التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
MACHINE FOR PRODUCING AND DISPENSING LIQUID OR SEMILIQUID FOODSTUFFS |
| Document Number: |
20110271690 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
November 10, 2011 |
| Appl. No: |
13/101248 |
| Application Filed: |
May 05, 2011 |
| مستخلص: |
A machine for producing and dispensing liquid or semiliquid foodstuffs, comprising: a holding vat (2) for a liquid base product; a treatment circuit (10) for the liquid base product, in order to obtain a liquid or semiliquid foodstuff; dispensing means (30) for distributing the foodstuff; a heat-adjustment system (11) comprising a thermal circuit (11′) within which a thermal fluid (11e) circulates, and equipped with: a compressor (11a), a condenser (11b), an electronic expansion valve (11c), an evaporator (11d), and a control unit (11f) configured for determining a main parameter (SH) representative of the instantaneous overheating of the thermal fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d); determining a reference parameter (SHset) as a function of a predetermined value (SHmin), and of an auxiliary value (DT) depending on the variation in time of the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d), and of the saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d); generating an electric command signal (S) for the valve (11c) as a function of a comparison between the main parameter (SH) and reference parameter (SHset). |
| Inventors: |
COCCHI, Andrea (Calderara Di Reno, IT); LAZZARINI, Roberto (Reggio Emilia, IT) |
| Assignees: |
ALI S.P.A. - CARPIGIANI GROUP (Milano, IT) |
| Claim: |
1. A machine for producing and dispensing liquid or semiliquid products for use as food (or foodstuffs), comprising: a holding vat (2) for a liquid base product; a treatment circuit (10) for said liquid base product, in order to obtain a liquid or semiliquid foodstuff, said treatment circuit (10) comprising at least one heat-adjustment system (11) for adjusting one or more values associated with the temperature of said base product, intermediate products and/or finished product; dispensing means (30) for distributing said foodstuff; wherein said heat-adjustment system (11) comprises a thermal circuit (11′) within which a thermal fluid (11e) circulates, and equipped with: a compressor (11a), a condenser (11b), an electronic expansion valve (11c), and an evaporator (11d), said electronic expansion valve (11c) being interposed between said condenser (11b) and evaporator (11d), characterised in that said heat-adjustment system (11) further comprises a control unit (11f) acting on said electronic expansion valve (11c) for adjusting a passage section of the valve through an electronic command signal (S), said control unit (11f) being configured for: determining a main parameter (SH) representative of the instantaneous overheating of the thermal fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d); determining a reference parameter (SHset) for said overheating, said reference parameter (SHset) being determined as a function of a predetermined value (SHmin), and of an auxiliary value (DT) depending on the variation in time of the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d), and of the saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d); generating said electric command signal (S) as a function of a comparison between said main parameter (SH) and reference parameter (SHset). |
| Claim: |
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said treatment circuit (10) comprises a cooling and mixing unit (19) equipped with a whipping device (12), said evaporator (11b) being thermally associated with said whipping device (12) for adjusting the temperature of the foodstuff present in said whipping device (12). |
| Claim: |
3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d) is determined as a function of a pressure (Pout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of said evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-adjustment system further comprises a first sensor (11g) adapted to detect a parameter representative of a pressure (Pout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of said evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-adjustment system (11) further comprises a second sensor (11h) adapted to detect a parameter representative of the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of said evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary value (DT) is determined as a function of a variation in time of an average between the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d) and the saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
7. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary value (DT) is determined as a function of a derivative in respect of time of a parameter depending on the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d) and on the saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
8. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said auxiliary value (DT) is determined as a function of a derivative in respect of time of an average between the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d) and the saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
9. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main parameter (SH) is determined as a function of a difference between the temperature (Tout) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d) and the saturation temperature (Tsat) of the fluid (11e) coming out of the evaporator (11d). |
| Claim: |
10. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined value (SHmin) is a constant value fixed during the starting setting of the heat-adjustment system (11). |
| Claim: |
11. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reference parameter (SHset) is determined as a function of a sum between said predetermined value (SHmin) and auxiliary value (DT). |
| Claim: |
12. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (11f) is configured for applying a control technique of the PID type to an error defined by a difference between said main parameter (SH) and reference parameter (SHset), for generating the electric command signal (S). |
| Claim: |
13. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (11f) is configured for applying a control technique of the PID type wherein the proportional term is calculated as the product of the proportional term P and of the absolute value thereof |P| so as to obtain a value equal to the square of the value of P and also having the sign of the term P itself. |
| Claim: |
14. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second sensor (11h) comprises at least one of one or more temperature sensors of the resistive type, and one or more thermocouples. |
| Claim: |
15. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic valve (11c) comprises an adjustable closure member and an electromechanical actuator for adjusting said closure member, said command signal (S) being intended for said electromechanical actuator. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
62/1 |
| Current International Class: |
25 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20110271690 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |