dispensing opening comprising a spring-mounted poppet valve for establishing a fluid connection between the machine and the tank, the spring-mounted poppet valve comprising a stem head, a valve stem resting onto a surface of the machine, and a spring that is in contact at one end with the valve stem and on the other end with the reservoir, the tank having a weight WE when less than 5% of its total volume is filled, and a weight WF when at least 5% of its total volume is filled with fluid, the valve being reciprocally movable between a first position where the tank has a weight WE and the valve is closed by the spring pushing the reservoir body into contact with the stem head, and a second position where the tank has a weight WF and the valve is opened by the reservoir body compressing the spring and moving out of contact with the stem head; a switch located in the vicinity of at least one wall of the tank, so that: when the tank has a weight WF the tank is in a first position so that the tank wall contacts the switch, and when the tank has a weight WE the tank is in a second position, away from the switch; and a user warning device that is actuated when the switch does not contact the tank wall so as to warn the user that the tank needs a refill.