IT201800009952A1 - MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF INFUSIONS OR BEVERAGES BY USING LOOSE PREPARATIONS OR PREPARATIONS IN CAPSULE AND RELATIVE KIT - Google Patents

Description

Description of Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

"MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF INFUSIONS OR BEVERAGES BY USING BULK PREPARATIONS OR PREPARATIONS IN CAPSULES AND RELATIVE KIT".

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages through the use of loose or capsule preparations and the related kit.

In the following of the present description and in the subsequent claims, bulk preparations can be understood as coffee powder, tea, barley, etc. not packaged and therefore suitable to be taken according to different quantities depending on the type of infusion desired.

With reference, for example, to loose coffee, it is usually stored in beans on special hoppers and ground at the moment to make a powder preparation intended to be extracted through a liquid. More specifically, the preparation of espresso coffee is carried out by introducing the powder into a containment chamber (so-called filter holder) to couple to a dispenser mounted on a coffee machine according to conventional bayonet connections.

The coffee powder is thus crossed by the percolation water to make the espresso and possibly filtered to block any individual grinding grains, using a special filter contained in the filter holder, before being poured into the cup.

On the other hand, by capsule preparation we can mean ground coffee, tea, barley, etc. packaged according to predefined quantities. It is usually contained in closed containers (so-called capsules or pods) intended to be perforated for crossing by the percolating water.

Depending on the intended use and the quantity of espresso to be prepared, the machines for the preparation of infusions or beverages, more particularly the machines for the preparation of espresso coffees, are primarily divided into two macro-categories: domestic and professional.

Domestic coffee machines are usually characterized by the presence of containers for housing the water mounted on the machine itself and provide mostly compact water heating systems (boiler or electric).

They are generally divided into two sub-categories: machines for preparing coffee by using ground coffee in bulk and machines for preparing coffee by using ground coffee in capsules.

In the first case, the machine is usually equipped with a single brewing unit and a filter holder for housing loose coffee in order to simultaneously prepare up to a maximum of two coffees.

In the second case, the machine does not have a filter holder and provides means for housing a capsule and its perforating devices for the passage of the percolation water.

With reference to professional coffee machines, they are distinguished from domestic ones by several characteristics.

First of all, professional machines are generally connected to the water supply for water withdrawal.

These machines also have special hydraulic and electrical circuits that allow fine adjustments of the temperature and pressure of the percolation water with the possibility of preparing large quantities of espresso in a short time.

Professional coffee machines are also characterized by their type of operation and are mostly divided into three sub-categories: manual, automatic / semi-automatic and super-automatic machines. The professional manual and automatic / semi-automatic machines are generally equipped with a filter holder and can house both loose ground coffee and ground coffee in capsules (or pods).

However, these machines have several defects.

In manual, automatic and semi-automatic machines, the grinding, weighting and pressing of the loose ground coffee must be done manually by an operator outside the machine.

In the case of operation with capsules, manual, automatic and semiautomatic machines have the common drawback of not being equipped with internal perforating means and therefore having to pierce the capsule before being inserted into the filter holder by means of dedicated devices external to the machine which however have the drawback to take up space on the work surface and to make the preparation of the drink longer in terms of time and therefore with overall higher costs.

Otherwise, for operation without perforation, it is necessary to use capsules with weakening areas with a predetermined fracture that break under the effect of pressure.

The super-automatic machines, unlike the manual, automatic and semi-automatic ones, have internal automatisms that allow grinding, weighting, pressing and dispensing to be carried out automatically inside the machine. They generally do not have a portafilter and prepare the espresso only through the use of special perforated capsules through an automatic system.

The Applicant has realized that most of the capsules on the market today do not provide weakening areas and are made of extremely resistant materials (such as aluminum, plastic or the like).

They therefore require drilling to be crossed by the percolating water.

The Applicant has thus devised a solution that allows the perforation of the capsule in professional machines equipped with filter holder through the use of a single improved capsule holder that allows to receive different capsules regardless of their shape or size.

The Applicant has therefore developed a machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages through the use of loose or capsule preparations equipped with a single capsule holder, with variable conformation and housed in a filter holder adaptable to all the dispensing groups on the market. .

