ES2901221T3 - Supply cartridge, beverage preparation machine and process of operating a machine using said supply cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

Delivery cartridge (1) adapted to deliver an individual portion holder (2), having a plurality of individual dose portions (21) adapted to contain an edible substance, such as, for example, roasted ground coffee, at a machine (10) for preparing edible products, such as, for example, aromatic drinks, and comprising: - a packaging casing (11) adapted to house said support (2) of individual parts inside it, and having a general shape similar to a parallelepiped, or the like, having a width (W), a depth (D) and a height (H), and - a support (2) of individual parts provided in a strip-like shape, which It has an extension (E) and a support width (L) and comprises a plurality of individual dose portions (21) containing at least one edible substance and having a length (C), whereby said support (2 ) of individual parts is provided in Inside said packaging casing (11) with a downstream edge (22) in the vicinity of a packaging corner (12) where an outlet opening is provided, wherein said support (2) of individual parts presents a second upstream edge (23), characterized in that said upstream edge (23) is provided without individual dose portions (21) along an extension that corresponds at least once to said length (C).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Supply cartridge, beverage preparation machine and process of operating a machine using said supply cartridge

field of invention

The present invention relates to the field of delivery cartridges adapted for collecting a carrier of individual portions, provided as a strip-like carrier, or the like, having a plurality of portions of individual doses of an edible substance.

The present invention further relates to a machine for preparing beverages adapted to use a supply cartridge of the type of the present invention, as well as a method for preparing beverages by means of a machine and a supply cartridge of the type of the present invention. .

Background of the invention

The prior art includes various solutions related to machines for the preparation of beverages based on edible substances, and adapted to process a plurality of individual doses provided on a support similar to a strip or the like that moves to successively supply an extraction device adapted to extract a respective beverage.

US 3,143,954 and US 3,213,777 disclose beverage preparation machines having a drive device adapted to move a strip with a plurality of individual doses successively to an extraction device.

GB 2266228 discloses a machine of the same type adapted to operate with strip storage means having a plurality of individual dose portions. Said document discloses a solution to the multi-part strip pulling problem which is based on providing a plurality of holes arranged along the side edges of the strip and adapted to be engaged by corresponding engaging projections provided on a drive mechanism. This solution has several limitations, which include a greater construction complexity of said machine.

Document WO 2013/169134 A2 filed by the applicant of the present invention, discloses a machine for preparing beverages of the same type and adapted to process a conduit support that provides a substantially hermetic envelope to a plurality of individual doses. However, said document also does not disclose a solution that guarantees the transfer of movement by means of traction between the surfaces of the actuating element and the last individual doses arranged the most upstream in the individual part support.

EP0457708A discloses a dispensing cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method of preparing beverages with such a cartridge.

US 5520093 A discloses a method for preparing a coffee beverage and a related art coffee machine, whereby a cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1 is used to successively supply a plurality of individual parts. arranged on a strip-like support, to a beverage brewing device of said coffee machine. In the proposed arrangement, the strip-like support is pulled in a generally upward direction out of said supply cartridge. It also discloses a beverage brewing machine with such a dispensing cartridge.

Document DE 202011 103565 U1 discloses a supply box with a strip of tea filter paper having different zones separated by perforations and whereby said strip is provided in a rolled arrangement within said supply box.

None of the prior art documents disclose a solution for efficient and reliable displacement of the end part of said individual part holder out of the respective package.

Furthermore, none of the documents discloses a solution for fixing said container in an ergonomically simple way and in an operationally reliable way, on a respective beverage preparation machine, so that the latter resists the pulling force. exerted on said support of individual parts.

General description of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a delivery cartridge comprising a packaging casing adapted to house a carrier of individual parts provided in a flexible and elongated carrier, of the strip type or the like, and adapted so as to provide effective displacement. and reliable support of individual parts outside said packaging casing, in particular so that the furthest upstream part of said individual part holder can be efficiently and reliably removed from inside said packaging casing when actuated from outside the said packaging casing. same.

