Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
  • A47J31/40—Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
  • A47J31/407—Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
  • A47J31/24—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure
  • A47J31/34—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure
  • A47J31/36—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means
  • A47J31/3604—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means with a mechanism arranged to move the brewing chamber between loading, infusing and ejecting stations
  • A47J31/3623—Cartridges being employed
  • A47J31/3633—Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23F—COFFEE; TEA; THEIR SUBSTITUTES; MANUFACTURE, PREPARATION, OR INFUSION THEREOF
  • A23F5/00—Coffee; Coffee substitutes; Preparations thereof
  • A23F5/24—Extraction of coffee; Coffee extracts; Making instant coffee
  • A23F5/26—Extraction of water-soluble constituents
  • A23F5/262—Extraction of water-soluble constituents the extraction liquid flows through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns

Definitions

• the present invention is in the field of the preparation of drinks, e.g. ex. based on coffee, by extraction of a concentrated dose, e.g. ex. ground coffee, contained in a capsule. It relates more particularly to devices using such doses, in particular extraction machines such as coffee machines.
• US Pat. Nos. 2,899,886, US 2,968,560, US 3,403,617 and US 3,607,297 disclose devices in which the capsule is initially perforated in a plurality of locations and then passed through water under pressure.
• the capsule described in patent CH 605 293 or in patent EP 0 242 556 B1 comprises a membrane in its lower part. Water under pressure is initially introduced into the upper part of the capsule, which causes swelling of the capsule, mainly at the level of the membrane. From a certain pressure, the membrane tears, thus allowing the flow of a water-coffee mixture.
• Other capsules provided with a membrane are described in the following patent documents: EP 0 468 079 A, EP 0 806 373 A, EP 0 554 469 A.
• This state of the art WO 2005/004683 proposes several embodiments to realize the extraction system.
• the principle of this state of the art is as follows: it is a question of passing a capsule from an intermediate position to an extraction position, the capsule being retained in a first (intermediate) position, it passes into a position extraction and after extraction, the capsule is released naturally under the simple effect of gravitation, for example it falls into a recovery means and a new capsule can be introduced into the machine.
• the fixed part comprises a guide body for the translational movement of the movable part towards the fixed part.
• the guide body may, for example, be oriented substantially horizontally to guide the movable portion in a horizontal movement.
• This guide body is constituted for example by at least two rails, preferably four guide rails.
• the device according to the invention allows extraction by horizontal water injection.
• the movable portion is preferably substantially cylindrical.
• the introduction and positioning part of the capsule is arranged in front of and perpendicularly to the guide body and comprises at least one guide means. Preferably, it comprises two guide means.
• the device comprises means for stopping the capsule.
• These stop means are configured to retain the capsule in the intermediate position when the capsule is introduced into the insertion and positioning part. These stop means hold the capsule along an axis offset or inclined relative to the axis of the capsule in the extraction position in the housing, the extraction position corresponding to the position in which the movable part is closed against the fixed part enclosing the capsule.
• a first solution consists in keeping the capsule in the intermediate position offset from the axis of the capsule in the extraction position, for example, so that the moving part in its movement acts on the capsule to lower it. and pushing it along the axis of said movable part in its extraction position.
• the capsule may be offset along its axis of recentering (or extraction axis), for example parallel thereto, or be inclined relative to its axis of recentering by a certain angle, preferably a small angle less than 30 degrees.
• Such a solution avoids any mechanical complexity and uses a minimum of moving parts. Indeed, the capsule can be simply maintained in the intermediate position by static stopping means and it is the moving part which is responsible for moving the capsule during its displacement towards the fixed part and then comes to position it in the extraction position, bringing the axis of the capsule in its extraction position.
• the movable portion is thus configured to force the passage of the capsule beyond the stop means during the passage of the capsule from its intermediate position to its extraction position.
• the moving part drives the capsule; this being positioned along an offset or inclined axis, the capsule is restored by force in the axis of displacement of the movable part corresponding to the axis of the capsule in the extraction position, which forces the capsule to move to the beyond stop means.
• a second possibility is that the moving part simply pushes the capsule in its axis of displacement in its extraction position.
• the device of WO 2005/004683 proposes stop means configured to hold the capsule in the intermediate position along an axis substantially coaxial with the axis of the housing but the movable part acts on the opening of the means. stop to actively remove them and allow the passage of the capsule from its intermediate position to its extraction position.
