HK1134764B - Infusion device to prepare beverages from single-serving capsules - Google Patents

Description

Infusion device for preparing beverages from single-use capsules

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an infusion device for preparing beverages or other food products from capsules, in particular single-use capsules.

More specifically, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to an infusion device for preparing coffee or other hot beverages by extracting or diluting the substance contained in single-use capsules.

Background

For the preparation of hot beverages or other food products, machines are often used which employ single-use sachets or pods containing therein a substance which is dissolved in water, or from which a flavour is extracted using hot water. This type of machine is commonly used to prepare coffee.

Within the scope of the present description and of the appended claims, a sachet means any type of sachet suitable for use in machines of this type as a single use in general. The sachet may be sealed and will be perforated with a suitable perforator, or also provided with a perforated, i.e. water permeable, wall which does not require perforation. Sachets, for example produced from non-woven or other permeable materials, also known in the art as containers, are also covered by what are known as sachets.

One of the problems that occurs in the production of devices for extracting beverages or other food products from single-use capsules is represented by the need to arrange the capsule between two parts or portions of an infusion unit that must be closed in order to retain the capsule therein, defining an infusion chamber through which hot water flows and from which the food product is delivered.

EP- ｃA-1444932 describes ｃA device for preparing hot beverages from containers or capsules provided with an infusion chamber formed by two portions movable with respect to each other by ｃA translational movement. A member is arranged between the two portions of the infusion chamber to temporarily hold the inserted capsule between the open portions of the infusion chamber by a movement substantially orthogonal to the axis of the infusion chamber. Such devices are particularly complex and therefore expensive.

EP- ｃA-1495702 describes ｃA similar infusion device with an infusion chamber in two parts which are movable with respect to each other in ｃA substantially horizontal direction parallel to the axis of the infusion chamber. The capsule is inserted between the two portions of the infusion chamber in the open position, falls by gravity and is then held in the temporary position. This inserts the capsule in the chamber in the position for infusion and closes said chamber when the portions defining the infusion chamber move with respect to each other. The movement of closing the two portions of the infusion chamber also allows the capsule to be suitably arranged for unloading after delivery of the beverage.

US-A-5755149 describes A brewing device having two parts defining A brewing chamber, one of which is produced integrally with A boiler. The single-use sachet is inserted between two parts, movable with respect to each other in the horizontal direction, using vertical guides. The lower support means hold the capsule in the correct position to enable the closing of the portion defining the infusion chamber.

EP- ｃA-1219217 describes another infusion device having ｃA chamber formed by two parts which are movable relative to each other along ｃA horizontal axis. The vertical guides enable the individual capsules to be loaded by gravity into the open space between the two portions of the infusion chamber. The capsule is housed in the seat in an inclined position.

US-A-5776527 describes A further infusion unit with an infusion chamber in two parts, movable with respect to each other in A horizontal direction. When the two portions are spaced apart, a single-use capsule is placed between the two portions and held by the two guides and the support until the two portions of the infusion chamber are closed for hot water delivery.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a new infusion device having an infusion chamber defined by two portions movable with respect to each other, and a system for inserting capsules between the two portions of the chamber in the open position, which is particularly simple and inexpensive to construct.

It is an aim of particular embodiments of the present invention to provide a brewing device which is highly reliable and simple to maintain and operate.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to an infusion device for preparing a food product, in particular a beverage, from capsules, comprising: a first portion of the infusion chamber and a second portion of the infusion chamber, which are movable with respect to each other according to an opening and closing direction; a first tube feeding brewing fluid into the brewing chamber; a second tube for conveying the food product from the infusion chamber; a pair of guide channels for inserting the capsule in the space between said first portion of the infusion chamber and said second portion of the infusion chamber when the first and second portions are in the open position; wherein the guide channels are each provided on a respective movable element; the movable elements are arranged substantially opposite each other and can be opened to release the capsule in the infusion chamber; and each of said movable elements is provided with extraction means (extractors) to engage the capsule and extract it from the infusion chamber after delivery of the food product.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first guide channel and the extraction member are arranged sequentially along said opening and closing direction.

In a practical embodiment, the movable element can have an opening movement in a plane parallel to the direction of the opening and closing movement of the first and second portions of the infusion chamber.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the movable elements are constrained to a first portion of the infusion chamber and the opening movement of said movable elements is controlled by the interaction of said movable elements with a second portion of the infusion chamber.

Advantageously, the movable elements may be provided at the sides of a first portion of the infusion chamber that translates with the movable elements in the opening and closing direction.