Said dispensing cartridge must be adapted for use in a machine for preparing edible products (for example, beverages), such as, for example, espresso-type coffee, tea and the like, notably by means of the extraction of aromatic substances packaged in said portions of individual doses.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by means of a dispensing cartridge according to claim 1. Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage preparation machine adapted to use a cartridge comprising a support of individual strip-shaped parts which it has a plurality of individual parts, and which provides simple and reliable means for fixing said cartridge, to contribute to an efficient pulling movement of said individual part holder out of said cartridge.

This object is solved according to the present invention by means of a machine for preparing beverages according to claim 9.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing beverages by means of a beverage preparation machine adapted to use a cartridge comprising a support of individual parts, and which provides a more ergonomic and reliable use of said cartridge.

This object is solved according to the present invention by means of a method according to claim 14. Description of the figures

The invention will now be explained in greater detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof and the attached figures.

The figures show, in simplified schematic representations:

Fig. 1: a top view of an individual part holder 2 (on the left side) and a side view of an individual dose part 21 (on the right side) according to the prior art;

figure 2: a side view (at the top, left side) and a front view (at the top, right side), as well as detail P01 (at the bottom), of a machine (10) for preparing beverages according to the prior art, adapted to use a supply cartridge (1) including a support (2) of individual parts according to figure 1;

Fig. 3: side views of the faces of an embodiment of a packaging casing (11) of a delivery cartridge (1) according to the present invention;

Fig. 4: a detail view P02 (left side) according to Fig. 3 and a front view (right side) of a supply cartridge (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 5: top views of two embodiments of a holder (2) of individual parts of a delivery cartridge (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 6: Top views of two preferred embodiments of a holder (2) for individual parts of a delivery cartridge (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 7: Top views of two preferred embodiments of a holder (2) for individual parts of a delivery cartridge (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 8: Top views of two preferred embodiments of a holder (2) for individual parts of a delivery cartridge (1) according to the present invention;

Fig. 9: a side view (left side) and a front view of a machine (10) for preparing beverages with a first embodiment of a supply cartridge (1);

Fig. 10: a side view (left side) and a front view of a machine (10) for preparing beverages with a second embodiment of fixing means of a first type of supply cartridge (1);

figure 11: a side view (left side) and a front view of a machine (10) for preparing beverages with a second embodiment of fixing means, in this case for a second type of supply cartridge (1');

figure 12: side views of an embodiment of a drive device (5) provided in a machine (10) to prepare beverages according to the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

As mentioned above, various solutions are known in the prior art of supply cartridges (1) adapted for use in a machine (10) for preparing beverages and collecting a strip-like support (2), or the like, of individual portions therein, and having a plurality of individual dose portions (22) successively provided along a respective extension (E).

Figure 1 represents views of a support (2) of individual parts according to the prior art, whereby said individual dose parts (21) have a length (C) along the direction of said extension (E), and a width (L) along a transverse direction.

Figure 2 represents a machine (10) for preparing beverages according to the prior art, adapted to use a dispensing cartridge (1) comprising a support (2) of individual parts of the type represented in figure 1. As can be seen, said machine (10) has at least one collection arrangement (3) adapted to fix said supply cartridge (1), at least one extraction device (4) adapted so that it can collect said individual dose part (21) inside thereof, and at least one drive device (5) arranged downstream of said supply cartridge (1) and upstream of said extraction device (4) and provided so that it can move said support (2) for individual doses by means of rotation and thereby supplying respective individual dose portions (21) in succession to said extraction device (4).

In particular, as can be better seen in detail P01 of figure 2, said actuation device (5) is adapted so that it can rotate and thus exert a traction force on a downstream edge of said support (2). ) of individual parts, thereby moving the individual dose part (21) further downstream from a substantially horizontal direction of travel to a substantially vertical direction of travel, to a position where it separates from the remaining support (2) of individual parts and falls under the action of the force of gravity inside said extraction device (4).

