Machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products and recirculation method
The invention relates to a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, having: at least one tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed and having a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed; at least one dispensing tap having: an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the containment tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice, a tubular duct having formed in it a first internal cavity which is provided with at least one radial opening.
1. A machine for dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid food product, comprising:
a tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed, the tank including a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed;
a dispensing tap comprising:
an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice,
a tubular duct including a first internal cavity including a radial opening, the tubular duct being movably inserted in the external conduit and being movable between a dispensing position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product release orifice through the first internal cavity and the radial opening, and a recirculation, dispensing inhibit position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice through the first internal cavity and preventing fluid communication between the inlet orifice and the product release orifice.
2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the external conduit includes a further opening through which the tubular duct is inserted into the external conduit.
3. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular duct is movable relative to the external conduit between a first axial position and a second axial position, where the first axial position is closer to the inlet orifice than the second axial position, wherein the tubular duct is at the recirculation, dispensing inhibit position when at the first axial position and at a first angular position of rotation relative to the external conduit, and wherein the tubular duct is at the dispensing position when at the second axial position and at a second angular position of rotation relative to the external conduit.
4. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular duct includes a first end portion and a second end portion which are opposite each other, the first end portion including the radial opening which is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the product release orifice when the tubular duct is at the dispensing position.
5. The machine according to claim 4 , wherein the tubular duct includes, between the first end portion and the second end portion, a middle portion having a narrow section portion, where the radial opening is positioned to establish fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice when the tubular duct is at the recirculation, dispensing inhibit position and where there is a further opening which, in use, faces toward an internal side wall of the external conduit.
6. The machine according to claim 5 , wherein the first end portion includes a second cavity, which is axially open towards an exterior of the tubular duct and which is separate from the first internal cavity, and a narrow radial section portion, which externally defines a radial cavity and which includes a plurality of radial holes which open internally into the second cavity.
7. The machine according to claim 6 , wherein the tubular duct is also movable into a position where at least one portion of the plurality of radial holes are in fluid communication with the product release orifice.
8. The machine according claim 6 , wherein the tubular duct is configured such that at the recirculation, dispensing inhibit position, at least a part of the plurality of radial holes is in fluid communication with the product release orifice.
9. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising an outlet nozzle which, in use, is in fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice and leads into the tank.
10. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the tank includes on a bottom portion thereof, an opening which is in fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice and the outlet nozzle comprises a first inlet portion having a first fluid flow section and being adapted to be coupled to the opening of the tank and a second, outlet portion having a second fluid flow section different from the first fluid flow section.
11. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine is a pasteurizing machine.
12. A method for recirculating a liquid or semi-liquid product in a machine, comprising the following steps:
providing:
a tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed, the tank including a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed;
a dispensing tap comprising:
an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice,
a tubular duct including a first internal cavity including a radial opening, the tubular duct being movably inserted in the external conduit and being movable between a dispensing position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product release orifice through the first internal cavity and the radial opening, and a recirculation, dispensing inhibit position, placing the inlet orifice in fluid communication with the product recirculation orifice through the first internal cavity and preventing fluid communication between the inlet orifice and the product release orifice;
causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to recirculate by withdrawing the liquid or semi-liquid product from the tank through the discharge orifice, causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to flow at least partly inside the external conduit of the dispensing tap and returning the liquid or semi-liquid product into the tank.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to recirculate comprises a step of changing the direction of movement of the liquid or semi-liquid product inside the external conduit.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to recirculate comprises a step of reversing the direction of movement of the liquid or semi-liquid product inside the external conduit.
15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to recirculate comprises a step of keeping the product release orifice closed while the liquid or semi-liquid product is flowing through the inside of the external conduit.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of causing the liquid or semi-liquid product to recirculate comprises a step of placing the tubular duct at the recirculation, dispensing inhibit position.