Beverage preparation device with in-line scale removal system and descaling method using such system

Abstract

Beverage preparation machine comprising: a fluid circuit comprising a water reservoir, a water pump, a heating means, a beverage producing module, which are fluidically connected for circulating water from the reservoir to the beverage producing module, wherein an inline descaling system is provided in the fluid circuit comprising a dedicated compartment intended for receiving a predetermined dose of a water soluble/dispersible descaling agent. The invention also relates to a method for automatically descaling and rinsing the fluid circuit.

The intervention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A method for descaling a beverage preparation machine automatically under the control of a control unit of the machine, the method comprising:
 placing a dose of descaling agent in a compartment of the machine and filling a reservoir with a predetermined quantity of water; 
 circulating a first part of the predetermined quantity of water from the reservoir, in a fluid circuit, whereby the descaling agent is dissolved or dispersed progressively by water passing through the compartment to form descaling liquid circulating through heating means, and the first part of the predetermined quantity of water in the reservoir transfers directly from the reservoir to the compartment without tubing; and 
 automatically circulating a second or remaining part of the quantity of water from the reservoir in the fluid circuit through the heating means after the descaling agent has dissolved or dispersed in the compartment to rinse the fluid circuit, and the second part of the predetermined quantity of water in the reservoir transfers directly from the reservoir to the compartment without tubing. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts of the quantity of water are automatically sequentially circulated upon the user activating a descaling procedure's command and according to a descaling program of the control unit, without requiring intervention by the user. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dose of descaling agent and the quantity of water in the reservoir are determined so that a sufficient quantity of water is circulated from the reservoir to the module after the descaling agent is entirely dissolved or dispersed from the compartment to rinse the fluid circuit. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein during the first descaling phase, at least one pause is provided to momentarily stop the circulation of water in the fluid circuit. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water level in the water tank is determined to verify that the reservoir is filled with a sufficient quantity of water necessary for the descaling procedure. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the descaling procedure is interrupted if the quantity of water in the reservoir is less than the quantity of water necessary for the descaling procedure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acidity level of the water in the fluid circuit is determined to verify the level of rinsing of the fluid circuit before ending the procedure. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting the circulated liquid in a collecting reservoir located at the beverage outlet. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein about from ⅓ to ⅔ of the initial quantity of water is circulated from the reservoir for rinsing when the descaling agent is entirely dissolved or dispersed. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising circulating the first part and the second part of the predetermined quantity of water to the compartment from the reservoir, the reservoir positioned upstream of the compartment. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising activating a pump downstream from the compartment, the activated pump circulating the first part and the second part of the predetermined quantity of water. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising closing a one-way valve downstream from the reservoir and upstream from the compartment, the closing of the valve blocking migration of the descaling agent into the compartment. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second or remaining part of the quantity of water is circulated from the reservoir in the fluid circuit through the heating means after the descaling agent has been removed from the compartment.