The present invention relates to a dispenser of potable water, chilled potable water, carbonated chilled potable water or other beverages, comprising at least a dispensing nozzle and a sanitising system, which dispensing nozzle comprises a cavity into which a dispensing line flows.

Beverage dispensers, also known as drinks machines or drinks dispensers, are devices that typically comprise a connection to the water supply and/or at least one tank containing the beverage to be dispensed, usually at room temperature and/or chilled, which can be tapped on demand through a nozzle. These dispensers may further comprise at least one carbonator, to additionally allow the dispensing of carbonated beverages, for example carbonated water.

These devices must be sanitised carefully and regularly, to avoid the formation of germs and/or bacteria in the dispensing tubes that are responsible for the circulation of the beverage when it is dispensed.

This is particularly true in the case of water dispensers.

To date, the main sanitisation technology for this class of devices is to circulate chlorine-based sanitiser inside the machine.

However, despite the actual effectiveness of the current treatments with respect to the entire body of the device, they nevertheless have little influence on the dispensing nozzle.

This element, however, represents an easy access route for a microorganism to enter the entire hydraulic circuit, and can therefore represent the access point of a new infestation in the dispenser even after sanitisation with chlorine.

The nozzle also has a certain level of residual moisture after use and, being in direct contact with the surrounding air, potentially rich in particulate matter and organic components, could represent the point of development of new organic colonies. In particular, in the case of dispensing beverages comprising organic and/or sugar solutions, the risk of bacterial proliferation at the dispensing nozzle increases considerably.

US2015328349A1 describes an ozone-free ion generator configured for generating ions for use in hand dryers and disinfectants for sanitising various surfaces including hands, hardware, fixtures, electronics, countertops, equipment, tools. The ion generator adds a fluid of ions and radicals that increase the sanitising power of the dispensing. Therefore, the generator has an exterior application, aimed at a user requiring to sanitise a certain object, and is not suitable for use in a beverage dispenser, nor to prevent pathogens from entering it through the dispensing nozzle.

US5002204A discloses a beverage supply valve wherein dilution water or carbonated water obtained from a municipal water network and provided at the valve inlet is mixed with syrup at the valve outlet. The valve comprises a pair of electrodes in a passage between inlet and outlet to transform the chlorine ions contained in the water into sterilizing chlorine. However, this system aims to add sanitising agents to the water and not to sanitise the air volume near the nozzle dispensing point.

To date, no effective solution for sanitising a dispensing nozzle of a beverage dispenser is available.

In particular, there is a need for an internal and external sanitising system for a dispensing nozzle and the volume of air near the dispensing point, in addition to the normal periodic sanitisation procedures programmed based on chlorine solutions for the dispenser, and able to take into account the work cycle of the dispenser itself (for example, beverage just dispensed, beverage being dispensed, beverage dispensed some time ago).

The present invention seeks to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned known art by means of a beverage dispenser as disclosed at the outset, and characterized in that said dispenser comprises a) a control board; b) an electrode and a conductive ring placed at said cavity of said nozzle to form an active sanitisation chamber at least in said cavity, said conductive ring being electrically connected to ground, c) an electronic circuit for generation of high negative voltage between the electrode and the conductive ring, said control board being connected to said electrode by said electronic circuit.

The term "beverage dispenser" refers, by way of non-limiting example, to a beverage dispenser for use in a domestic and/or office environment, as well as a beverage dispenser intended for any work environment or place with sanitary restrictions, for example a hospital and/or health facility.

The term "beverage" refers, by way of non-limiting example, to any liquid with a thirst-quenching and/or refreshing function, including, for example, organic and/or sugary and/or salty solutions. The term "beverage" can therefore refer to water, cola, juice, and any other liquid so defined.

Said dispenser preferably comprises, in addition to at least one dispensing nozzle, an electronic control circuit aimed at regulating the work cycle of the dispenser itself and an electric power supply.

The dispenser may further comprise additional elements, such as for example a refrigeration tank to provide for the dispensing of cold beverages and/or a carbonator for the dispensing of carbonated beverages, for example carbonated water.

