IT202000024418A1 - NEW MANUAL AND FULLY MECHANICAL FILLER FOR RECYCLABLE COFFEE CAPSULES - Google Patents

Description

Invention patent entitled:

?NEW MANUAL AND FULLY MECHANICAL FILLER FOR RECYCLABLE COFFEE CAPSULES??,

DESCRIPTION TEXT

Technical sector of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the sector of machines and accessories which concern the preparation of coffee. and more in particular, it concerns a new and advantageous manual filler, totally mechanical, for filling and refilling coffee capsules. of the recyclable or rechargeable type, i.e. those capsules that are suitable for being used more? times, typically in a coffee machine? to be used at home, to contain the blend or coffee powder? What is needed to prepare coffee?, unlike coffee capsules? of the non-recyclable or disposable type, such as the classic? pods?, which instead after use to prepare coffee? I'm not anymore reusable and therefore must be fully disposed of.

State of the prior art

How already? implicitly announced above, ? it has long been known, in the preparation of the drink called coffee, especially at home, to use the so-called ?pods? disposable, containing the blend of coffee? powder, in which these pods are loaded into a coffee machine, typically for home use, where the pods are subjected to a flow of pressurized hot water, as well as to prepare the coffee?.

In particular, these pods are made up of an external casing, containing the blend of coffee powder, which is not more reusable, after a first use, for a second use to prepare coffee again, so this outer casing must be disposed of together with the spent coffee blend. contained in the same outer casing.

Therefore this known technique poses the non-negligible problem of having to properly dispose of these pods, already? used to prepare coffee, each consisting of an external casing containing the exhausted blend of coffee.

In this regard, the prior art proposes numerous embodiments of plants, devices and tools for the disposal, recovery and treatment in general of these capsules, of the disposable or disposable type, after they have been used to prepare coffee.

In particular, these known systems, devices and tools have the purpose of separating, after the capsule or pod has been used to prepare the coffee, the external casing from the coffee mixture. contained in the same wrapper, so that the inorganic material of the outer wrapper, usually plastic or aluminum, and the organic material of the coffee blend can be treated and disposed of separately.

These systems, devices and tools are for? rather expensive, and in any case involve additional costs in the modalities? treatment of the waste that is produced following the preparation of the coffee, having to treat and dispose not only the exhausted blend of coffee but also the wrappings containing this exhausted blend of coffee.

As an alternative to the use of disposable pods, which once used must be completely disposed of, which implies, as mentioned, that both the exhausted blend of coffee and the coffee must be disposed of. contained in the pods and their outer casing, the prior art offers, as already first anticipated, also the possibility? to prepare coffee, especially at home by means of a coffee machine? for home use, using the so-called recyclable or refillable capsules.

In particular, these recyclable or refillable capsules, designed to be filled with the coffee blend? powder, are each provided to be reused more? times, after being emptied of the exhausted blend of coffee? and be filled and recharged again with a new and fresh coffee blend, to prepare coffee? with the same coffee machine?.

Therefore these recyclable or refillable capsules for coffee? appear, at least potentially, capable of meeting the current ecological needs increasingly? pressing in the market, since, being able to be reused more? times to prepare coffee? what? not having to be disposed of after each coffee preparation, have the advantage of involving and producing a smaller quantity? of waste and therefore also less pollution compared to non-recyclable pods or capsules for coffee.

However, despite these undoubted advantages, even the solutions offered by the prior art in the field of coffee preparation through the recyclable or refillable capsules are not entirely free from limitations and drawbacks.

In particular, the recyclable coffee capsule fillers, as proposed by the prior art and currently offered and available on the market, are mainly of the electric type, i.e. they are designed to be powered by electricity and therefore be connected to the electricity grid in order to operate, for which they are usually configured as a small appliance comprising one more? motors and/or electric actuators to control the various functions of the filler.

