KR100922940B1 - Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is provided so that one or more sprayed streams of water 220 are formed directly in a sealing membrane 210 that closes the bottom of a capsule 200 containing a drinkable material for making a beverage, such as coffee. In this way, the beverage can fall directly from the capsule to a beverage container located below the capsule. Claims of the present invention are a machine characterized by means 109 for forming a stream of water and opening the bottom 156 of the container 151 so that the capsule is embedded, and a method for producing and spraying a beverage.

Description

Apparatus and method for manufacturing and delivering beverages using raw materials contained in capsules {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING AND DELIVERING A BEVERAGE WITH THE USE OF A RAW MATTER CONTAINED IN A CARTRIDGE}

The present invention relates to a machine and method for making and spraying a beverage from a raw material contained in a sealed capsule.

It is known in the art to use sealed capsules containing a single portion of raw material. As water vapor or pressurized water enters the capsule, a beverage is produced.

Conventional capsules of this kind, disclosed in EP-A-0 521 510, are present in the form of flat disks with a number of reduced thickness areas and are made of plastic molded integrally with the bottom wall supporting the filter on the inner surface. A body portion having a flared behavior. This capsule is completed by a top wall formed of a membrane. When using it, the capsule is embedded into the machine, wherein the top wall is penetrated so that pressurized water can enter the capsule, or another penetrating device is in the region of the reduced thickness of the bottom wall, Orifices may be provided. The beverage flows out of the capsule through the orifice in a manner that is not sufficiently controlled, for example a capsule containing raw material in the form of powder, for example a powder of non-instant type, against a particular resistance to the flow of pressurized water. This is especially true in the case of.

This is basically because machines used in conjunction with capsules of the conventional type have a conduit for delivering the beverage from the point outside the capsule to the cup or other container in which the beverage is housed. This connection is shown in EP-A-1 034 729. However, this conduit is very tricky and prone to contamination if it is impossible to clean it regularly and properly. In particular, if the machine is not used often, there is a risk that these materials will ferment in the conduit and rot, especially when beverages with fatty ingredients (eg coffee, meat soup or consomme) are made. People will feel unpleasant because they drink drinks that flow out.

Another example of a related prior art is a machine disclosed in patent US-A-5 472 719, in which a piercing device used to penetrate the bottom wall of the capsule is routed out through an orifice. It works simultaneously with the collection device for outgoing beverages. In some of the embodiments discussed in the patents set forth above, there is provided a combined piercing device and a collection device that can be provided as a disposable part. It is contemplated that a new device should be used for each single capsule. However, in addition to judging a clear increase in costs, this also leads to easily evaluable problems regarding inventory management, storage, manipulation and disposal of such devices. In another embodiment, the combined piercing and collection device is part of the same unit as the machine that supports the capsule. In any case, if the cleaning fails frequently, the same kind of disadvantage as already discussed with reference to EP-A-0 521 510 will result.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a beverage in which the sealed capsule of the improved construction for containing the material eliminates the above mentioned disadvantages, without any disadvantages in structural complexity and cost as compared to conventional machines. To provide a machine.

Capsules which are preferably used in combination with such a machine are shown in FIG. 7 (also shown in the applicant's patent application PCT / EP03 / 12338), which is generally designated by reference numeral 200. This capsule has a bottom 202, which is provided with a plurality of filtering orifices 203 and is recessed with respect to the bottom edge 204 of the flared body 206 of the capsule. It further includes an upward central tip 214 and includes a short serrated cylindrical wall 216 extending below it, ie downward. This pre-sealing seal of the capsule 200 is joined to the first membrane, or foil 208, that is bonded or welded along the top edge 209, along the bottom edge 204 of the body 206. Or, protected by a second film, or foil 210, which is welded, or can contact or contact the free end of the serrated cylindrical wall 216.

The object of the present invention is therefore a machine for producing a beverage from a material contained in a capsule of the aforementioned kind.

Another object of the invention is a method for preparing a beverage using said machine.

1 is a three-dimensional view of a machine for making espresso coffee according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sub-assembly of the machine, wherein the sub-assembly comprises a cooking unit.

3 is an enlarged view of the cooking unit.

4 is a three-dimensional rear view of the cooking unit.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the V-V line of FIG. 2, wherein in the cooking unit shown in this configuration, a capsule containing a beverage material is incorporated.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, wherein the cooking unit is shown in a pierced configuration for the production and delivery of coffee beverages.