Said dispenser can be connected to the water supply network for its supply, for example in the case of a water dispenser, or can also comprise at least one tank comprising the beverage to be dispensed.

The term “electrode” preferably refers to a conductive element preferably made of titanium.

Even more preferably, the electrode is made of titanium having a purity of at least 95%.

According to a preferred, but non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, said electrode is needle-shaped. Said electrode is located inside the nozzle, in particular the electrode protrudes into the nozzle in a position equidistant from the walls of the cavity of the nozzle itself, preferably cylindrical in shape, and one end of the electrode is facing the dispensing exit of said nozzle and being the conductive ring placed at the walls of the cavity.

Advantageously, titanium guarantees protection of the electrode from oxidative phenomena over time. This is important in light of the generation within the sanitising system (active chamber) of strongly oxidizing agents.

The term "conductive ring" preferably refers to a titanium ring, which can internally cover the nozzle walls next to the electrode or in a position staggered with respect to said electrode.

Alternatively, said titanium ring can be inserted into a special seat/cavity inside the nozzle walls, next to the electrode, so as to wrap the electrode itself, at least partially, or it can be located in a staggered position with respect to said electrode.

In particular, the electrode is placed coaxial to the conductive ring.

Said position is preferred but not limiting. Any position of the electrode relative to the conductive ring is in fact also possible.

Said electrode and conductive ring define, inside the nozzle but not only there, an active sanitisation chamber where, due to the power supplied to the chamber by the high negative voltage generation electronic circuit, the sanitisation action takes place, as will be described in detail below.

Applying a high negative voltage allows negative ions to be generated. This is advantageous first of all because positive ions in general are not beneficial to the human organism and also because positive ions do not have the ability to aggregate and create clusters of molecules or particulate matter in suspension. The creation of negative ions, on the other hand, makes it possible to aggregate the molecules and/or particulates in suspension and to precipitate them.

Said active sanitisation chamber preferably comprises, in addition to the area of the nozzle and in particular its cavity, an air volume located near the dispensing nozzle, in particular said chamber includes the area of the nozzle that comprises the electrode and the conductive ring but also extends to a volume of air surrounding the dispensing nozzle, said volume of air being delimited below by the surface of the beverage dispenser on which the glasses and/or bottles to be filled are placed.

Consequently, the term "active sanitisation chamber" refers to an area/volume defined at least in part by the electrode, the conductive ring and the cavity of the nozzle, and which is delimited below by the surface of the beverage dispenser on which are placed the glasses and/or bottles to be filled.

The choice of titanium advantageously provides protection for the electrode and the ring from oxidative phenomena over time. It goes without saying that any other material suitable for ensuring this effect may also be used.

According to one embodiment, said conductive ring is electrically grounded.

Advantageously, the grounding of the conductive ring allows the system that is the object of the present invention to have a zero potential reference during the sanitisation phase.

Said configuration advantageously guarantees that high voltages can be obtained even for low current values, and represents a safety measure for the entire system.

The conductive ring thus configured also provides a shielding action against possible EMI effects (electromagnetic interference) against the control circuit of the beverage dispenser.

Preferably, the high negative voltage generation electronic circuit is powered and operated by direct current.

Advantageously, said circuit provides for negatively charging the electrode to a potential with negative DC voltage.

The term “high negative voltage” refers to a range of voltage values from -20 kV to -200 kV. According to one embodiment, the electronic circuit for generating high negative voltage comprises at least one DC-DC voltage converter, an oscillator, and a DC high negative voltage booster.

Said DC-DC voltage converter may preferably consist of a buckboost DC-DC converter.

Advantageously, said elements provide a modulation of the output voltage and current value from the electronic circuit with respect to the input voltage and current values in the same circuit, as will be described in detail below. In particular, said output values are configured to initiate one or more sanitisation phenomena in the dispensing nozzle.

Preferably, the circuit for generation of high negative voltage uses pulse-width modulation, or PWM.

According to one embodiment, the control board comprises a microcontroller, said microcontroller being configured to regulate the voltage and/or the current of said circuit, the microcontroller being in communication with said DC-DC converter and oscillator.