For this purpose, the capsule holder is equipped with a cavity capable of increasing and decreasing its housing volume according to the shape and size of the capsule to be received.

The present invention therefore relates, in one of its first aspects, to a machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using loose or capsule preparations according to claim 1. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a capsule holder kit for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using capsule preparations in accordance with claim 8.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a filtering kit for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using bulk preparations in accordance with claim 9.

Further characteristics and advantages of the machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using loose preparations or preparations in capsules in accordance with the present invention will result from the following description of its preferred embodiment examples, given by way of non-limiting indication. , with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- Figure 1 represents an exploded view of the elements comprised between the dispensing unit and the filter holder of a machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using loose or capsule preparations in accordance with the present invention;

- figures 2a and 2b represent lateral cross-sectional views of the capsule holder of figure 1 in a first and in a second housing configuration;

Figure 3 represents a sectional side view of the elements of Figure 1 in assembled configuration;

- Figures 4a and 4b represent perspective views, respectively, of the dispensing unit and of the upper perforating disk,

figure 5 represents a perspective view from below of the elements constituting the capsule holder of figure 1;

- Figure 6 represents an exploded view of the elements included between the dispensing unit and the filter holder of the machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using loose preparations in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the elements of Figure 2 in assembled configuration.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, 1 indicates a dispensing unit of a machine for preparing infusions or beverages in accordance with the present invention.

In the following of the present description, reference will be made in particular to machines for the preparation of espresso coffee without however limiting the scope of protection of the present invention to different preparations such as tea, barley and / or parts of vegetable substances intended to be mixed with liquids. for obtaining beverages or infusions in general.

In detail, the dispensing unit 1 is intended to receive, in a conventional way, hot water, at a temperature usually between 90 ° C and 96 ° C and under pressure, through the duct 10.

The duct 10 is in fluid communication with a conventional hydraulic circuit forming part of the coffee machine (not shown) which heats the water by means of suitable boilers or electric resistances before making it flow under pressure to the dispensing unit 1.

The dispensing unit 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is intended to receive, by shape coupling, a filter holder 2.

For this purpose, the dispensing unit 1 is provided with a cavity 13 with a circular section to receive the filter holder 2, the latter being equipped with couplings 21, 22 intended to be inserted into respective openings 11, 12 obtained in the cavity 13 of the dispensing group 1 to mate according to a typical conventional bayonet connection.

The filter holder 2 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 20 supported by a handle 23 which can be gripped by a user.

The filter holder 2 is designed to house, depending on the type of espresso preparation desired, a capsule holder 30 if the coffee is contained in a capsule, or a filter 40 in the case of preparation with ground coffee in bulk.

With reference to the examples illustrated in figures 2a, 2b and 5, the capsule holder 30 comprises a first body 310 in the shape of a disc and which acts substantially as a base for the capsule holder 30.

The disc 310 extends longitudinally along a Y-Y direction for a thickness s1 of a predetermined length. The disc 310 also comprises an upper surface 311 for receiving a capsule 50, as will be explained in detail in the following of the present description.

Conveniently, the disc 310 has a plurality of through ducts 311a to allow the water to percolate from the dispensing unit 1 outwards so that the espresso coffee is received in a cup for subsequent consumption by a user.

Preferably, the ducts 311a are obtained substantially along the longitudinal development axis of the disc 310.

As shown in the example of figure 2b, the disc 310 has a cylindrical side wall 312 defining a diameter d1 and in correspondence with which a thread 313 is obtained for coupling the disc 310 to a second tubular body 320 of the capsule holder 30.

In this case, the second tubular body 320 is intended to be connected by screwing to the disc 310.

For this purpose, the second tubular body 320 has a substantially sleeve shape and is equipped with an external lateral surface 321 in which, in correspondence with its lower portion, a through opening 322 is obtained.

The through opening 322 has a diameter d2 substantially corresponding to the diameter d1 and is internally equipped with thread 323 to cooperate with the thread 313 of the disc 310 and thus allow the mutual coupling between the disc 310 itself and the second tubular body 320.