Figure 3 represents a first embodiment of a supply cartridge (1) according to the present invention. In particular, according to a preferred embodiment, said supply cartridge (1) comprises a packaging casing (11) having a substantially parallelepiped shape having a height (H) and a depth (D), and adapted to collect a support ( 2) of individual parts within it, also presenting a weakening line provided at an exit corner (12) and adapted so that it can be broken manually.

As can be better seen in Figure 4, in the case of a first type of supply cartridge (1), said individual part support (2) is arranged in a zigzag manner so that its extension (E) is collected along of the length (D) of the packaging casing (11), so that a first downstream edge is in the vicinity of an outlet opening (12).

Figure 5 depicts a first set of embodiments of an individual parts holder 2 contained in a supply cartridge 1 according to the present invention.

According to a first inventive aspect, said individual portion support (2) has a second upstream edge (23) provided without individual dose portions (21) along an extension that corresponds at least once to said length (C), drawing on the right side, preferably at least twice said length (C), drawing on the right side.

In this way, when a last single dose portion (21) having said length (C) and disposed on said upstream edge (23), reaches an actuating device (4), provided, for example, as shown detailed below, there is still a part of material upstream of said support (2) of individual parts, specifically in an extension corresponding to at least one length (C), which provides a counterweight and thus improves the transfer of movement from said actuating device (4) to the support (2) of individual parts.

According to a preferred embodiment, said second edge (23) is provided in the same format and material as the remaining individual part support (2). Only an individual dose portion (21) is not provided, and thus neither is its respective weight.

In terms of dimension, according to a preferred embodiment, said individual part support (2) has a plurality of individual dose parts (21) with a length (C) between 40 and 70 mm, preferably between 50 and 60 mm. Furthermore, said individual portion support (2) has between 10 and 120 individual dose portions (21), preferably between 20 and 80 individual dose portions along the respective extension (E).

Figure 6 represents a second set of embodiments of the support (2) individual parts contained in a supply cartridge (1) according to the present invention.

As can be seen, the support (2) for individual parts also has an extension of said length (C) without individual dose parts (21) on the respective upstream edge (23), through which in this case it is extension represents a portion of structural reinforcement (24) having a higher linear density than the remaining individual part support (2) and developing along at least part of said length (C).

Figure 7 represents a third set of embodiments of the individual part holder 2 contained in a supply cartridge 1 according to the present invention.

As can be seen, said support (2) of individual parts in this case has holes (25) in the division region between parts of successive individual doses (21), whereby said holes (25) are adapted to engage with elements corresponding hitch pins, in particular, with traction pins (51) provided in the actuating device (5), as will be presented in greater detail below, to provide a more efficient transfer of the traction force to said support (2). ) of individual parts.

According to a preferred embodiment, said support (2) of individual portions has a plurality of holes (25) uniformly distributed along at least the central region of the division regions between portions of successive individual doses (21). Taking into account the width of the individual part support 2, a greater number of holes 25 therefore advantageously increases the efficiency and reliability of motion transfer to the individual part support 2, so that preferred when at least three holes (25) are provided for hooking.

Figure 8 represents a fourth set of embodiments of a support (2) contained in a supply cartridge (1) according to the present invention. As can be seen, said support (2) of individual parts in this case has a plurality of holes (25, 26), in particular, at least four holes (25, 26) arranged along the transverse direction and having at least two different dimensions. This configuration advantageously allows a better transfer of movement from a drive device (5) provided in a machine (10) for preparing beverages.

Figure 9 represents a first embodiment of a machine (10) for preparing beverages adapted to use a supply cartridge (1) of the type of the present invention. In particular, the machine (10) has a collection arrangement (3) configured with a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the base area of said types of supply cartridges (1, 1'), in particular, to the width (W) and depth (D) respectively. In this case, said collection arrangement (3) is configured in the form of a substantially parallelepiped box.

According to a preferred embodiment, a first type of supply cartridge (1) can be fully housed within said collection arrangement (3) and temporarily closed on its front and top faces. In particular, said collection arrangement (3) has front (32) and upper (33) parts adapted so that they can be removably fixed, or can be made to rotate around an axis, thus facilitating the introduction of at least one type of cartridge, preferably at least two types of supply cartridges (1, 1').