In fact, the presence of these electrical parts considerably complicates the construction and manufacture of these known fillers of recyclable coffee capsules, and furthermore has a not negligible impact on their industrial production cost.

Furthermore, again due to the presence of these electrical parts, these known fillers of recyclable coffee capsules are, at least potentially, subject to failure and to manifesting more serious drawbacks. frequently compared to a totally mechanical filler with no electrical parts.

For completeness of information, the following patent documents are cited, as selected from a preliminary search: WO 2020/135899 A1, ES 1241931, WO 2019/224408 A1, ES 1236964, WO 2018/235044 A1, DE 102016014 089 A1, EP 3312101 A1, WO 2018/029609 A1, EP 3254838 A2, WO 2016/029355 A1, CN 202801289 (U), IT102010901822606, CH 282039, which describe devices and applications for filling, and in general for treating, coffee capsules both of the disposable or non-refillable type, such as the classic pods, and recyclable and refillable capsules, such as those designed to be treated and filled more quickly. times with coffee powder? by means of the filler object of the present invention.

Therefore, in the context as illustrated above and the related problems waiting to be solved, the inventor perceived that it was possible to go beyond the prior art, or significantly improve the fillers, as currently offered on the market, for filling the recyclable capsules for coffee?, in order to improve its? reliability? and make them even more comfortable and practical to use, cos? to promote the use of recyclable coffee capsules? as an alternative to the current widespread use of pods or non-recyclable capsules for coffee, and, last but not least, trying at the same time to meet the current ecological needs of producing, even in the preparation of coffee, the smallest quantity ? possible amount of waste to be disposed of.

Summary of the invention

It follows that a first object of the present invention is to make available a new coffee capsule filler? of the recyclable or rechargeable type, or capable of being reused more? times to prepare coffee? in a coffee machine, in which this filler, in addition to implying an extremely practical and comfortable use, is also capable of meeting the ever more pressing ecological expectations, also in the coffee preparation sector? and of the respective machines and equipment, towards products and articles that respect the environment in which we live and therefore are not a source of pollution, and in particular are capable of offering an ecological alternative to the current and extensive use, for preparing coffee? , disposable capsules and pods, which, not being recyclable, require to be disposed of after being used to prepare coffee? and therefore they can cause environmental pollution.

A second object, however connected to the previous one, of the present invention is also to propose and create a new recyclable capsule filler for coffee? that presents a simple construction, characterized by a reduced number of parts, and not complicated by the presence of electrical parts such as motors and similar devices, so? as to be practically immune to failures in the course of its use.

A further object of the present invention ? propose and create a new recyclable capsule filler for coffee? which, despite having a typically manual use, allows you to accurately dose the dose or doses of coffee powders that are dispensed from the filler.

Another object of the present invention can be be recognized in that of proposing a new recyclable capsule filler for coffee? that can be produced and assembled in series at low industrial costs.

Can the aforementioned purposes be considered fully achieved by the recyclable or refillable capsule filler for coffee? having the characteristics recited by the independent main claim 1.

Particular embodiments of the filler, according to the invention, are also defined by the dependent claims.

Advantages of the invention

How will it look? clearly from the continuation of the description, the new filler, according to the invention, for filling recyclable or refillable capsules for coffee?, offers a series of relevant and unique advantages, some of which already? previously announced, among which the following are mentioned purely indicatively:

- a very simple and practical use by a respective user;

- a precise and correct dosage of the quantity? of coffee? in powder which is dispensed by the filler;

- a contained cost of industrial production, since all the pieces, of which the filler is? composed, can be manufactured and produced very efficiently by molding of plastic material;

- possibility? to use the filler in any place, since, being totally mechanical, it is not? subject to the constraint of having to be connected to the electricity grid in order to function;

- a simple construction characterized by a limited number of parts, which makes the filler practically free from breakdowns during its use;

- a totally mechanical construction, whereby the filler does not include, unlike a usual small household appliance, electric motors or similar devices, powered by the mains, which in addition to implying a consumption of electricity could also fail during use of the filler .