According to one embodiment, said microcontroller is configured to regulate the voltage and/or the current of said circuit to provide, by means of the electrode and the ring in the nozzle, the following phenomena: a) ionization of molecules; b) generation of ozone; c) generation of cold plasma; said phenomena being provided individually and/or in combination and/or in sequence.

The microcontroller is configured to regulate - for example on the basis of control parameters recorded in the system control board following a previous testing phase - the correct voltage and/or current value of the electronic circuit for the generation of high negative voltage, specifically acting on the converter and/or on the oscillator, as will be described in more detail below.

The microcontroller therefore, by adjusting the correct parameters of the high negative voltage generation circuit, provides for the establishment, in the active chamber of the nozzle, of ionization of molecules and/or generation of ozone and/or generation of cold plasma, which each represent a possible sanitisation phenomenon or process at least for the dispensing nozzle.

Specifically, the establishment of one of the aforementioned phenomena in the active sanitisation chamber takes place, from an electrical point of view, as described below, and as will be more clearly shown in the figures.

The direct current of an electric power supply with a pre-defined voltage - preferably generated by the power supply of the beverage dispenser - arrives at the DC-DC converter, preferably a buck-boost converter, which has a continuous output of a value greater than or less than the value of the input voltage. The microcontroller - which is in communication with the DC-DC buck-boost converter - having observed the final parameters to be set, depending on the sanitisation process to be started, sends a signal to the converter, preferably in the form of pulses, suitable for modulating the voltage of the current output from the converter itself.

It should be noted that pulse modulation is part of the design techniques of so-called "switching buck" voltage converters, i.e. step-up or step-down converters. The output voltage is increased or decreased based on an analogue or PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal.

The modulated voltage DC current then reaches an oscillator which, based on the value of the input DC voltage, produces a pulse train with fixed amplitude and average voltage variable depending on the ratio between the pulse duration and the entire period, according to the pulse width modulation technique, PWM, known in the prior art.

The microcontroller - which is in communication with the oscillator - having observed the final parameters to be set, depending on the physical phenomenon and sanitisation process that is intended to be started, sends the oscillator a signal, preferably in the form of pulses and PWM pulse amplitude modulations, suitable to modulate the signal that will be generated by the oscillator itself. Finally, the pulse train leaving the oscillator goes to a high voltage DC booster, which amplifies the negative voltage of the current that will reach the electrode located in the dispensing nozzle, in order to establish a specific sanitising phenomenon or process.

In particular, the voltage on the electrode and the relative current may be monitored under voltage and/or by time modulation.

The three sanitising processes mentioned above refer to different potential and current conditions in the active sanitisation chamber, said values being regulated by the microcontroller as described.

The microcontroller adjusts in particular the voltage and current values of the high negative voltage generation circuit according to a current voltage curve VS similar to that of a discharge tube, as will be better illustrated in the Figures.

The specific voltage and current parameters are not unique, varying in fact based on the type of beverage dispenser and based on the biophysical parameters of the beverage that is dispensed.

In general, in case of a dry nozzle, 60% RH air humidity, ambient temperature around 24°C and maximum 80kV circuit, the microcontroller guarantees the following: a) ionization of molecules with voltage values greater than 7 V output from the DC-DC converter and current of 100 mA output from the oscillator; b) generation of ozone with voltage values in the range 11V - 13V output from the DC-DC converter and current in the range 200 - 300 mA output from the oscillator; c) cold plasma generation with voltage values in the range 14V - 18V output from the DC-DC converter and current in the range 300 - 350 mA output from the oscillator.

In particular, the voltage and current values are to be determined on each occasion I) based on the size of the active sanitisation chamber, this being closely linked to the morphology of the dispenser and the dispensing nozzle and II) based on the beverage being dispensed. The aforementioned sanitisation processes refer, in particular, to different conditions of the dispensing nozzle of the beverage dispenser.