7 is a view of a capsule for use in a machine according to the invention, wherein the capsule appears along two perpendicular section planes, on the axis of the capsule.

The machine discussed herein is a machine capable of producing a beverage at a rate of one portion at a time, electrically powered, for example, a machine capable of making one cup of espresso coffee from each capsule. For the sake of simplicity and in view of the aspects of the present invention which are essentially related to the brewing unit of the machine, all parts that are structurally and functionally similar to those used in conventional machines are those of ordinary skill in the art. In consideration of the above description, only the following will be briefly described.

When viewed from the front from the outside, ie, as shown in FIG. 1, the machine is leveled, rising asymmetrically with respect to the forward bending structure 4 made of metal or structural plastic. It includes a sufficiently cylindrical base component 2 of metal, which is suitably provided with adjustable feet 21 for calibrating. This structure has a concave front wall 6, an inverted U-shaped peripheral mantle 8, and a rear wall partially open to accommodate a water reservoir 20 (in the drawing). Not shown, only the upper end portion is shown in the drawing).

From the concave front wall 6 projecting forward, but still present within the contour of the base component 2, the box-shaped body 62 is generally designated 10 and will be described in detail later. Suitable for the functional unit of the machine. The functional unit 10 of the machine includes a device 150 for supporting the capsule 200 to be inserted through the window 64 provided in the front wall 63 of the box-shaped body 62. A portion of this device 150, as shown in FIG. 2, is a handle 154 and protrudes forward beyond the box-shaped body 62.

A portion 22 of the base component 2 located below and in front of the front wall 6 of the structure 4 is suitable for being lifted using the handle 26 and sprayed for beverage to drink. It is closed at the top by a cover 24 in the form of a metal lattice provided with a central portion 28 suitable for receiving and supporting a container (for example a cup or the like, not shown in the figures). Within the same portion 22 of the base component 2, from the functional unit 10, or from a container, intended to receive a beverage as well as a residue of the material (eg coffee powder) remaining in the capsule as the beverage is dispensed A drip pan (not shown) is built in to collect the leaked liquid. By the handle 26, the grid 24 is lifted to empty and clean the drip pan.

Inside the structure 4 there are a variety of conventional embedded electronics for operating or controlling the machine, which are accessible by a number of push buttons 86 accessible on the movable control panel 82 for special maintenance and repair purposes. And an indicator light 88. For this purpose, the control panel is provided with a hole 84 for tightening screws (not shown).

Regarding the invention, the most important part of the machine is constituted by a functional unit 10 embedded in a box-shaped body 62 under the outer mantle 8 of the structure 4 as mentioned above. . These functional units, which will be described in more detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, are referred to herein as active parts and are first supported by vertical components 11 made of sheet metal in compression form and embedded in the same structure 4. And a second portion (see FIG. 3) comprising a securing portion 100 (see FIG. 2) and a passive portion, referred to herein as a passive portion, as mentioned above.

The active part 100 of the functional unit 10 is

(a) an L-shaped base component 110 made as a single piece, by casting or press-forming, comprising a vertical arm 111 and a horizontal arm 121. Including the base component 110, wherein

The vertical arm 11 comprises a box-shaped receptacle 112 which is open on the front side, ie in the direction of the horizontal arm 121 and on the rear side, wherein the box-shaped The receiving portion is further provided with a bottom protrusion 112A which projects downward. On the rear side of the vertical arm 111 and at the sides of the receiving portion 112, a screw (not shown in the figure) for securing the entire active part 100 of the functional unit 10 with the vertical component 11. Openings 113A, 113B are provided (see FIG. 4). In the receiving portion 112, along the vertical plane, a roughly L-shaped lever 114 is arranged, which is one of the main features of the present invention. The lever 115 may be made by pressure-molding, or machining, and characterized by sufficient thickness when observed in the up, down, transverse direction, the lever having a concave contour upwards. 120 and a hinge pin 127 (observed in FIGS. 5 and 6) with respect to the same lever 114 located in the extended area 116 of the box-shaped receptacle 112. A middle portion provided with a rear protruding wing 117 provided with a second bore 118 of the lever 114, and having a first bore 115 intended to be terminated at a punch 119. It includes the bottom part. Using a screw (not shown) the upper end is attached to a suitable reservoir 113C located on the top of the box-shaped receptacle 112 while the lower end is attached to the second bore 118. By occupying, a recovery spring (not shown in the figure for simplicity) connects the lever 114 to the vertical arm 111 of the base component 110.