Brief description of the drawings

These and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear and evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given purely as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 ? a three-dimensional graphic image showing the essential features of a filler, according to the invention, for use in filling a recyclable capsule for preparing coffee;

Fig. 2 ? an axonometric view, with lines only, corresponding to the three-dimensional graphic image of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 ? a top view of the filler of the invention of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 ? a partial sectional view along line IV-IV of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 ? a view, partial and schematic, of a ratchet or step mechanism included in more? large dispensing mechanism, for dispensing the coffee powder, of the filler of the invention;

Fig. 5A shows for clarity, on an enlarged scale, an area of the ratchet or step mechanism of Fig.5;

Fig. 6, divided into sections (a)-(b), shows in sectional and exploded form the parts of a dispensing member included in the filler of the invention; And

Fig. 7 ? an isometric view, in exploded form, of a pressure unit and a seat for housing a recyclable capsule, included in the filler of the invention.

Naturally, always remaining within the scope and scope of the present invention, particular configurations, structures and characteristics, as described below with reference to its preferred embodiment, can be combined in any suitable and coherent way in one or more? further embodiments of the same invention which will not be described for reasons of synthesis.

Furthermore, it is specified that the references used below only meet the needs of convenience? and therefore do not in any way define the scope of protection and scope of the embodiments, which will be described, of the invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment of a filling machine, according to the invention, for filling recyclable capsules for preparing coffee?

Referring to the drawings, a filling machine, also referred to as simply filling machine hereinafter, according to the present invention, designed to fill with coffee CAF, in ground or powdered form, a capsule C, of the recyclable or refillable type, to prepare coffee? with a coffee machine?, ? indicated overall with 10.

In detail, the filler 10 of recyclable capsules C for coffee? it has a configuration which extends vertically along a central axis X and comprises: - a fixed structure or outer shell, indicated as a whole by 11, substantially cylindrical, which houses and supports the various parts of the filler 10;

- a substantially cylindrical container 12, integral with the outer shell 11 and arranged in an upper area of the filler 10, suitable for receiving and containing the coffee; CAF, in the form of coffee? ground or powdered;

- a dispensing mechanism, indicated as a whole by 13, associated with the cylindrical container 12 for dispensing the coffee? CAF contained in the same container 12; And

- a seat 14, integral with the outer shell 11 and arranged in a lower area of the filler 10, suitable for receiving and housing a recyclable capsule C for coffee.

The container 12 in turn includes a lid 12a to allow a user of the filler 10 to cover the container 12 after filling it with coffee. CAF.

According to a salient feature of the present invention and as shown in detail in the drawings and in particular in Figs. 4 and 5, the dispensing mechanism 13 in turn comprises:

- a dispensing member, indicated as a whole with 13a, able to rotate around the axis X for vertical extension of the filler 10;

- a control lever 13b, also called simply a lever in the following, able to be operated by a user of the filler 10, as indicated in the drawings by an arrow f1, to control a corresponding rotation of the dispensing member 13a, around the respective axis x, indicated by an arrow f2, and consequently determine the dispensing, indicated by an arrow f3, by the dispensing mechanism 13, of the coffee? CAF in the recyclable capsule C for coffee, housed in the respective seat 14, e

- a ratchet or step or click mechanism, indicated as a whole with 13c, interposed between the lever 13b and the dispensing member 13a, to command, at each actuation of the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10, a given rotation or angular step of dispensing member 13a and consequently causing the dispensing mechanism 13 to dispense a corresponding dose of coffee? in the recyclable capsule C for coffee, housed in the respective seat 14.