Preferably, an external thread 324 is formed on the external lateral surface 321 of the second tubular body 320.

Advantageously, depending on the amount of rotation of the disc 310 with respect to the second tubular body 320, it is possible to vary their mutual positioning along Y-Y.

It follows that the volume available for housing the capsule 50 inside the capsule holder 30 varies according to the rotation of the second tubular body 320 on the disc 310.

It is therefore possible, advantageously, to use a single capsule holder 30 in order to accommodate capsules of different shape and / or height without the need to change capsule holders.

According to a further aspect, the capsule holder 30 comprises a third tubular body 330 intended to be coupled by screwing to the second tubular body 320.

The third tubular body 330 also has a substantially sleeve-like shape and comprises an external lateral surface 331 in which, in correspondence with its lower portion, a through opening 332 is formed, internally provided with a thread 333, the latter intended to cooperate with the thread 324 of the second tubular body 320 to allow the mutual coupling of the second tubular body 320 to the third tubular body 330.

Preferably, the through opening 332 of the third tubular body 330 has a diameter d3 substantially corresponding to the external diameter d2 'of the external lateral surface 321 of the second tubular body 320.

As illustrated in the example of figure 5, the second tubular body 320 is able to fit onto the disc 310 defining together, overall in a coupled configuration, a cavity 31 having a variable height h for housing a capsule 50. Similarly, the third tubular body 330 is able to fit onto the second tubular body 320 defining between them, overall in a coupled configuration, a cavity 32 having a variable height h2.

Basically, by varying the screwing of the three bodies 310,320,330 constituting the capsule holder 30, it is therefore possible to accommodate capsules of different shape and / or height without the need to change the capsule holder.

With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 1, the dispensing unit 1 is intended to receive in the cavity 13 a perforating disk 70, preferably circular, equipped with a plurality of sharp points 72, in use facing downwards, of a substantially conical shape and designed to pierce the upper portion of the capsule 50 when housed in the capsule holder 30.

The perforating disk 70 also has a plurality of through holes 71, one of which is arranged coaxially to receive a connecting screw 73 intended to be screwed into a respective recess (not shown) formed on the lower portion of the dispensing unit 1.

In an alternative version not shown, the perforating disk 70 can be inserted by pressure on the dispensing unit 1 without using the connecting screw 73.

Advantageously, the sharp points 72 have hollow portions which define one or more through openings 75 whose function is to pierce the capsule 50 and increase the passage, through these through openings 75, of hot water from the dispensing unit 1 towards the filter holder. 2. Preferably, the sharp points 72 of the perforating disk 70 are arranged radially on the surface of the latter and preferably six in number.

In fact, it has been found that this number allows an effective distribution of the water inside the capsule 50 so as to allow a good mixing with the ground coffee contained therein.

Optionally, a micro-perforated shower disk 80 can be positioned above the perforating disk 70 and in correspondence with the cavity 13 of the dispensing unit. The shower disc 80 may also have a plurality of through holes 84 in a number equal to the number of sharp points 72 of the perforating disc 70 so that the latter fit into the holes 84 of the shower disc 80.

The perforating disc 70 is thus interposed between the dispensing unit 1 and the shower disc 80 whose union allows, at the same time, to perforate the capsule 50 and increase the level of distribution of hot water in the capsule itself thanks to the presence of the micro-holes. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the shower disk 80, it is possible to avoid the possible rise of ground coffee towards the duct 10 of the dispensing unit 1.

For connecting the dispenser unit 1 to the shower disk 80, the latter has an additional central through hole 82 to receive the connecting screw 73.

In accordance with the version illustrated in the examples of figures 4a and 4b, the dispensing unit 1 is intended to receive in the cavity 13 a single perforating / filtering disc 81, preferably circular, equipped with a plurality of sharp points 72, in use facing the low, substantially conical in shape and intended to pierce the upper portion of the capsule 50 when housed in the capsule holder 30.