The horizontal arm 121 of the base component 110 has a U-shaped cross section formed by one bottom horizontal wall 122 and two vertical walls 124. The bottom wall 122 is provided with a circular bore 123 in communication with the box-shaped receptacle 112 on the front side of the base component 110. On the exterior of each rug 125, a vertical wall 124 is provided, with a vertical threaded through-bore 126 provided therethrough.

In addition, the active portion 100 of the functional unit 10,

(b) a cooking unit comprising a first body portion 130 and a second body portion 140 in the form of a cylindrical cup each having an enlarged head 139, 141. These cup-shaped body portions 130, 140 are arranged along the vertical axis, which is also the axis of the aforementioned bore 123, at the bottom wall 122 of the horizontal arm 121 of the base component 110. . The first cup-shaped body portion 130 comprising a port 137 located at the lower end for the introduction of a single quantity of hot water required for the preparation of the beverage is in a rather loose manner, ie slack. ), In the second cup-shaped body portion 140 attached to the top portion of the vertical component. The first cup-shaped body portion 130 is wound around two vertical tie rods 131 passing through two bores 138 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130. And, at the top, threaded to the corresponding threaded bore 143 of the second cup-shaped body portion 140, as well as to the threaded to the corresponding threaded bore 126 of the lug 125 at the bottom. The ends 132, 133 rest against a pair of springs 135 provided. The second cup-shaped body portion 140 has a first aperture 142 provided to the enlarged head 141 as well as a second aperture 147 provided to the bottom 148, whereby It is thus possible for the cavity of the second cup-shaped body portion 140 to communicate with the head 139 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130.

In addition, the active portion 100 of the functional unit 10,

(c) a piercing device for the capsule 200, which is part of a brewing unit, shown in an inverted state in FIG. 3 to make a more clear and detailed structure. And a disk 170 including the following.

For securing to the bottom 136 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130, using a central screw 174, below the inlet port 137 for the inflow of the water required for the preparation of the beverage. Central through-bore (178),

Receptacles 171, 172 for receiving a sealing gasket (not shown in the drawing) on the cylinder 130,

Groove 177 on the anterior surface having a size slightly larger than the top edge 209 of the capsule 20,

A plurality of vertical needles 173 for penetrating the top membrane, or foil 209, located on the front surface between the bore 178 and the groove 177, and the pressurized water with a capsule 200 As a vertical nozzle 175 for feeding into), described in detail later,

-Cores made of magnetic material, eg permanent magnets, or plungers 181

A solenoid 182, in which the plunger 181 can slide, and by means of a Seger ring (not shown) inserted into the receiving portion 112B, a box-shaped base component ( It may be secured to the upper portion of the vertical arm 111 of 110, the solenoid being energized through an electrical conductor (not shown) and Faston-type connection terminals 185 (see FIG. 5).

A rod 183 rigidly bonded to the plunger 181, which protrudes downward beyond the vertical bulk of the solenoid 182 and provides a small idler roller 184 at its free end. By the force generated by the recovery spring provided between the reservoir 113C and the bore 118, the roller 184 continues with the recess pointing up the top end 120 of the lever 114. Contact is ensured.

The apparatus 150 for forming the so-called passive part of the functional unit 10 comprises a cavity containing a metal container 151 made by casting and a capsule 200 of that kind described briefly with reference to FIG. 152). According to another main feature of the invention, the container 151 is open and has a bottom 156 provided with a stepped configuration combined with a stepped configuration at the top entrance of the cavity 152, It is intended to support and retain the capsule 200 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). On the outer surface, the container 151 is provided transversely with a male mean 155 for engaging with a corresponding female mean 128, which are box-shaped base components. It is provided on the inner vertical surface of the horizontal arm 21 of 110 (see FIG. 3). In addition, a container 151 is provided at the front of a cross-shaped shank 153 for engaging the extendable handle 154, which handle is preferably made of a thermoset material.

In the following, the mode of operation of such a machine will be described in more detail.

First, the user places a suitable container, i.e., a cup or similar container provided to collect the dispensed beverage for drinking, into the central support area 28 of the cover 24 in the form of a specially provided grid, and then In a cup-shaped cavity 151, a new capsule 200 containing a dose of the material required to make the desired beverage, a membrane or top foil 208 forming the top wall of the container Fill in a manner that suppresses protruding upwards from 151. Using the handle 154, the passive portion 150 of the functional unit 10 enters the window 64 of the front wall 63 of the box-shaped body 62, thereby causing the container 151 to enter. It can be combined with the active part 100 by means of the mail and the female means 155, 158 to be fixedly positioned on the base component 110 of the functional unit 10.