The dispensing member 13a of the dispensing mechanism 13 in turn comprises:

- a substantially cylindrical main body 13a-1, rotatable inside the outer shell 11 about the vertical axis X, in which this cylindrical body 13a-1 has a plurality of? of cylindrical compartments, indicated with 13a-2, adapted to act as volumetric dosers of the coffee? CAF powder contained in the container 12, and in which these compartments 13a-2 are configured as through cylindrical holes which are uniformly distributed around the X-axis and extend parallel to the latter, with each of these compartments 13a-2 acting to receive and define a dose of coffee, during use of the filler 10, as better described hereinafter; - a star-shaped mixer or mixer element 13a-3 integral with the rotatable cylindrical body 13a-1, in which this mixer 13a-3 has a plurality of of radial elements 13a-4, corresponding in number to the compartments 13a-2 formed in the cylindrical body 13a-1, in which these radial elements 13a-4 have the function, by rotating integrally with the cylindrical body 13a-1, of mixing the coffee? CAF contained in the container 12 of the filler 10; And

- a rotation pin 13a-5, rotatable inside the outer shell 11 of the filler 10, in which this rotation pin 13a-5 extends along the vertical axis X and ? adapted to be rotated by the lever 13b as well as? to determine a corresponding rotation of the dispensing member 13a and consequently dispense the coffee? CAF in recyclable coffee capsule C.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6, the cylindrical body 13a-1 of the dispensing member 13a is keyed to a central portion of the rotation pin 13a-5, while the mixer 13a-3 is screwed on a? extremity? top of the rotation pin 13a-5, whereby the dispensing member 13a forms a single unit, consisting of the cylindrical body 13a-1, the mixer 13a-3, and the rotation pin 13a-5, able to rotate around the vertical axis X of the filler 10, in response to the operation of the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10, as better described hereinafter.

In the preferred embodiment, described here, of the filler 10, the rotatable main body 13a-1 of the respective dispensing member 13a has five compartments 13a-2, uniformly distributed around the vertical axis X of the filler 10, so that a rotation of a fifth of a round angle, i.e. about 72?, of the dispensing member 13a determines the dispensing, in the recyclable capsule C, of a dose of coffee? contained in a compartment 13a-2.

AND? however, it is clear that other configurations, with a different or smaller or greater number of compartments 13a-2, so as to vary both the entity? of the angular rotation imparted by the user of the filler 10 to the lever 13b to determine the delivery of a dose of coffee? and is the entity? and the volume of the coffee dose? contained in each compartment 13a-2, are possible, always remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Lever 13b in turn comprises:

- a portion of the end? 13b-1, exhibiting an L-shaped configuration, adapted to be operated by the user of the filler 10, so as to make the lever 13b assume, starting from a respective rest position, a respective working position, so? to dispense a dose of coffee? in the recyclable capsule C for coffee? housed in the respective seat 14; And

- a main portion 13b-2, exhibiting a flat and elongated shape, rotatably supported, at one end; of the lever 13b opposite to the L-shaped one, by the rotation pin 13a-5 of the dispensing member 13a, so as to make the lever 13b free to rotate around the X axis, when ? activated by the user of the filler 10.

The ratchet mechanism 13c, placed between the lever 13b and the delivery member 13a, in turn comprises:

- a star-shaped toothed wheel 13c-1, having a number of teeth equal to that of the compartments 13a-2 formed in the cylindrical body 13a-1 of the revolving dispensing member 13a, in which this toothed wheel 13c-1 ? fixed with a slot 13c-1?, shown in Fig. 5A, at one end? bottom of the rotation pin 13a-5, included and an integral part of the dispensing member 13a, which therefore, being integral with the rotation pin 13a-5, is adapted to rotate jointly with the gear wheel 13c-1 of the ratchet mechanism 13c, when the user operates the lever 13b during use of the filler 10, as further described below; - a toothed or hook element 13c-2, hinged on the body 13b-2, of the lever 13b, which in turn rotates on the rotation pin 13a-5 of the dispensing member 13a;

