Chilled Liquid Dispensers

摘要

The dispenser includes a bottle connector 5 for releasable sealing engagement with a neck formed on an inverted bottle 3, and a water path 6 conducts liquid from the bottle to a reservoir 7 via an optional water pump 41. The reservoir 7 is received in a thermal receptacle incorporating an evaporator plate 13 for producing ice within a bottom chamber 103 of the reservoir. The evaporator plate incorporates an electrical heating element 105 for periodically freeing the ice which enters an upper inlet chamber 100 and an ice chamber 101 separated by a baffle. Optical sensors A, B and C control ice generation. Ambient water entering the inlet chamber 100 is cooled to a temperature as low as 4° C. The chilled water then enters the ice chamber 101, from which ice-cold water can be dispensed close to zero ° C. A diverter flap 112 allows the inlet chamber 100 to continue receiving ice when the ice chamber 101 is full.