초록 ▼

An apparatus for presenting and dispensing mineral water suitable for consumption, characterized in that the apparatus is arranged to generate the mineral water from mains water and is provided with a mains water inlet, water processing means for obtaining the mineral water from the mains water, at

An apparatus for presenting and dispensing mineral water suitable for consumption, characterized in that the apparatus is arranged to generate the mineral water from mains water and is provided with a mains water inlet, water processing means for obtaining the mineral water from the mains water, at least an outlet for dispensing the mineral water and a first fluid connection between the inlet and the water processing means for supplying the mains water to be processed to the water processing means, the water processing means being provided with a first storage vessel which, in use, is filled with the mineral water, at least a second storage vessel which, in use, is filled with minerals, at least a dosing unit for dispensing, in a dosed manner, minerals from the second storage vessel to the first storage vessel, at least a cooling unit for cooling the first storage vessel, at least a third storage vessel which, in use, is also filled with the mineral water, a second fluid connection between the first storage vessel and the third storage vessel for conveying mineral water from the first storage vessel to the third storage vessel and at least a first recirculation system for discharging mineral water from the third storage vessel and for then supplying the discharged mineral water to the third storage vessel again, the outlet being arranged to dispense the mineral water from the third storage vessel and/or the first storage vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for presenting and dispensing mineral water suitable for consumption, wherein the apparatus is arranged to generate the mineral water from supply water and is provided with a supply water inlet, a first storage vessel which, in use, is filled with the miner

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for presenting and dispensing mineral water suitable for consumption, wherein the apparatus is arranged to generate the mineral water from supply water and is provided with a supply water inlet, a first storage vessel which, in use, is filled with the mineral water, at least a first fluid connection between the inlet and the first storage vessel and, optionally, a filter which is included in the first fluid connection for filtering supply water which, in use, flows from the inlet via the first fluid connection to the first storage vessel, at least a second storage vessel which, in use, is filled with minerals, at least a dosing unit for dispensing, in a dosed manner, minerals from the second storage vessel to the first storage vessel, at least a cooling unit for cooling the first storage vessel, at least a third storage vessel which, in use, is also filled with the mineral water, a second fluid connection between the first storage vessel and the third storage vessel for conveying mineral water from the first storage vessel to the third storage vessel and at least an outlet for dispensing mineral water from the third storage vessel and/or the first storage vessel, the apparatus--further being provided with at least a first recirculation system for discharging mineral water from the third storage vessel and for then supplying the discharged mineral water to the third storage vessel again. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid connection comprises a conduit extending from the inlet to the first storage vessel. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first fluid connection is provided with a conduit extending from the inlet to the first recirculation system and a conduit extending from the first recirculation system to the first storage vessel. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid connection at least partly extends through at least a part of the first recirculation system. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with at least a second recirculation system for discharging mineral water from the first storage vessel and for then supplying the discharged mineral water to the first storage vessel again. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein that the second fluid connection extends through at least a part of the second recirculation system. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wall of the third storage vessel is of at least partly made of transparent materials. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first recirculation system is provided with a recirculation outlet from where, in use, the mineral water squirts against an inner side of the wall of the third storage vessel. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, whereby, in use, the mineral water from the recirculation outlet squirts against a transparent part of the wall of the third storage vessel. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a housing in which the first storage vessel, the second storage vessel, the cooling unit and the dosing unit are included, at least a part of the transparent part of the wall of the third storage vessel being situated outside the housing. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an upper side of the third storage vessel is spherical, at least part of the upper side of the third storage vessel is transparent. 12. An apparatus according to claim 9 whereby, in use, the mineral water squirts from the recirculation outlet upward in vertical direction. 13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wall of the whole third storage vessel is of transparent design and that the whole storage vessel is placed outside the housing. 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a third fluid connection between the first storage vessel and a first outlet of the at least one outlet for dispensing cooled mineral water from the first storage vessel. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a second outlet of the at least one outlet is connected via a fourth fluid connection with the third storage vessel for dispensing mineral water from the third storage vessel. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are placed near each other such that from both outlets mineral water can be supplied to a container such as a beaker or cup without displacing the container. 17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first and the second outlet are placed below the third storage vessel so that it appears as though the water flowing out of the first outlet comes from the third storage vessel. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the third storage vessel hangs above a platform of the housing by means of a support, the third fluid connection extending from the housing through the support to the second outlet and thus being invisible to the user. 19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a fifth fluid connection between the third storage vessel and the first storage vessel for conveying mineral water from the third storage vessel back to the first storage vessel. 20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter is arranged to remove sediment, dirt, rust, aromatic substances, minerals, salts and/or flavorings from the mains water. 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one filter is included in the second recirculation system. 22. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a first pump for conveying the mineral water through the second and the third fluid connection. 23. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a second pump which is included in the first recirculation system. 24. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage vessel is further provided with an overflow for discharging mineral water from the first storage vessel when the level of the mineral water in the first storage vessel exceeds a first predetermined value. 25. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third storage vessel is provided with an overflow for discharging mineral water from the third storage vessel when the level of the mineral water in the third storage vessel exceeds a second predetermined value. 26. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with a control unit for controlling the cooling unit, the dosing device and the liquid flows through the fluid connections. 27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the control unit is arranged to dispense dosed portions of mineral water from the third storage vessel. 28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the control unit is arranged to dispense dosed portions of mineral water from the first storage vessel. 29. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recirculation system includes at least one filter. 30. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the filter is provided with a microfilter, such as a capillary membrane, a ceramic filter or a carbon filter. 31. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each fluid connection from the housing with the third storage vessel or the outlet extends through the support so that said each fluid connection cannot be seen by a user. 32. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each fluid connection extending from the housing to the third storage vessel or the outlet is shielded from vision. 33. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first storage vessel, the second storage vessel, the cooling unit and the dosing unit are shielded from vision. 34. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with a sixth fluid connection extending from the first recirculation system to the first storage vessel. 35. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the filter is provided with a microfilter.