Specifically: a) the ionization of molecules is advantageous if activated continuously during the entire non-operating period of the dispensing nozzle; b) the generation of ozone is advantageous if it is activated periodically during the non-operating period of the dispenser; c) the generation of cold plasma is advantageous if activated for a few seconds when a time interval of a few minutes has elapsed since the last dispensing from the nozzle.

The ionization of molecules a) consists of inducing, in the active chamber within the nozzle, the ionization of air and water molecules in aerosol form. The negative ions generated, including the reactive oxidizing components of oxygen, electrically charge the organic particulate molecules that can be present here, so that they precipitate away from the nozzle instead of settling on it. In fact, the electrode acts as a cathode, while the conductive ring has the purpose of directing the ionized molecules outside the nozzle itself. The ionization of molecules then induces an ionic flow better defined as "ionic wind", which removes the organic particulate bound to the charged molecules in the same way as a fan.

In particular, the charged particulate is moved away towards areas with greater potential, for example the floor or the earth, said areas being characterized by a greater - but not necessarily positive - potential than that of the active sanitisation chamber.

The generation of ozone b) preferably takes place by regulating voltage and/or current to values so as to induce the so-called corona effect in the active chamber inside the nozzle. The electrical potential that is generated in the active chamber breaks down the oxygen molecules, and involves the formation of oxygen atoms, which combine with other oxygen molecules to form, in fact, ozone. Ozone, as is known, is attracted to any organic component present locally, which is oxidized when combined with ozone.

The generation of cold plasma c) occurs as a result of the generation of cold arcs, i.e., of ordered flows of electrons. The temperature of the molecules near the cold arc remains constant and equal to the ambient temperature. Cold plasma can in particular generate OH- radicals in the nozzle, which react immediately with any organic material present inside the nozzle. The use of cold plasma for the generation of OH- radicals is particularly advantageous compared to other forms of ionizing energy such as UV radiation or UV radiation combined with catalysts/photocatalysts. These radicals, which have a very short half-life, can only be generated in the presence of atomized or nebulized water, that is, in a narrow circuit following the dispensing of a beverage by the nozzle.

Said sanitising phenomena or processes take place in said active sanitisation chamber. In particular, these phenomena develop at the dispensing nozzle, but are also configured to propagate, albeit less effectively depending on the distance, along the entire volume of air in the active sanitisation chamber.

Consequently, said phenomena are established at the dispensing nozzle and then diffuse to the surface of the beverage dispenser that contains the bottle and/or the glass to be filled.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ionization is always active except in the case of water or other beverage dispensing, while the ionic wind is configured to decrease or reset in conjunction with the establishment of a non-thermal arc.

According to a first embodiment of the system that is the object of the present invention, the appropriate sanitising process can be selected by a human operator, for example by means of a graphic interface and/or user interface of the control board that can be placed, in an external position, on the beverage dispenser.

The human operator is in fact aware of the work cycle of the beverage dispenser, that is, they know if the dispenser has been used recently or not. Accordingly, based on this knowledge, the operator may select, via said interface, one or more of the sanitisation processes described above. Once the process is selected, the microcontroller adjusts the correct parameters in terms of current and potential - recorded in the system control board following a previous test phase - of the electronic circuit for the generation of high negative voltage so that the phenomenon or process selected in the active chamber inside the nozzle is established.

According to one embodiment, the control board is in communication with an electronic control circuit of said beverage dispenser adapted to detect the beverage dispenser, the microcontroller being configured to adjust the voltage and/or current of the high voltage electronic control board based on a communication between said control board and said beverage dispenser control circuit.

The term "communication" herein refers to any form of information transmission, for example by wired and/or wireless electrical/electronic connection.

Advantageously, said communication makes information relating to the dispensing scheduled and/or made by the beverage dispenser accessible to the system control board.

Advantageously, therefore, as an alternative to the previously described embodiment of the system - that is, activation of the sanitising system by a human operator - the microcontroller can adjust the operating parameters of voltage and current for the electronic circuit for high negative voltage generation following an exchange of information between the control board of the system that is the object of the present invention and the control electronics of the beverage dispenser, to which the system is coupled. In this way, the system can be configured to provide an automated sanitisation of the dispenser based on the work cycle of the beverage dispenser itself.