• the guide means are pivotable and form or comprise stop means arranged to lock the capsule in the intermediate position when the movable part is in the open position and to unlock the capsule when the moving part is in the position of closing.
• These guide means are actuated in the locking and unlocking position by an actuator lever, rotatably mounted and disposed outside the movable part: this lever, by the displacement of the movable part, puts the guide means in the locking position or unlocking.
• WO 2005/004683 In a last embodiment of the device according to the invention described in WO 2005/004683, it comprises in front of the guide body a retractable stop, disposed under the movable part. This retractable stop is also actuated by the displacement of the movable part: it keeps the capsule in position when the movable part is in the open position.
• WO 2005/004683 proposes several distinct solutions to allow the temporary maintenance of the capsule in an intermediate position, its displacement in an extraction position and its release after the extraction, these solutions all having their complexity, source potential for problems and malfunctions.
• One of the objectives of the present invention is to improve the general operation of the machine.
• an object of the invention is to improve the known systems, including the devices described in the publications identified above by providing means that are simple, reliable and easy to implement.
• the present invention applies to all types of capsules, and in particular to capsules having an edge, such as a flange, which cooperates with guiding means of the machine, said capsules containing any type of product as described in WO 2005/004683 or WO 2012/143832.
• the present invention can be used in conventional extraction machines, typically those described in the same state of the art and the description and principles of WO 2005/004683 or WO 2012/143832 apply correspondingly herein.
• An idea of the present invention is to propose guiding means such as support slides for capsules which are linked for example to the capsule cage but with a delay so that their displacement follows that of the cage but with a shift in the time which allows to obtain beneficial effects at the level of the capsule.
• the system comprises slides for guiding entry of a capsule into the machine, holding the capsule and releasing the capsule to go to an extraction position.
• said cage being moved between a withdrawn position allowing introduction of a capsule into the machine and an extraction position of the beverage in which the capsule is held in the cage against an extraction plate.
• the slides are moved in a coordinated manner with the cage but with a delay by means of delayed actuation so as on the one hand to release the capsule inserted into the machine for its insertion into the cage when it moves to go in. its extraction position and, secondly, to return to the initial position once the used capsule has been extracted from the cage.
• the delayed actuation means comprise at least one pin and a slot.
• the pin or pins can be placed on the cage and the corresponding slot or slots can be placed on the slideways.
• the pin or pins may be placed on the rails and the corresponding slot or slots may be placed on the cage.
• the cage can be actuated by a lever and transmission means.
• the transmission means may comprise at least gears and a connecting rod.
• the system may comprise a capsule ejector that enters the cage during movement thereof to push a capsule out of the cage.
• the invention relates to an extraction machine for forming a beverage, for example coffee, comprising at least one system as defined in the present application.
• the machine is combined with at least one capsule containing a product to form a beverage.
• the product may be coffee or another product (tea etc.).
• the invention also relates to a process for extracting a beverage, such as coffee, using an extraction machine system, said system using capsules introduced into a capsule cage, said system comprising slides guiding the entry of a capsule into the machine, holding the capsule and releasing the capsule to an extraction position, wherein said cage is moved between a withdrawn position allowing the introduction of a capsule in the machine and a drink extraction position in which the capsule is held in the cage against an extraction plate, said slides being moved in a coordinated manner with the cage but with a delay so as on the one hand to release the capsule inserted into the machine for insertion into the cage when it moves to its extraction position and, secondly, to come back in the initial position once the used capsule has been extracted from the cage.
• the invention relates to a method using a machine as described in the present application.
• the invention relates to the use of a system or a machine as described in the present application.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a general perspective view of an extraction machine part according to the invention with a capsule
• Figure 2 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a first position
• Figure 3 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a second position
• Figure 4 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a third position
• Figure 5 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a fourth position
• Figure 6 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a fifth position
• Figure 7 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a sixth position
• Figure 8 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in a seventh position
• Figure 9 illustrates a sectional side view of the invention in an eighth position
• Figure 10 illustrates another sectional side view of the invention in a position between the positions of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figure 11 illustrates another sectional side view of the position of Figure 5;
• Figure 12 illustrates another sectional side view of the invention in a position between the positions of Figures 6 and 7;
• Figure 13 illustrates another sectional side view of the invention in a position between the positions of Figures 8 and 9;
• Fig. 14 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a first position
• Fig. 15 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a second position
• Figure 16 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a third position
• Fig. 17 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a fourth position
• Fig. 18 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a beverage extraction position
• Fig. 19 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a fifth position
• Fig. 20 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a sixth position
• Fig. 21 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a seventh position
• Fig. 22 illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention in an eighth position.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a general perspective view of a machine part 1 used for the preparation of a beverage, for example coffee, contained in a capsule 3.