In order to allow the movable elements to open and release the capsule during the closing of the infusion chamber, the second portion of the infusion chamber may advantageously have a thrust profile, for example in the form of opposing surfaces inclined with respect to the direction of the opening and closing movement of the infusion chamber, cooperating with a corresponding thrust profile of the movable elements to cause the mutual opening of said elements.

In fact, the first guide channel may be associated with lower blocking means defining a position to retain the capsule in the space between the first portion of the infusion chamber and the second portion of the infusion chamber. The lower blocking means may be formed by the end of the channel itself, although it is also possible to provide external blocking means separate from the channel and which, if necessary, make its own opening movement controlled in a suitable manner.

Preferably, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide channels are arranged and designed so that, in the retaining position, the capsule is held with its axis substantially coinciding with the axis of the infusion chamber before the latter is closed.

In general, the extraction member may have any suitable form. For example, such means may be in the form of hooks or claws that engage the flange of the sachet. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, these extraction means each comprise a respective second guide channel defining, below, an opening for unloading the capsule. The first and second guide channels are advantageously substantially parallel and are arranged alongside one another along the opening and closing direction of the first and second portions of the infusion chamber.

In order to enable simple loading and unloading of the capsule by gravity, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first portion of the infusion chamber and the second portion of the infusion chamber are movable according to a substantially horizontal direction and the first guide channel is substantially vertical. Preferably, the movable element is provided with an opening movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the second portion of the infusion chamber defines a seat for insertion of the capsule and having an inlet facing the first portion of the infusion chamber and surrounded by a first pressure surface cooperating with a flange of said capsule, and the first portion of the infusion chamber has a second pressure surface opposite the first pressure surface. In the closed condition of the infusion chamber, the flange of the capsule is compressed and held between said first and said second pressure surfaces.

In order to open and close the infusion chamber, a relative movement between the two parts that make up the infusion chamber is sufficient. It is possible that both parts are provided with a movement relative to the fixed structure. Preferably, to simplify the construction, it is still possible that one part is fixed and the other part is movable relative to the fixed structure. For example, a first portion of the infusion chamber may be movable together with the openable elements that hold the capsule, and a second portion of the infusion chamber may be fixed with respect to the fixed structure.

The opening and closing of the infusion chamber and the insertion of the capsule into the guide channel can be carried out manually or automatically by means of suitable actuators. According to a possible embodiment of the invention, particularly low cost, a lever mechanism is provided for manually controlling the opening and closing of the infusion chamber, and the capsule can be manually inserted in the guide channel.

The movable and openable elements may be rigid and mounted to rotate with a spring that urges them towards the closed position. Alternatively, the elastic member may press the elements towards the open position and a relative profile may act on them to move them relative to each other in the area where they must hold the sachet. Nevertheless, it is preferable to have the openable elements open by a thrust distribution generated on one of the two portions of the infusion chamber, and according to an advantageous and preferred embodiment, these openable elements are elastically deformable due to the elastic nature of the material from which they are made, for example a plastic material, and/or due to their form.

Moreover, forming the object of the present invention is an infusion device for preparing a food product, in particular a beverage, from capsules, comprising: a first portion of the infusion chamber and a second portion of the infusion chamber, which are movable with respect to each other according to an opening and closing direction; a first tube feeding brewing fluid into the brewing chamber; a second tube for conveying the food product from the infusion chamber; a pair of capsule guides between the first and second portions of the infusion chamber, comprising an element to retain the capsule, which is immovable when said first and said second portions of the infusion chamber are closed, to release the capsule in said infusion chamber, and an extraction element to extract the capsule from the infusion chamber, which is actuated to engage the capsule when said first and said second portions of the infusion chamber are opened after the delivery of the food product.

Moreover, forming the object of the present invention is a machine for preparing food products from sachets, in particular a machine for producing coffee, comprising the above-mentioned device.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to some illustrative and non-limiting embodiments of the invention and are indicated in the appended claims.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings which represent non-limiting practical embodiments of the invention. More specifically, in the drawings:

figure 1 shows a side view of a brewing device in a first embodiment of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a view III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a view of IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of V-V in FIG. 3;

figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show views and sections, respectively, similar to those of figures 1 to 4, with the infusion unit in the fully closed position;

figures 10 and 11 show longitudinal sections similar to those in figures 2 and 7 at two successive instants of the closing movement of the infusion unit;

figure 12 shows a sectional view similar to that of figures 10 and 11 in a subsequent stage of engagement of the capsule to extract it from the infusion chamber opening the infusion unit;

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of XIII-XIII in FIG. 12;

figure 14 shows a longitudinal cross-section with parts removed of a brewing unit to which the present invention can be applied in a modified form.

