Food or beverage preparation machine with antiscaling pipe system
US10285536B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 14, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47J31/462
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention concerns a food or beverage preparation machine (M) comprising a casing, a mineralized fluid source (1), a receptacle (10) adapted for functionally enclosing at least one food or beverage ingredient container (C), means (3) for conducting said mineralized fluid (13) from said source (1) to the interior of said capsule (C), optionally a heating and/or chilling device (4), and a fluid pipe system (2, 20, 21, 22) that fluidly connects said source (1), said conducting means (3), said receptacle (10), and said heating and/or chilling device (4), characterized in that at least one portion of the fluid pipe system (2, 20, 21, 22) and/or conducting means (3), and/or heating/chilling device (4) is made of a smart memory alloy (SMA), or smart memory polymer (SMP) designed to reversibly expand or contract above a defined temperature threshold in order to negate the buildup of scale or other deposits on the surfaces in contact with the mineralized fluid (13) by mechanical action, during operation of said machine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.