- a return spring 13c-3, constituted in particular by a helical traction spring, in which this return spring 13c-3 is adapted to apply on the toothed element 13c-2 an elastic force directed both so as to oppose the rotation imparted to the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10, as well as to determine the automatic return of the same lever 13b from the working position to the rest position at the end of the actuation of the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10, and both in such a way as to push and push the toothed element 13c-2 between the teeth of the gear wheel 13c-1, in order to lock it; And

- a spring 13c-4, in the form of a plate, of harmonic steel, able to cooperate with the teeth of the toothed wheel 13c-1, so as to block and keep the same toothed wheel 13c-1 still, when the lever 13b returns from the position of work to that of rest under the thrust of the elastic force applied by the return spring 13c-3, during use of the filler 10, as further described below.

In this way, each actuation of the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10 causes a corresponding controlled rotation of the dispensing member 13a, equal to a given angular step, in turn corresponding to the angular step ? between the teeth of the wheel 13c-1 of the ratchet mechanism 13c, cos? to position the various compartments 13a-2 correctly in succession in a dispensing area, and therefore dispense, step by step and one after the other, the doses of coffee? contained in the same compartments 13a-2 formed in the main body 13a-1 of the dispensing member 13a.

To allow correct assembly of the various parts described above of the filler 10, the fixed structure 11 of the latter is made up of three parts or casings, assembled one above the other, respectively:

- a first lower, or base casing, indicated 11-1, which acts as a support base for the filler 10;

- a second intermediate casing, indicated with 11-2, which houses the ratchet mechanism 13c; And

- an upper casing 11-3, which houses and rotatably supports the dispensing member 13a, or the group formed by the cylindrical body 13a-1 with the compartments 13a-2, the mixer 13a-3, and the rotation pin 13a- 5.

In particular, the intermediate casing 11-2 forms a through duct 11-4 suitable for receiving a dose of coffee from each of the compartments 13a-2 of the revolving dispensing member 13a. and to convey it towards the recyclable capsule C for coffee, housed in the respective seat 14, as indicated by the arrow f3 in Fig.4.

The filler 10 also comprises a separator element, in the shape of a septum or wall, indicated with 15, integral with the upper casing 11-3 of the outer shell 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, in which this separator element 15 has a hole central unit 15a which rotatably supports the dispensing member 13a.

In particular, this separator element 15 has the function of separating, in correspondence with the coffee dispensing area, the CAF from the compartments 13a-2 to the duct 11-4, the dispensing member 13a from inside the container 12 containing the coffee? CAF, what? to level, thanks to this separator function, the quantity? of coffee? CAF that fills each compartment 13a-2, when the dispensing organ 13a rotates around the X axis following the operation of the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10.

Finally, the filler 10 further comprises a pressure unit, indicated as a whole with 16, integral with the outer shell 11 of the same filler 10, in which this pressure unit 16, shown in detail in Fig. 7, also integrates the seat 14 for the capsule recyclable C for coffee? and comprises a presser 16a able to be pressed by the user of the filler 10, against the action of a respective return spring 16b, to press the coffee? CAF, delivered in the form of one or more? doses, from the dispensing mechanism 13 following the operation of the lever 13b by the user, which ? contained in and fills the recyclable capsule C for coffee? housed in the respective seat 14.

This pressure group 16 ? fixed to the outer shell 11 of the filler 10 and also integrates a duct 16c which extends into the pressure unit 16 in continuation of the through duct 11-4 formed in the intermediate casing 11-2 of this outer shell 11, whereby the through duct 11-4 and the duct 16c form a single duct suitable for evacuating and conveying the coffee? powder from each compartment 13a-2 formed in the dispensing member 13a and therefore to fill with the coffee? in powder the recyclable capsule C housed in the respective seat 14, in the use of the filler 10, as more? described below.

Use and operation of the filler of the invention

In use and operation, the filler 10 is initially in a rest configuration, with the lever 13b stably arranged in a respective rest position, due to the effect of the elastic force applied thereon by the return spring 13c-3 of the ratchet mechanism 13c.