• a machine part 1 used for the preparation of a beverage, for example coffee
• the capsule 3 is introduced into the machine and seized in a capsule cage by the operation of a lever 2.
• FIG 2 there is illustrated a side sectional view of the extraction system of the drink, once the capsule 3 has been introduced into the machine, for example guided by a slot, according to a known process of the state of the technique, see in particular the explanations contained in WO 2012/143832.
• the capsule 3 is stopped in front of the extraction plate 4 by movable slides 5 according to principles known from the state of the art, guiding and retaining the capsule 3 being at the level of its flange.
• movable slides 5 There is also in the machine a capsule cage 6 which moves axially, set in motion by a set of connecting rod 7 and gear 8, 9, the gear 9 being connected to the lever 2.
• the lever 2 In the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the capsule 3 has been introduced into the machine 1, the lever 2 is in the high position, that is to say the cage 6 is in a position remote from the extraction plate 4 to allow proper positioning of the capsule 3 as illustrated.
• the lever 2 (for example manually operated by a user) has begun a turning movement to the left by lowering. Due to this rotation, the gear system 8, 9 and rod 7 is biased and the rod 7 pushes the capsule cage 6 axially towards the plate 4 (to the left of Figure 3).
• the cage 6 comprises a pin 10 on each side (only one side is illustrated here) which moves in a slot 1 1 of the slide 5.
• the pin is on the right side of the slot 1 1 (side proximal) while in Figure 3, the pin 10 is on the left side of the slot 1 1 (distal side).
• the arrival in its distal position of the pin 10 in the slot 11 results in an axial displacement (to the left of the figure) of the slide 5 which releases the collar of the capsule 3.
• the capsule is "caught at its top in the cage 6 and held in position between the plate 4 and the cage 6 as illustrated in FIG.
• FIG. 4 illustrates another position of the system in which the lever 2 has continued to rotate to the left (its lowering) which has the effect of continuing the movement of the cage 6 towards the plate 4 (to the left) and slides 5.
• Figure 5 finally illustrates the machine ready for the extraction of the drink.
• the lever 2 is fully lowered, the capsule 3 is completely contained in the cage 6 and the slides 5 have been pushed to the left of the machine 1.
• the drink can be extracted by injection of liquid (for example water) under the pressure exiting at the plate 4, once it has passed through the capsule and the product contained in the capsule, according to known extraction methods, for example the above-mentioned prior publications. Once the extraction of the drink is complete, it is to open the mechanism to release the used capsule and prepare for the reception of a new capsule.
• liquid for example water
• Figure 6 illustrates the beginning of the opening movement of the mechanism.
• the lever 2 is moved upwards.
• this movement of the lever 2 has the effect of removing the cage 6 to the right of Figure 6.
• This movement of the cage has the effect that the pins 10 move towards the proximal side of the slots 1, that is to say to the right, but without causing movement of the slides 5 through the slot 11 in which the pin 10 can move.
• the slides therefore have a movement delayed compared to that of the cage 6. This delay is used in the present invention to allow easy and safe extraction of the capsule, as explained and illustrated now below.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view in section of the machine 1 in which the mechanism has found an initial position (for example as illustrated in FIG. 2) in which it can receive a new capsule 3.
• the two slides can be seen which are on each side of the cage 6 with their slot 11, the cage having a pin 10 on each side also according to the principles of the present invention.
• the slides 5 were returned to the initial position by the movement of the cage 6 and pins 10 in the slots.
• Another advantage of the delay in the movement of the slides 5 induced by the construction slots 11 and pins 10, besides the fact that it allows a release of the capsule used, is that when a capsule 3 is present the slides 5 do not move immediately when the cage 6 is advanced towards the plate 4 (situation illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) for the purpose of extraction which ensures a good maintenance of the capsule 3 in the initial phase.
• Figure 10 illustrates another sectional side view of the mechanism of the invention. This view makes it possible to represent an example of the means facilitating the ejection of a capsule 3 used outside the cage 6. More specifically, the position of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 10 corresponds to that of FIG. 2 when a new capsule 3 is introduced into the machine 1.