Detailed Description

The attached figure shows a device of the invention, limited to the elements necessary for understanding the invention, it being understood that such a device can be inserted into more complex machines, such as coffee machines, provided with further elements known per se and not shown, such as a boiler, a hot water feed pump, a delivery nozzle for coffee, etc.

Referring initially to fig. 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 generally designates in its entirety a brewing device comprising a first portion 3 and a second portion 5 of a brewing chamber. The two portions 3 and 5 are movable with respect to each other according to a direction substantially parallel to the axis a-a of the infusion chamber. In the example shown, the axis a-a has a substantially horizontal orientation.

The reciprocal closing and opening movement of the portions 3 and 5 of the infusion chamber is obtained with a lever mechanism 7, 9. The lever 7 of the lever mechanism is hinged to the portion 3 of the infusion chamber by means of a pin 11, while the element 9 is hinged to the portion 5 of the infusion chamber by means of a pin 13.

Associated with the first portion of the infusion chamber is a guide for the capsule, indicated as a whole with C, comprising two elements 15 movable with respect to each other with a mutual opening movement, as will be explained hereinafter with reference to the following figures indicating the operation of the device. The element 15 has a flat or laminar extension and is constrained to the pin 11, to which pin 11 the portion 3 of the infusion chamber is constrained. Near the distal end, i.e. the end furthest from the pin 11, each of the elements 15 has a first channel 17 and a second channel 19. The shape of the channels 17 and 19 is visible in particular in the sectional views of fig. 5 and 13. As can be seen in particular in fig. 5, the channels 17 of the two elements 15 forming the guide have a substantially vertical extension below the axis a-a of the infusion chamber, wherein the channels 17 terminate in blocking means 17A against which the capsule C inserted in the space between the portions 3, 5 of the infusion chamber rests when said chamber is in the open position of receiving a new capsule (i.e. in the position in fig. 1 to 4). Conversely, the channel 19 (see fig. 13) opens downwards to enable the capsule C to be unloaded by gravity after infusion, as will be explained in more detail below. The channels 19 are closed superiorly by a projection forming a ramp 17B to facilitate the entry of the capsule in the adjacent channel 17.

Close to the channel 19, each of the elements 15 has an inclined surface 21 for cooperating with a corresponding bevel or inclined surface 23 provided on the second portion 5 of the infusion chamber. The orientation of the inclined surfaces 21 and 23 is such that the mutual movement of the portions 3, 5 of the infusion chamber with respect to each other during the closing movement of the infusion chamber causes a mutual opening movement of the capsule guide 15. The elasticity of the elements 15 ensures that during the opening of the infusion chamber they return to the original position shown in figures 1 to 4, i.e. parallel to each other.

The purpose of this opening movement is to release the capsule into the infusion chamber during closing and to extract the capsule after infusion so that it will be unloaded downwards, as will appear hereinafter.

In the example shown, the second portion 5 of the infusion chamber defines a seat or compartment 25 substantially in the shape of a frustum of a cone in the example shown, the capsule C being inserted in this compartment 25. Provided on the base of the compartment 25 is a perforator 27, the perforator 27 having a duct or channel 29 for conveying the coffee or other beverage of which the capsule C is ready to be dispensed. The punch 27 is therefore connected to the pipe 31 for beverage delivery, in turn in fluid connection with the delivery mouth (not shown).

The inlet of the compartment or support 25 is surrounded by an annular barrier or pressure surface 33. This is shaped and arranged to cooperate with the annular flange F of the capsule C when the infusion chamber formed by the portions 3, 5 is closed. The flange F of the capsule C is pressed against the annular surface 33 by an opposite annular surface 35 provided on the portion 3 of the infusion chamber.

The portion 3 of the infusion chamber has substantially a movable unit 37, slidingly housed inside this movable unit 37 are sliding means 39 elastically stressed by a spring 41 towards the rest position shown in figures 2 and 4. The sliding means 39 slide in a direction parallel to the axis a-a of the infusion chamber and have a central hole 43 through which a perforator 45 can protrude, this central hole 43 being in fluid connection, through a passage 47, with a feed pipe 49 of pressurized water fed from a boiler, not shown.