Again, in this initial configuration of the filler 10, the coffee? CAF, in powder form, at least partially fills the container 12 of the filler 10, thus da fills at least some of the compartments 13a-2, formed in the main body 13a-1 of the dispensing member 13a, which are not separated by the separator element 15 from inside the container 12 so that they can freely receive the coffee powder contained in the same container 12.

Furthermore, in the rest configuration of the lever 13b, the toothed element 13c-2 of the ratchet mechanism 13c is pressed by the spring force applied thereto by the return spring 13c-3 so that it is pushed and wedged between the teeth of the sprocket 13c-1, thus to keep it blocked with respect to the X axis, as shown for clarity with a dotted line in Fig. 5A.

Finally, again in this initial configuration of the filler 10, the dispensing member 13a is arranged angularly about the vertical axis X so as to present a respective compartment 13a-2 arranged exactly above the conduit 11-4, formed in the outer shell 11, whereby this compartment 13a-2 is? empty, having already dispensed through the duct 11-4, during a previous use of the filler 10, the dose of coffee, contained in the same compartment 13a-2, in the capsule C housed in the seat 14

At this point, the user of the filler 10 operates the lever 13b, i.e. manually presses the respective end? L so as to cause a rotation of the same lever 13b, around the vertical axis X, as indicated by the arrow f1, from the respective rest position to the working one.

This rotation of the lever 13b in turn rotates, by means of the toothed element 13c-2 engaged with the teeth of the toothed wheel 13c-1, the dispensing member 13a integral with the toothed wheel 13c-1, so that the The dispensing member 13a performs a determined rotation conforming to and corresponding to the angular pitch ??between the teeth of the same gear wheel 13c-1, as indicated by the arrow f2 in the drawings, in such a way to arrange a new compartment 13a-2, filled with a dose of coffee, exactly above the conduit 11-4.

Therefore, following this rotation according to a given angular step of the dispensing member 13a, the dose of coffee, which is contained in the new compartment 13a-2 arranged above the through duct 11-4, it automatically falls due to gravity? in the same duct passing 11-4 and ? therefore conveyed by the latter in the recyclable capsule C for coffee? housed in the respective seat 14.

During this rotation of the dispensing member 13a, the mixer 13a-3, part of the dispensing member 13a, advantageously performs the function of mixing the coffee powder with the respective radial fins 13a-4. CAF contained in the container 12, so as to distribute it and correctly fill with it the compartments 13a-2 formed in the main body 13a-1 of the dispensing member 13a.

The user then releases the lever 13b which therefore automatically returns back, rotating around the axis X, from the respective working position to the rest position, due to the effect of the elastic force applied to the same lever 13b by the spring 13c-3 of the ratchet mechanism 13c, as indicated in the drawings by an arrow f1?.

At the same time, the toothed wheel 13c-1 remains locked, due to the action applied thereto by the spring 13c-4, in the angular position previously reached at the end of the angular rotation of the lever 13b around the axis X, so that also the The dispensing member 13a, integral with the toothed wheel 13c-1, maintains, around the axis X, the angular position previously reached, therefore with the respective compartment 13a-2, once emptied, arranged exactly above the through duct 11- 4.

Furthermore, as in a classic ratchet mechanism, during the backward rotation of the lever 13b, as indicated by the arrow f1?, around the X axis, from the working position to the rest position, the toothed element 13c-2 it disengages from the tooth of the toothed wheel 13c-1 with which it had cooperated to advance the dispensing member 13a by an angular step and, after having bypassed a tooth, it engages with the next one of the same toothed wheel 13c-1.

In this way, again as shown with a dotted line in Fig. 5A, the toothed element 13c-2 is correctly arranged, in the ratchet mechanism 13c, to drive the toothed wheel 13c-1 into rotation and therefore also the? dispensing member 13a, upon subsequent activation of the lever 13b by the user of the filler 10.