Also, as can be seen, said supply cartridge (1) also has an information device (6), provided, for example, in the form of an RFID or the like, and arranged on the front face thereof, so that said information device (6) can be read by a correspondingly adapted device arranged on said front part.

In addition, according to another inventive aspect, said collection arrangement (3) has fixing means (31) arranged inside and adapted so as to exert elastic pressure on at least part of the lateral faces of said supply cartridges (1, one'). In the case of the embodiment shown, said fixing means (31) are provided in a U-like shape with the opening facing the front area and adapted so as to exert elastic pressure on the side faces of the supply cartridge ( one). This type of fixation advantageously provides a quick placing of the supply cartridge (1) in position, without requiring a particular intervention on the part of a user. Furthermore, this type of solution provides a sufficient fixation of the supply cartridge (1) with respect to the tensile force exerted in the front area of the respective packaging casing (11) on a support (2) of individual parts, so that the movement of the latter is more efficient and reliable.

Figure 10 represents a second embodiment of the collection arrangement (3).

According to this preferred embodiment, said fixing means (31) are provided as at least one pair of fixing means (31) arranged opposite to at least one distal region of said collection arrangement (3) with respect to the front part of the machine (10). Said fixing means (31) are provided as elastic means adapted so that they can be elastically deformed when the supply cartridge (1) is placed in position, thereby exerting an elastic pressure force on the lateral faces of said supply cartridge (one). According to a preferred embodiment, said fixing means (31) have an extension of at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, along the depth direction (D) of said machine (10) for preparing beverages.

Figure 11 represents the same embodiment of the collection arrangement (3) as shown in Figure 10, but in this case with a supply cartridge (1') of a different type, in particular a supply cartridge ( 1') that has similar width (W) and depth (D) dimensions and a different height (H).

As can be seen, according to a preferred embodiment, said fixing means (31) are provided such that they can be rotated on a respective edge, between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation and vice versa, in order to better adjust to the different types of supply cartridges (1, 1') having different heights (H).

Figure 12 represents a detailed view of the drive device (5) provided in a machine (10) for preparing beverages according to the present invention.

As shown, said driving device (5) is provided as a drive wheel element arranged on a horizontal axis so that it can rotate around it and thus transfer a pulling force to the parts support (2). individual, to move it out of the packaging casing (11) upstream and in the direction of the extraction device (4) downstream. According to a preferred embodiment, said actuation device (5) has pull pins (51) on the respective perimeter surface adapted so that they can engage in corresponding holes (25) provided in the region between parts of successive individual doses (21). , as presented above.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least four traction pins (51) are provided, preferably having at least two different dimensions, so that the tallest and thinnest one initially guides the lateral alignment of the support (2) of individual parts and the shorter and thicker one then exerts a particular tensile force transfer to said individual part support (2) along the direction of travel thereof.

Claims (15)