According to one embodiment, the system comprises at least one feedback sensor in communication with said microcontroller and with said electronic circuit, the microcontroller being configured to regulate the voltage and/or current of said circuit based on a notification by said feedback sensor.

Advantageously, the presence of at least one feedback sensor - preferably a current and/or voltage feedback sensor - in communication with the microcontroller and the high negative voltage electronic generation circuit allows feedback to be sent to the microcontroller itself about the quality of the current and voltage values regulated in the circuit, as will be better described below.

In an exemplary embodiment the feedback sensor is a current sensor adapted to detect conductivity within said active sanitisation chamber. The conductivity in the sanitisation chamber is dependent on the state of humidity, the presence of water, the state of cleanliness etc.

In a first embodiment, a voltage feedback sensor may have a first output connected to the high negative voltage generation circuit downstream of the DC-DC converter, and may have a second output connected to the microcontroller, as best illustrated in the Figures.

In this way, advantageously, the voltage feedback sensor can provide feedback to the microcontroller about the quality of the output modulated voltage signal from the DC-DC converter.

If this value is correct with respect to the sanitisation phenomenon or process that the system establishes in the active chamber, especially at the dispensing nozzle, the microcontroller does not intervene actively.

In case of an incorrect value, the microcontroller - being in communication with the DC-DC converter - can send to the converter a signal configured to correct the voltage modulation based on the output value detected by the feedback sensor, and compatible with the sanitising process to be activated in the nozzle.

In a second embodiment, that is an alternative to or can be combined with the previous embodiment, a current feedback sensor may have a first output connected to the high negative voltage generation circuit downstream of the oscillator, and may have a second output connected to the microcontroller, as best illustrated in the Figures. In this way, advantageously, the current feedback sensor can provide feedback to the microcontroller about the quality of the current of the modulated PWM signal output from the oscillator.

If this value is correct with respect to the sanitisation process that the system is going to establish, the microcontroller does not intervene actively.

In case of an incorrect value, the microcontroller - being in communication with the oscillator - can send to the oscillator itself a signal configured to correct the modulation of the current based on the output value detected by the feedback sensor, and compatible with the sanitising process to be activated in the nozzle.

In particular, said microcontroller advantageously guarantees the safety of the system with respect to any electric shock by controlling the current and/or voltage.

In an exemplary embodiment, the microcontroller is configured to execute a logic program adapted to verify the correct functioning of the sanitising system based on the signals sent by the feedback sensor, since a user interface is provided, and the microcontroller is configured to display alarms on said user interface.

In a further exemplary embodiment, said logic program of the microcontroller is adapted to communicate information to the user by means of said user interface to support corrective and predictive maintenance. The term 'user' refers to a maintenance technician, the owner of the dispenser, or the like.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the logic program of the microcontroller is adapted to communicate information by means of said user interface during a testing phase.

In this way, said microcontroller guarantees the diagnostics of the entire sanitising system, by means of the check on current and/or voltage, indicating to the dispensing unit the operating status and any need for maintenance or correction (corrective maintenance) or any need for upcoming maintenance or correction (predictive maintenance), in addition to also performing useful test sequences during testing or periodic maintenance.

The microcontroller can determine whether the sanitising system as a whole is working well, malfunctioning, or not functioning. If the sanitising system is malfunctioning, the microcontroller is able to distinguish some cases of possible malfunction using the feedback sensor (soiled or distorted electrodes, poor installation of electrodes, foreign bodies, etc.) and indicate predictive and/or corrective diagnostics/maintenance. In the event of a malfunction, the current feedback sensor can identify possible problems depending on whether there is a lack of current or too high a current. Preferably, the microcontroller is in connection with a control unit of the dispenser, provided with said user interface, in such a way that the microcontroller communicates the states detected in the manner indicated above to the control unit of the dispenser, which control unit of the dispenser in turn informs the user tasked with maintenance. Similarly, the microcontroller blocks the operation of the dispensing in case of failure and blocks the sanitisation in case of malfunction, making a new attempt after a configurable time interval and excluding the sanitising system after a configurable number of unsuccessful attempts,

According to one embodiment, the electrode of the system that is the object of the present invention is needle-shaped, the conductive ring at least partially surrounding the said electrode.