The sharp points 72 have hollow portions which define one or more through openings 75 whose function is to pierce the capsule 50 and increase the passage, through these through openings 75, of hot water from the dispensing unit 1 towards the filter holder 2. Also in this case, preferably, the sharp points 72 of the perforating disk 70 are arranged radially on the surface of the latter and preferably in number equal to six.

Preferably, the perforating / filtering disc 81 is constituted as a whole by a circular micro-perforated body screwed or pressed in correspondence with the cavity 13 of the dispensing unit 1 and is made in one piece with both perforating and filtering functions.

Advantageously, the perforating / filtering disc 81 acts, at the same time, as a perforating element to perforate the capsule 50 and as a filtering element to increase the level of distribution of hot water in the capsule itself.

With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 1, the capsule holder 30 is intended to house a perforating disk 60 with the sharp points 62 facing upwards, in use, so as to pierce the lower portion of the capsule 50 when housed inside. of cavity 31.

Advantageously, the sharp points 62 have hollow portions which define one or more through openings 63 whose function is to pierce the capsule 50 and allow the espresso coffee obtained by passing hot water to pass through these through openings 63 only. in capsule 50.

The perforating disc 60 is intended to be housed inside the capsule holder 30 at the upper surface 311 of the disc 310.

For this purpose, preferably, the perforating disc 60 has a diameter substantially corresponding to or slightly less than the external diameter d1 of the side wall 312 of the disc 310 so as to be stably housed inside the capsule holder 30.

With reference to the embodiment illustrated in the examples of figures 6 and 7, the filter holder 2 intended to house the capsule holder 30 can also house the filter 40 if a user wishes to prepare an espresso with ground coffee in bulk.

In this case, the filter 40 is conventionally made starting from a substantially cylindrical body 41 whose bottom is perforated like a sieve to block the coffee powder inserted therein and let the drink pass outwards.

The filter 40 can also be coupled to a conventional funnel 45 with a single outlet or a double outlet duct for pouring the beverage into one or more cups.

It should be noted that in this embodiment the configuration of the dispensing unit 1 remains the same as illustrated in the examples of figures 1-5. The perforating filter 81 performs the function of preserving the hydraulic parts from the coffee powders retained by the filter holder at the end of dispensing.

According to a further aspect, the invention concerns a capsule holder kit or a filtering kit for the preparation of espresso coffee through the use of loose ground coffee or ground coffee in capsules.

The capsule holder kit for preparing espresso coffee using coffee capsules includes the capsule holder 30 and the perforating disk 60, as described above.

If a user wishes to prepare an espresso coffee using a capsule 50, all he has to do is insert the capsule holder 30 into the filter holder 2, the perforating disk 60 into the capsule holder 30 and the capsule 50 into the capsule holder 30, then insert the filter holder 2 in brew group 1 and start dispensing.

If the capsule 50 is larger than the volume available inside the capsule holder 30, the user will rotate the bodies 310,320 to adjust the height h of the housing space 31 thus allowing, advantageously, the housing of more capsules 50 regardless of their shape or size.

Finally, the filter holder 2 is inserted into the dispensing unit 1 and rotated to allow the tight coupling of one with respect to the other.

The espresso infusion can then percolate down and be served to the user.

It should be noted that, thanks to the possibility of reciprocal movement of the bodies 320,330 of the capsule holder 30, and therefore of the volume of the cavity 32, it is possible to obtain a perfect seal between the under-cup gasket 74 and the circular edge 334 of the filter holder 2 suitable to contain the capsule . Furthermore, the volume adjustment 32 allows to obtain a perfect seal between the edge of the perforating / filtering disc 81 and the edge of the capsule 50. As in fact illustrated in Figure 3, the upper edge 51 of the capsule 50 is "sandwiched" between the edge of the perforating / filtering disc 81 and the abutment surface 325 of the tubular body 320.

Furthermore, thanks to the reciprocal movement of the bodies 310,320,330 of the capsule holder 30 it is possible to adjust the distance between the tips 62,72 of the discs 81,70 and the capsule 50.

It is also necessary to indicate that, during the bayonet connection and rotation of the filter holder 2 to the dispensing group 1, the filter holder 2 moves towards the dispensing group 1 allowing, during this movement, the perforating disk 70 to pierce the capsule 50.