The device described above operates as follows. When a beverage is to be prepared, a capsule C containing the ingredient for preparing the beverage, usually coffee, is inserted into the device from above according to the arrow fC (fig. 4). The insertion can take place, for example, manually, automatically or semi-automatically from an upper hopper or charging device, not shown. The capsule C is inserted so that its flange F is guided in the relative channel 17 provided on the movable element 15 of the guide. The bevel 17B facilitates insertion of the sachet.

As the channel 17 has a lower stop 17A to stop the capsule, the capsule is guided along the channel 17 to be in the standby position shown in figures 1 to 5. The capsule is set with its substantially frustoconical body (in the example shown) in front of a seat or compartment 25 of complementary shape produced in the portion 5 of the infusion chamber.

For brewing, the chamber 3, 5 is closed by the two parts 3, 5 moving towards each other. In practice, the part 5 may be fixed on the load-bearing structure, while the part 3 is movable by means of the lever mechanism 7, 9.

Figures 6 to 9 are views and sections identical to those of figures 1 to 4, which show the closed position of the infusion chamber 3, 5. In this position, the capsule C is completely inserted in the seat or compartment 25 of the fixed portion 5 of the infusion chamber and, for this purpose, the movable elements 15 of the guide have been opened to release the annular flange F of the capsule C. The capsule is thus retained by the elements 15 until it has been inserted in the seat or compartment 25 for a portion of its axial extension, and is then released by mutual opening of the two elements 15 in a substantially horizontal plane containing the axis a-a of the infusion chamber, due to the thrust exerted by the inclined surface 23 against the inclined surface 21.

With the movement of closing the infusion chamber 3, 5, perforation of the capsule C is also obtained by means of the punches 27 and 43. More precisely, the perforator 27 perforates the base of the sachet, while the perforator 45 perforates the front surface surrounded by the flange F. The punch 45 is extracted through the hole 43 of the slide 39 during the movement to close the infusion chamber due to the compression of the spring 41 caused by the thrust of the capsule, which rests with its outer wall against the inner wall of the seat 25.

The release mechanism of the capsule C during closure of the infusion chamber can be easily understood by examining the operating sequence shown in figures 2, 10, 11 and 7. In figure 2, as already mentioned, the infusion chamber is fully open and the capsule C is in the standby position with the flange F engaged in the channel 17 of the movable element 15. By moving the portions 3, 5 of the infusion chamber relative to each other, the inclined surfaces 21 of the movable elements 15 come into contact with the inclined surfaces 23 provided on the outside of the portions 5. The inclination is such that the mutual movement of the parts 3, 5 relative to each other causes the element 15 to open gradually, as can be seen in fig. 10, 11. As the two portions 3, 5 move with respect to each other, the element 15 opens and releases the flange F of the capsule when said capsule has engaged its conical body inside the seat or compartment 25 produced in the portion 5 of the infusion chamber.

In contrast, figure 12 shows what happens when the portions 3, 5 of the infusion chamber are opened again after delivery of the beverage. The slide 39, elastically stressed by the spring 41, pushes the capsule C to hold it inside the seat or compartment 25, while the portion 3 of the infusion chamber moves away from the portion 5. This disengages the capsule C from the punch 45 which moves back inside the hole 43 of the slide 39. The capsule remains inside the compartment 25, the two portions 3, 5 of the infusion chamber continue to move away from each other and the flange F of the capsule C is engaged by the channels 19 of the movable elements 15 located between the channels 17 and the inclined surface 21. Basically, when the portion 3 of the infusion chamber returns to the position of maximum distance from the portion 5 (fig. 2), the channel 19 acts as an engagement hook in two substantially diametrically opposite points of the flange F to extract the flange F from the compartment 25.

With the passage 19 open downwards, as shown in figure 13, once the capsule C has been completely extracted from the compartment 25, it falls by gravity, leaving the device and allowing the insertion of a new capsule.

It must be understood that the configuration of the two portions of the infusion chamber, of the perforator means, of the opening and closing means of the infusion chamber, etc. may be different from those shown above. Purely by way of example, figure 14 shows a different embodiment of the portions 3, 5 of the infusion chamber with a different form of perforator of the front surface of the capsule. In fig. 14, the channels for guiding and extracting the capsule are omitted for the sake of simplicity of the drawing, and the capsule is shown in two different positions, corresponding to the position of insertion of the capsule when the infusion chamber is open and to the position in which the capsule is inserted in the portion 5 of the infusion chamber. Figure 14 also shows a modified embodiment of the lever mechanism for closing the infusion chamber.