Reclining capsule 200 in contact with the above-mentioned stepped configuration of through apertures, or cavities 152 positions two cup-shaped body portions 130, 140 as well as axially aligned bores 156. And into the circular bore 123 of the horizontal arm 121 of the base component 110, to be precisely positioned below the piercing device 170. As shown in FIG. 5, by the counter-spring (not shown), the farthest end with respect to the pin 127 of the upper concave portion 120 of the lever 114 is an idler roller, Since it is possible to keep contact with 184, the configuration of the functional unit 10 of the machine is a configuration of the dormant state, that is, the configuration in which the solenoid 182 is de-energeted so that the magnetic core 181 is raised. . The result is that not only the punch 119, but the entire lever 114 is located inside the box-shaped receptacle 112, except for the wing 117 where the bore 118 is provided to secure the counter-spring. will be.

At this point, by operating in a completely conventional manner where there is a button 86 on the control panel 82, the user starts the operation of the machine to perform a cycle for preparing and dispensing the desired beverage.

Operation of the machine begins with the rotation of the lever 114 relative to the pin 127, which is caused by providing power. Energy is supplied to solenoid 182 via power supply terminal 185 such that magnetic core, such as plunger 181, slides up against the counter-spring reaction force, thus concave lever 114. Operation according to the unit 120. As mentioned above, the lever 114 is moved from a resting configuration to an operating configuration, wherein the operating configuration is shown in FIG. 6, with the bottom portion upwards from the bottom, After passing through the bore 123 of the bottom wall 122 of the box-shaped base component 110 and thus the bore 156 of the container 151, the bottom membrane 210 is ruptured and deformed, Inside the sawtooth cylindrical wall 216 a punch 119 may reach a point just below the tip of the bottom 202 of the capsule 200. According to a further principal feature of the invention, for example, by the bursting and deformation effects, a sort of spout is formed in the bottom membrane 210, represented by the line 220 indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 7, where such The stream of water is formed from the common axis of the capsule 200, the two cup-shaped body portions 130, 140, the bore 156 of the container 151, and the horizontal arm 121 of the base component 110. It occurs so that it is aligned along the circular bore 123.

As mentioned above, the water stream 220 is cut off from the power supply to the solenoid 182 and the solenoid itself is de-energy so that the reaction force of the counter-spring is dispersed over the entire weight of the plunger 181. The rod 183, the roller 184, and thus the lever 114 can be moved back to the dormant configuration described above, in this operating configuration by reverse-pivoting movement in the opposite direction.

On the other hand, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, a pump (provided inside the machine, not shown in the drawings) delivers the pressurized water to the second cup-shaped body portion 140 and the electric water heater (machine Internally provided, not shown in the figures), do not begin to heat one portion of the water required for the preparation of the desired beverage. Through the apertures 142, 147 and the inner cavity of the body portion 140 in the second cup form, pressurized water reaches the bottom 136 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130, Thereafter, as it slides along the second cup-shaped body portion 140, a force is applied to lower in solidarity with the disk 170 of the piercing device for the capsule 200.

Because of this downward movement, disc 170 descends to the point where top edge 209 of capsule 200 snaps into groove 177, whereby capsule 200 is removed from container 151. It will be fixed in its place. Because of this downward movement, the needle 173 of the disc 170 penetrates the top membrane 208 of the capsule 200 at a number of locations. The pressurized boiling water then enters the capsule 200 via the nozzle 175 of the disk 170 through the penetrating portion of the top membrane 208 previously created by the needle 173. In this way, the beverage is produced, which in turn is filtered out of the capsule through the orifice 203 and the bottom 202 facing both the inside and outside of the capsule (see above in patent application No. PCT / EP03 / 12338). Due to the particular form of), the incoming water is vigorously mixed with the material inside the chamber 212 forming the source of the sprayed water stream 220. From this stream of water 220, the beverage flows freely and directly into a single container (cup, or similar container) positioned to collect the beverage for drinking purposes.

At the end of the cooking process, the produced beverage is sprayed, the pressure applied to the bottom 136 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130 is released, and the spring 135 is associated with the disk 170. Lift the cup-shaped body portion 130 to its original position. The top edge 209 of the capsule 200 is released in this manner, so that, using the handle 154, the entire manual portion 150 can be moved out of the machine. Empty capsules, that is, capsules in which the material they have been emptied in this way, exit the machine in a conventional manner and are discarded, as provided by applying regular adjustments. At this point, the machine is ready to start a new operating cycle similar to the one mentioned above.