The object of the present invention is also a method of operation of a dispenser described herein, wherein the sanitisation phenomena are inactive during dispensing and, following a dispensing, one or more sanitisation phenomena are activated in the dispensing nozzle.

According to one embodiment, the sanitisation phenomena are activated periodically or activated at specific intervals starting from the last dispensing made by the dispenser.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following disclosure of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a beverage dispenser, in particular a water dispenser, which can be implemented with the sanitising system that is the object of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the sanitising system implemented in the water dispenser of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the activation, from an electrical point of view, of a sanitising process;

Fig. 4 shows the current voltage curve VS on the basis of which the microcontroller adjusts the values of the circuit for generation of high negative voltage;

Figs. 5A and 5B show the arrangement of the electrode and the conductive ring within the nozzle.

In detail, Figure 1 shows a water dispenser 2 comprising an electronic dispensing control circuit 21 powered by an electric power supply 22, a tank 23 comprising the water to be dispensed, and a dispensing nozzle 20, connected to the tank 23 by a delivery line.

Figure 2 illustrates the sanitising system 1 associated with the water dispenser 2 of Figure 1 . In detail, the sanitising system 1 comprises: a) a control board 10, b) an electrode and a conductive ring placed inside said nozzle, the electrode being placed coaxial to the conductive ring to form an active sanitisation chamber, c) an electronic circuit 13 for generating high negative voltage.

The circuit 13 is connected at one end to the control board 10 of the system 1 and at the other end to the electrode 11 .

The electrode 11 is shaped like a needle, and protrudes into the nozzle 20 in a position equidistant from the walls of the nozzle itself, facing the dispensing outlet of said nozzle 20 and being the conductive ring located at the walls of the cavity.

The electrode 11 and the conductive ring 12 are both made of titanium.

The ring 12 internally covers the nozzle walls 20 near the electrode 11 , but can also be inserted into a dedicated cavity inside the nozzle walls 20, always near the electrode 11 , so as to wrap the electrode itself, as better illustrated in Figure 5.

The electrode 11 and the ring 12 define, inside the nozzle 20, an active chamber where, once the system 1 has been started, the sanitising action takes place.

In particular, said active chamber comprises the area of the nozzle

20 which includes the electrode 11 and the conductive ring 12 but also extends to an air volume (not shown in the figure) surrounding the dispensing nozzle 20, said air volume being delimited below by the surface of the water dispenser on which the glasses and/or bottles to be filled are placed.

The electrode 11 , in particular, is negatively charged at a potential in negative DC voltage. The ring 12 is electrically grounded, to ensure a zero potential reference during the sanitisation phase.

The conductive ring 12 also provides a shielding action from possible EMI effects (electromagnetic interference) on the control circuit

21 of the water dispenser 2.

Figure 3 illustrates the activation, from an electrical point of view, of a sanitisation process. In detail, the direct current with predetermined voltage supplied by the electric power source 22 of the beverage dispenser 2 reaches the DC-DC converter 130, which has a direct output of a value greater than or less than the input voltage value.

The microcontroller 100 - which is in communication with the DC- DC converter 130 and which is powered by the current dispensed by the power supply 22 - having observed the final parameters to be set, depending on the sanitisation process that it is required to be started in the active chamber of the nozzle 20, sends to the converter 130 a signal, preferably in the form of pulses, suitable for modulating the voltage of the output current from the converter itself.

The modulated voltage DC current then reaches an oscillator 131 which, based on the value of the input DC voltage, produces a fixed amplitude pulse train and variable average voltage dependent on the ratio between the pulse duration and the entire period, according to the prior art of pulse width modulation, PWM. The microcontroller 100 - which is in communication with the oscillator 131 - having observed the final parameters to be set, depending on the sanitisation process that is to be started in the active chamber of the nozzle 20, sends to the oscillator 131 a signal, preferably in the form of pulses and pulse amplitude modulations, suitable to modulate the signal that will be generated by the oscillator itself. Finally, the pulse train exiting the oscillator 131 goes to a high-voltage DC booster 132, which amplifies the negative voltage of the current that will reach the electrode 11 located in the dispenser nozzle 20, in order to start a specific sanitisation process.