Subsequently, if the user of the filler 10 intends to fill with further doses of coffee the recyclable capsule C, has only to repeat the previous operations, i.e. actuate the lever 13b again so as to make it again assume the working position from the rest position, so to arrange, after a rotation of the dispensing member 13a by one step, another new compartment 13a-2, full of coffee? CAF, above the passing duct 11-4, and therefore determine the delivery of a further dose of coffee? in the recyclable capsule C housed in the respective seat 14, and so on.

Subsequently, the user of the filler 10, after having filled the recyclable capsule C with the desired number of doses of coffee, has the possibility of to push downwards, in contrast to the elastic force applied by the return spring 16b, the presser 16a of the presser unit 16, thus to press it against the coffee? content of the recyclable capsule C, housed in its seat14.

In this way the coffee that ? contents and fills the recyclable capsule C ? suitably compacted, so the recyclable capsule? ready to be transferred and used in a coffee machine? to prepare coffee?.

In the case of the embodiment 10, described above, since the compartments 13a-2 are five uniformly distributed around the axis X and therefore the number of teeth of the toothed wheel 13c-1 of the ratchet mechanism 13c also being five, the angular rotation, imparted by the user to the dispensing member 13a at each actuation of the lever 13b from the respective rest position to the working position, ? equal to about one fifth of a round angle, or about 72?.

AND? clear anyway, as gi? underlined, that always in the ambit of the present invention the entity? this angular rotation pu? also be different, depending on the number of compartments 13a-2 formed in the dispensing organ 13a-1 and their volume, which in turn corresponds to the quantity? of coffee? of each dose of coffee? dispensed by the filler.

AND? it is therefore clear, from the description given, that the present invention fully achieves the intended objects, and in particular proposes a new, innovative, practical to use and advantageous filler for dispensing and filling with one or more? precise doses of coffee? a coffee capsule? of the recyclable or reusable type, in which this filler has a totally mechanical construction and therefore does not require to be connected to the electrical network to operate.

Also, as an added benefit, the filler can be produced in an industrial way at low costs, the respective pieces being manufacturable by molding a plastic material.

Variants

Of course, without prejudice to the basic principle and concept of the present invention, ? it is also clear that its embodiments and applications can be subject to variations, modifications and improvements with respect to what has been described and illustrated up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the same invention.

For example, the pressure unit 16 can? be a separate group and materially distinct from the outer shell of the filler 10, or even not be included in the filler 10 of the invention.

Still the filler 10 of the invention can? not include the seat 14 to house the recyclable capsule C which ? filled with doses of coffee? dispensed by the same filler 10.

Claims (10)