i. Delivery cartridge (1) adapted to deliver an individual portion holder (2), having a plurality of individual dose portions (21) adapted to contain an edible substance, such as, for example, roasted ground coffee, at a machine (10) for preparing edible products, such as, for example, aromatic drinks, and comprising: - a packaging casing (11) adapted to house said support (2) of individual parts inside it, and having a general shape similar to a parallelepiped, or the like, having a width (W), a depth (D ) and a height (H), and - an individual portion holder (2) provided in a strip-like form, having a supporting extension (E) and width (L) and comprising a plurality of individual dose portions (21) containing at least an edible substance and having a length (C), whereby said individual part support (2) is provided within said packaging casing (11) with a downstream edge (22) in the vicinity of a packaging corner (12) wherein an outlet opening is provided, wherein said individual portion support (2) has a second upstream edge (23), characterized in that said upstream edge (23) is provided without individual dose portions (21) along an extent corresponding to at least once said length (C). Delivery cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second edge (23) is provided without individual dose portions (21) along an extension corresponding to at least twice said length (C). Supply cartridge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second edge (23) is provided with at least one structural reinforcement part (24) that has a higher linear density than the support (2) of parts individual remaining and that develops along at least part of the respective extension (E). Supply cartridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second edge (23) is provided in the same format and material as the remaining individual part support (2) and has a structural reinforcement ( 24) in a different material. Supply cartridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said support (2) of individual parts has a plurality of holes (25), preferably at least three holes (25), provided along along a transverse alignment along at least the central region of the division region between successive individual dose parts (21), and does not have holes along the lateral edge regions of said support (2) of parts individual. Supply cartridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said support (2) of individual parts has holes (25, 26) with at least two different characteristic dimensions, provided along an alignment transversely along the dividing region between successive individual dose portions (21). Supply cartridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said cartridges (1, 1') have information means (6), preferably of the RFID type, through which said information means (6 ) are provided in a same relative position in said cartridges (1, 1') in relation to the front region of a collection arrangement (3) provided in a machine (10) for preparing beverages. 8. Supply cartridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said cartridges (1, 1') have a similar format and only one dimension is different, in particular, they have a width (W) and a depth (D) similar and a height (H) different. 9. Machine (10) for preparing beverages adapted to collect at least one type of supply cartridges (1, 1'), together with the supply cartridge of claims 1-8, and having a collection arrangement (3) configured in a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of at least the base region of said types of supply cartridges (1, 1'), in particular, at a respective width (W) and depth (D), and it has fixing means (31) inside it adapted to exert elastic pressure on at least part of the lateral faces of said supply cartridge (1, 1'). Machine (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that said fixing means (31) are provided with at least one pair of fixing means (31) arranged at least in a distal region of said arrangement pickup (3) with respect to the front region of the machine (10). Machine (10) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said fixing means (31) are provided so that they can be rotated between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position and vice versa, to better fit different types of cartridges. supply (1, 1') that have different heights (H). Machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it has a drive device (5) adapted so that it can rotate and thus exert a traction force on said support (2) of individual parts , whereby said drive device (5) has a plurality of pull pins (51) arranged along transverse alignments with respect to the direction of rotation. Machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it has a drive device (5) adapted so that it can rotate and thus exert a traction force on said support (2) of individual parts , whereby said driving device (5) has a plurality of traction pins (51) adapted to engage with holes (25, 26) of said support (2) of individual parts and arranged on the perimeter surface along of at least two transverse alignments with respect to the direction of rotation. 14. Procedure for preparing an aromatic drink, comprising the steps: - providing a machine (10) for preparing beverages, in particular a machine (10) for preparing beverages having a driving device (5) provided so that it can rotate about a substantially horizontal axis and arranged upstream of a device extraction (4); - providing a delivery cartridge (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8 comprising a support (2) of individual parts in a strip-like form, having a plurality of successive individual dose parts (21); - placing said supply cartridge (1) in a collection arrangement (3) of said machine (10), in particular, between parts of a fixing device (31) or between two fixing devices (31), so that it is retained along a longitudinal direction of said collecting device (3) by means of elastic tension provided by said fixing devices (31); - placing an individual dose part (21) that is the farthest downstream in said individual part support (2) interacting with an outer perimeter surface of said actuation device (5), - actuating said actuating device (5) in a rotational movement so that the latter displaces said support (2) of individual parts by means of traction. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that said step of placing said supply cartridge (1) in a collection arrangement (3) further includes the steps: - at least one of rotation and withdrawal of at least one of a front part (32) and an upper part (33) of said collection arrangement (3); - optionally, rotation of the fixing devices (31) provided in said collection arrangement (3), from a horizontal position to a vertical position or vice versa; - optionally, placement of a first individual dose part (21) interacting with an outer perimeter surface of said actuating device (5), including placement of holes (25, 26), preferably at least three, provided in said support (2) of individual parts in engagement with corresponding pull pins (51) provided on said drive device (5).