Thus, according to the foregoing description, the ability of the present invention to effectively obtain the following objects and advantages is fully clarified.

Since the beverage is sprayed in a direct manner as it flows down into the container by gravity, instead of following a fixed path inside the machine downstream of the outlet of the capsule, the machine of the prior art (i.e. immediately If cleaning is not possible, there are no longer any key factors associated with the fermentation and decay of fatty materials in the beverage).

Maintenance of the punches used to penetrate the bottom membrane of the capsule is not required, for example, because they are accommodated in a box-shaped receptacle, the punches are not priced and thus are not sprayed and contaminated by beverages flowing out of the capsule. Because.

The machine of the invention has a simple and reliable structure.

Claims (8)

In a machine for preparing and dispensing a beverage, using one or more capsules 200 containing a drinkable material, the capsules have an upper edge 209 to which sealing films 208 and 210 are applied, respectively. And a cylindrical body 206 provided with a filtering orifice 203 as well as a lower edge 204 and having a bottom wall 202 concave towards the bottom edge 204. Between the corresponding sealing membrane 210 and the bottom surface of the bottom wall 202 constitute a chamber filled with a beverage that is filtered through the orifice 203 prior to spraying, The machine has an active part 100 supported by the dripping structure of the machine and an open bottom suitable for being coupled to the active part 100 and for holding and holding the capsule 200. Includes a functional unit 10 having a passive part 150 including a container 151 having (a) base component 110, (b) the cooking arrangement arranged to align along a common vertical axis of the open bottom 156 holding the capsule when the capsule 200 and the container 151 are fixedly received into the base component 110. Brewing device, (c) piercing mean 173 associated with the cooking apparatus for penetrating the top membrane 208 of the capsule 200, (d) means 175 for introducing pressurized hot water or steam into the capsule 200, and (e) As a penetrating means for the bottom membrane 210, before the beverage is cooked or at the beginning of the cooking process, it is moved from a resting configuration of the functional unit 10 to an operating configuration. And a punching means 119, whereby the penetrating means is injected directly into the beverage container provided beneath it as the beverage falls from the capsule 200. Wherein, in the dormant configuration, the punching means 119 are spaced apart from the vertical common axis of the cooking device and capsule 200, and in the operating configuration, by rupturing the bottom membrane 210, the capsule Machine for making and spraying a beverage, characterized in that one or more streams 220 are formed at 200. The method of claim 1 wherein the punching means 119 is part of a lever 114 pivotally secured to a pin 127 vertically spaced apart from the vertical common axis of the cooking apparatus and the capsule 200. Machine for producing and spraying a beverage, characterized in that. 2. The base component (110) of claim 1, wherein the base component (110) of the active portion (100) is constant from the capsule (200) in which the punching means (119) is embedded into the container when the functional unit is in a dormant configuration. Machine for making and spraying a beverage, characterized in that it has a receiving portion (112) arranged at a distance. 3. A beverage according to claim 2, further comprising an electromagnetic device (120) for moving the lever (114), the punching means (119) moving from the dormant configuration to the operating configuration. Machine for manufacturing and spraying. 5. The lever (114) of claim 4, wherein as soon as the body of water (220) is formed, a punching means (119) is part of the lever (114) to stop the lever (114) from the operating configuration to the dormant configuration. And a counter-spring for connecting to said base component (110) of an active portion (100). 2. The first cup-shaped body portion of claim 1 wherein a brewing device is provided with a port 137 for introducing pressurized hot water or water vapor required for preparing a beverage. 1330, and a second cup-shaped body portion 140 supported by a load-bearing structure of the machine and arranged coaxially with the first cup-shaped body portion, wherein The first cup-shaped body due to the pressurized water located on the bottom of the first cup-shaped body portion 130 via an aperture provided in the second cup-shaped body portion 140. The portion (130) slides in the direction of the capsule (200) along the second cup-shaped body portion (140). The piercing means for piercing the top membrane 208 of the capsule 200 comprises a disk 170 attached to the bottom of the first cup-shaped body portion 130. The piercing means has a ring-shaped groove 177 adapted to the upper edge 209 of the capsule 200 and a plurality of needles or similar holes so that the capsule is firmly fixed during the beverage preparation process. A punching means (173) and a machine for producing and spraying a beverage, characterized in that a plurality of nozzles (175) are provided for injecting pressurized hot water or steam into the capsule (200). delete

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