The system further comprises a current feedback sensor 1000 and a voltage feedback sensor 1001 .

The sensor 1000 has a first output connected to the high negative voltage generation circuit 13 downstream of the oscillator 131 , and a second output connected to the microcontroller 100.

The sensor 1001 has a first output connected to the circuit 13 for generating high negative voltage downstream of the DC-DC converter 130, and a second output connected to the microcontroller 100.

Said feedback sensors provide feedback to the microcontroller 100 about the current and/or voltage values output from the oscillator 131 and the converter 130. If these values are evaluated by the microcontroller as correct in light of the sanitisation process to be started in the active chamber inside the nozzle 20, then the microcontroller does not intervene. If, on the other hand, said values are incorrect, then the microcontroller may send a signal to the oscillator 131 and/or the converter 130 so as to adjust the modulation of the current/voltage based on the output value detected by the feedback sensor 1000, 1001 and compatible with the sanitising process to be activated in the nozzle 20.

Figure 4 finally shows the current voltage curve VS based on which the microcontroller 100 adjusts the values of the high negative voltage generation circuit 13. The current voltage curve VS portions shown in the diagram represent the voltage and current ranges characteristic of the different sanitisation processes. In particular, Box A of the diagram highlights the curve that allows induction, in the active chamber inside the nozzle, of the phenomenon of ionization of air molecules. The negative ions generated in the nozzle as a result of ionization, including the reactive oxidizing components of oxygen, electrically charge the organic particulate molecules that can be present here, so that they precipitate away from the nozzle instead of settling on it. The electrode that induces the phenomenon acts as a cathode, while the conductive ring has the purpose of directing the ionized molecules outside the nozzle itself. The ionization of molecules then induces an ionic flow better defined as "ionic wind", which removes the organic particulate bound to the charged molecules in the same way as a fan.

Box B of the diagram shows the curve that allows the so-called corona effect to be induced in the active chamber inside the nozzle. The electrical potential that is generated in the active chamber breaks down the oxygen molecules, and involves the formation of oxygen atoms, which combine with other oxygen molecules to form, in fact, ozone. Ozone, as is known, is attracted to any organic component present locally, which is oxidized when combined with ozone.

Finally, Box C of the curve provides for the generation of cold plasma, which occurs following the generation of cold arcs, that is, of ordered flows of electrons. The temperature of the molecules near the cold arc remains constant and equal to the ambient temperature. Cold plasma can in particular generate OH- radicals in the nozzle, which react immediately with any organic material present inside the nozzle. These radicals, which have a very short half-life, can only be generated in the presence of nebulized water, that is, in a tight circuit following the dispensing of beverages by the nozzle.

The other sections of the curve are preferably to be avoided, as they would lead to undesired effects such as thermal effects like the production of NO _X or uncontrolled electrical discharges - sparks.

In particular, the system of the present invention is configured to avoid said undesired areas by the action of the microcontroller. Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the arrangement of the electrode and the conductive ring within the nozzle.

In particular, as also explained in relation to Figure 2, the electrode 11 - which is located inside the nozzle 20 - is shaped like a needle and protrudes into the nozzle 20 in a position equidistant from the walls of the nozzle itself. A terminal end of the electrode 11 is also facing the dispensing outlet of said nozzle 20.

The ring 12 is inserted into an internal cavity in the nozzle walls 20 and at the electrode 11 , so as to partially wrap the electrode itself.

In particular, the electrode 11 is placed coaxial to the conductive ring 12.

Said electrode 11 and conductive ring 12 define, inside the nozzle, but not only there, an active sanitisation chamber where, due to the power supplied to the chamber by the electronic circuit 13 for generating high negative voltage, the sanitising action takes place.

While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated but rather the aim is to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.