The lower perforation of the capsule 50 by means of the perforating disk 60 usually occurs following the percolation of hot water under pressure inside the capsule 50.

The capsule 50, being also subjected to the pressure of the water, undergoes a vertical expansion downwards which causes the volume of the capsule itself to increase with the consequence that the lower portion of the capsule 50 is destined to intercept the sharp points 62 and therefore to be perforated by the latter.

Advantageously, the adjustment of the distance between the tips 62,72 of the perforation discs 60,70 and the capsule 50 also allows the pre-infusion time to be varied. In particular, if the bottom of the capsule 50 moves away from the tips 62, the permeability of the coffee powder and its infusion will improve, allowing a precise setting in relation to the different blends of raw materials in order to obtain the best quality in the cup.

On the other hand, the filtering kit for preparing espresso coffee using ground coffee in bulk includes filter 40 and funnel 45, as described above.

If a user wishes to prepare an espresso coffee using loose ground coffee, all he has to do is fill the filter 40 with ground coffee, insert the funnel 45 and the filter 40 into the filter holder 2, then insert the filter holder 2 into the brew group 1 and start dispensing.

As it has been possible to verify from the present description, it has been found that the described invention achieves the proposed aims and in particular it is emphasized that by means of the machine for the preparation of espresso coffee described here it is possible to use both ground coffee in bulk. both of ground coffee in capsules.

Thanks to the particular shape of the capsule holder, it is also possible to use capsules of different shapes and sizes, always using the same capsule holder.

The kit for the preparation of espresso coffee can be dimensionally adaptable to all the dispensing groups on the market thanks to the presence of a perforating / filtering disk 81 that can be installed in the dispensing group 1.

The number of combinations of the elements making up the kit for preparing espresso coffee according to the invention are potentially infinite.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS 1) Machine for the preparation of infusions or beverages using bulk preparations or capsule preparations, comprising a dispensing group (1) to which hot water under pressure flows and equipped with an open cavity (13), in use, towards at the bottom, a filter holder (2) connectable to the dispensing unit (1) and comprising a hollow cylindrical body (20), characterized in that it comprises a perforating / filtering disc (81.70) inserted in the cavity (13) of the dispensing unit (1). 2) Machine according to claim 1, comprising a capsule holder (30) intended to be housed in the hollow cylindrical body (20) of the filter holder (2) for dispensing ground coffee in capsule (50), a perforating disk (60 ) intended to be housed inside the capsule holder (30) at its bottom (311) and intended to perforate the lower portion of the capsule (50), and in which the perforating / filtering disc (81.70) is intended to pierce the upper portion of the capsule (50). 3) Machine according to claim 2, in which the capsule holder (30) comprises a first (310) and a second tubular body (320) which can be coupled and moved together. 4) Machine according to claim 3, wherein according to the rotation quantity of the first tubular body (310) with respect to the second tubular body (320) it is possible to vary their mutual distance in order to be able to house capsules (50) of shape and / or different height. 5) Machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the capsule holder (30) comprises a third tubular body (330) which can be coupled to the second tubular body (320). 6) Machine according to claim 5, in which, depending on the rotation quantity of the third tubular body (330) with respect to the second tubular body (320), it is possible to vary their mutual distance 7) Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which each disc (81,70,60) is equipped with a plurality of sharp points (72,62) of substantially conical shape. 8) Machine according to claim 7, wherein the sharp points (72,62) have hollow portions which define one or more through openings (75,63). 9) Machine according to claim 1, comprising a filter (40) which can be housed in the hollow cylindrical body (20) of the filter holder (2) and intended to be filled with loose preparations, and a funnel (45) interposed between the hollow cylindrical body ( 20) of the filter holder (2) and the filter to convey the prepared espresso to one or more cups. 10) Capsule holder kit for the preparation of infusions or beverages through the use of capsule preparations, comprising a capsule holder (30) and a perforating / filtering disc (81.70) according to any of claims 2 to 8. 11) Filtering kit for the preparation of infusions or beverages by using bulk preparations, comprising a filter (40) according to claim 9.