• Figure 11 corresponds to the position of the mechanism shown in Figure 5 when the machine is ready for the extraction of the drink.
• Figure 12 corresponds to the position of the mechanism of Figure 7, when one begins to open the mechanism to release a capsule 3 used.
• the cage 6 begins its recoil movement (to the right of the figure) and the capsule 3 is pushed out of the cage 6 by means of an ejector 12 which is fixed in the machine 1 and along which the cage 6 moves .
• Figure 13 illustrates the step in which the capsule 3 falls out of the cage 6 after opening the mechanism. This step corresponds to that illustrated in the Figure 8 but a little later when the capsule 3 began its fall into a machine capsule recuperator.
• Figures 14 to 22 illustrate a second embodiment of the extraction machine according to the invention.
• FIG. 14 which roughly corresponds to the position of FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, the handle 2 is in the up position (open machine) and a capsule 3 has been introduced into the machine and is retained by the slides 5 'and the ejector 12.
• This allows in this embodiment to have a capsule 3 whose axis is aligned with that of the cage 6 despite the fact that the capsule 3 which is held by the collar will tend to tilt in view of its shape and the position of its center of gravity with respect to the collar.
• the slide 5 ' comprises a slot 1 1' which slides on a pin or shaft 10 'of the cage 6.
• the slide 5 ' is shifted down the cage 6 in the second embodiment.
• FIG. 15 illustrates a position in which the handle 2 and the set of gears 9, 8 and the connecting rod 7, the cage 6 have been folded back as to move towards the left of the figure, without moving the slides 5 ' because of the presence of the slit 1 1 'retardant.
• the ejector 12 also has a fixed position relative to the cage 6, the capsule 3 is held in a stable position while the cage 6 moves.
• FIG. 16 illustrates the front ends of the slides in the position illustrated in FIG. 16, the front ends of the slides are uncoupled from the flange of the capsule 3 and the latter is now held by the extraction plate 4 and the cage 6.
• Figure 17 illustrates the quasi-extraction position where the capsule 3 is almost pressed against the plate 4 and the slides 5 'have been fully advanced under the effect of the advancement of the cage 6 to the left of the figure.
• FIG. 18 illustrates the machine in the extraction position with the cage 6 and the plate 4 enclosing the capsule 3.
• Figure 19 illustrates the beginning of the withdrawal procedure of cage 6 after extraction of the beverage.
• the handle is raised and drives the cage 6 back (towards the right side of the figure).
• the slides 5 ' have not moved and it is the axis 10' which moves in the slot 11 '.
• the capsule 3 is either already released from the cage 6 or is driven by the cage until it comes into contact with the ejector 12 which will push it out of the cage 6.
• FIG. 20 the continuation of the removal procedure of the cage 6 for the evacuation of the capsule 3 used is illustrated.
• the handle 2 has a more raised position than in the previous figure and the cage 6 has further moved back (to the right of the figure) now driving the slides 5 'in the extent that the axis 10' reaches the proximal end (close handle 2). Any movement to the right of the cage 6 causes a corresponding movement of the slides 5 'to the right.
• the cage 6 has retracted sufficiently that the capsule 3 can fall out of the cage 6 a fall which is illustrated by the position shifted downwards of the capsule, compared to the previous figure.
• the slides 5 have not yet returned to their initial position (as illustrated in FIG. 14 so that the capsule 3 can freely fall.)
• This falling movement of the capsule is also illustrated in a more accentuated manner in FIG. is in a vertical position, even quasi-vertical.
• the cage 6 In this position of the system, the cage 6 is in its most remote position and we see the ejector in the center thereof.
• the system can now receive a new capsule 3: it is in the position of Figure 14, but without a capsule has been introduced into the device. Once a new capsule 3 has been received, the extraction cycle resumes starting from FIG.
• the slides can be in any material adapted to the use according to the invention.
• they can be plastic, synthetic etc.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50685979

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (21)

• 2014
  • 2014-03-28 US US14/783,669 patent/US9833106B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-03-28 EP EP14722743.3A patent/EP2983568A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-03-28 CN CN201480025626.6A patent/CN105283103A/zh active Pending
  • 2014-03-28 JP JP2016507079A patent/JP2016518192A/ja active Pending
  • 2014-03-28 WO PCT/IB2014/060254 patent/WO2014167451A1/fr active Application Filing
• 2016
  • 2016-06-21 HK HK16107185.2A patent/HK1219214A1/zh unknown

Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events