1. Filler (10) of recyclable or refillable capsules (C) for coffee? (CAF), including: - a substantially cylindrical container (12), arranged in an upper area of the filler (10), able to receive and contain the coffee? (CAF), in the form of coffee? ground or powdered; And - a dispensing mechanism (13), associated with the cylindrical container (12), for dispensing the coffee? (CAF), contained in the same container (12), in a recyclable capsule (C) for coffee; the filler (10) being characterized by what? that said dispensing mechanism (13) in turn comprises: - a dispensing member (13a), rotatable about a vertical rotation axis (X), comprising a substantially cylindrical main body (13a-1), exhibiting a configuration with a plurality of? of compartments (13a-2) each suitable for receiving a dose of coffee? from the container (12); And - a lever (13b) able to be operated manually, in contrast to the elastic force applied on it by a respective return spring (13c-3), by a user of the filler (10), so as to assume, starting from a respective rest position, a respective work position, in order to dispense a dose of coffee? in said recyclable capsule (C) for coffee, said return spring (13c-3) being able to determine the automatic return of the same lever (13b) from the respective working position to the rest position at the end of the actuation of the lever ( 13b) by the user of the filler (10), in which said lever (13b) ? suitable for cooperating with said dispensing member (13a) via a ratchet or step mechanism (13c), so to command, at each manual actuation of the lever (13b) by the user of the filler (10), a determined angular rotation of one step (?) of the dispensing member (13a) and consequently dispense, step by step, in the recyclable capsule (C) for coffee, and therefore fill it, the doses of coffee? contained in the compartments (13a-2) of the dispensing organ (13a). 2. Filler (10) according to claim 1, wherein said ratchet mechanism (13c), by which said lever (12b) is adapted to cooperate with said dispensing organ (13a), in turn comprises: - a toothed wheel (13c-1), integral with said dispensing member (13a), in which said toothed wheel (13c-1) exhibits a number of teeth equal to that of the compartments (13a-2) formed in the main body ( 13a-1) of the dispensing organ (13a), rotatable; - a toothed element (13c-2), hinged on said lever (13b) which can be operated by the user of the filler (10); And - said return spring (13c-3), in particular consisting of a helical traction spring, able to apply on said toothed element (13c-2) an elastic force directed so as to oppose the movement which ? imparted by the user of the filler (10) to the lever (13b) to make it assume the working position from the rest position; in which said return spring (13c-3) ? also suitable for pushing said toothed element (13c-2) against the teeth of said toothed wheel (13c-1) so? to cause the rotation (f2) of the dispensing organ (13a), when the lever (13b) ? manually operated by the user in order to assume the working position from the rest position 3. Filler (10) according to claim 2, wherein said ratchet mechanism (13c) further comprises: - a spring (13c-4), in particular in the form of a plate, able to cooperate with the teeth of the toothed wheel (13c-1) so as to block it and keep it still with respect to said vertical axis (X), when the lever (13b ) returns from the working position to the rest position due to the effect of the elastic force applied thereto by said return spring (13c-3) and therefore assumes the respective rest position again. 4. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a presser unit (16) with a presser (16a) able to be pressed by the same user of the filler (10), in contrast to the action of a respective spring return (16b), to press the coffee? (CAF), dispensed by the filler (10), which fills the recyclable capsule (C) for coffee. 5. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seat (14), arranged in a lower area of the filler (10), adapted to receive and house a recyclable capsule (C) to be filled with coffee. (CAF) dispensed by the same filler (10). 6. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever (13b), which can be operated by the user of the filler, is rotatable around said vertical axis (X). 7. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said dispensing member (13a) further comprises a mixer (13a-3) in turn including a plurality of of radial elements (13a-4) corresponding in number to the compartments (13a-2) formed in the dispensing member (13a) itself, in which said mixer (13a-3) has the function of mixing the coffee? (CAF) when the lever (13b) ? activated by the user of the filler (10). 8. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said filler (10) further comprises a separator element (15), in the shape of a septum or wall, which has a hole (15a) which rotatably supports said dispensing member (13a), and also has the function of separating, in correspondence with the coffee dispensing area? (CAF) from the compartments (13a-2), the dispensing organ (13a) from inside the container (12), containing the coffee? (CAF), what? to level the amount? of coffee? contained in each compartment (13a-2) formed in the dispensing organ (13a), when the latter rotates around said vertical axis (X) due to the operation of said lever (13b) by the user of the filler (10). 9. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, as dependent on claim 4, wherein said pressure unit (16) is integrated in a fixed structure or outer shell (11) which houses and supports the various parts of the filler (10). 10. Filler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a fixed structure or outer shell (11) which houses and supports the various parts of the same filler (10), wherein said fixed structure (11) in turn comprises three parts or casings (11-1, 11-2, 11-3), assembled one above the other, with: - a first lower or base casing (11-1) which acts as a support base for the filler (10); - a second intermediate casing (11-2) which houses the ratchet mechanism (13c); and - a third upper casing (11-3)) which houses and rotatably supports the dispensing member (13a) of the dispensing mechanism (13).