The concept underlying the invention can also be used with other forms of capsules or containers, for example which do not require perforation of at least one of the walls or of two opposite walls, but which have been perforated beforehand, for example, or can be perforated due to the pressure of the water delivered in the infusion chamber.

In a modified embodiment, the channel 19 can be omitted and, to engage the capsule and to extract it from the infusion chamber after delivery of the food product, the extraction means can be formed by the rear flat surface of each element 15, which element 15 is arranged close to the channel 17.

It is understood that the drawing purely shows an example provided purely as a practical arrangement of the invention, which may vary in forms and arrangements without however departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. Any reference numerals in the appended claims are provided to facilitate reading of the claims with reference to the description and to the drawing, and do not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.

Claims (25)

1. An infusion device for preparing a food product from capsules, comprising: a first portion of the infusion chamber and a second portion of the infusion chamber movable with respect to each other according to an opening and closing direction; a first tube delivering a brewing fluid into the brewing chamber; a second tube for conveying the food product from the infusion chamber; a pair of first guide channels for inserting the capsule in the space between said first portion of the infusion chamber and said second portion of the infusion chamber when said first and said second portions are in the open position; the method is characterized in that: the first guide channels are each provided on a respective movable element; said movable elements being positioned substantially opposite each other and openable to release the capsule in the infusion chamber; each of said movable elements is provided with extraction means to engage the capsule and to extract the capsule from the infusion chamber after the delivery of the food product.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each extraction member is integral with a respective movable element, wherein said extraction member is actuated to engage a capsule when said first and second portions of the infusion chamber are opened after the delivery of the food product.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said movable elements are elastically openable to cause the release of the capsule during closure of the infusion chamber and to engage the capsule during opening of the infusion chamber by means of said extraction member.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said first guide channels and a respective one of said extractor members are arranged on the respective movable element in sequence along said opening and closing direction.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the movable element has an opening movement in a plane parallel to the direction of the opening and closing movement of the first and second portion of the infusion chamber.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable element is constrained to the first portion of the infusion chamber; and the opening movement of said movable elements is controlled by the interaction of said movable elements with the second portion of the infusion chamber.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said movable elements are arranged at the side of the first portion of the infusion chamber.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said second portion of the infusion chamber has a first thrust profile cooperating with a corresponding second thrust profile of said movable elements to cause mutual opening of said movable elements.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said second portion of the infusion chamber has opposite camber surfaces that are inclined with respect to the direction of opening and closing of the infusion chamber, so as to form said first thrust profile.

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said second thrust distribution of the movable elements is formed by inclined surfaces that are inclined with respect to the direction of opening and closing of the infusion chamber.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first guide channel is associated with a lower blocking means defining a capsule holding position in the space between the first portion of the infusion chamber and the second portion of the infusion chamber.

12. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said first guide channels terminates in a lower blocking means defining a position to retain a capsule in the space between the first portion of the infusion chamber and the second portion of the infusion chamber.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first guide channel is arranged and configured so that in said retaining position a capsule is retained, the axis of which substantially coincides with the axis of the infusion chamber.

14. Device according to claim 1, wherein each of said extraction means comprises a respective second guide channel defining below an opening for unloading the capsule, said first and said second guide channels being advantageously substantially parallel and being arranged alongside one another along the opening and closing direction of the first and second portions of the infusion chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a surface to facilitate insertion of the flange of the pod into the first channel is disposed above the second channel.

16. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said first portion of the infusion chamber and said second portion of the infusion chamber are movable with respect to each other according to a substantially horizontal direction, said first guide channel being substantially vertical and said movable element being provided with an opening movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second portion of the infusion chamber defines a seat for the insertion of said capsule, the seat having an inlet facing the first portion of the infusion chamber and being surrounded by a first pressure surface cooperating with a flange of said capsule, the first portion of the infusion chamber having a second pressure surface opposite said first pressure surface, the flange of the capsule being compressed and held between said first and said second pressure surfaces in the closed position.

18. Device as in claim 1, characterized in that said first portion of the infusion chamber is movable and said second portion of the infusion chamber is fixed with respect to the load-bearing structure, said movable element moving together with said first portion (3) of the infusion chamber in said opening and closing directions.

19. The device of claim 1, comprising a lever mechanism for manually controlling the opening and closing of the brew chamber.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said first portion of the infusion chamber and said movable element are constrained to a common support.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the movable element is elastically deformable.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the movable element is substantially laminar in shape.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the food product is a beverage.

24. A machine for preparing food products from sachets, comprising the device of any one of the preceding claims.

25. The machine of claim 24, wherein the food product is coffee.