WO2016091830A1

WO2016091830A1 - Beverage dispenser with powder container

Info

Publication number: WO2016091830A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/078880
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yann Brunner
Original assignee: Nestec S.A.
Priority date: 2014-12-09
Filing date: 2015-12-07
Publication date: 2016-06-16

Abstract

The invention concerns a container (1) for storing and dosing a food powder comprising: - a tank (11), - a horizontal outlet duct (13) at the bottom of the tank, - at least one endless screw (12) positioned at the bottom of the tank (113) and configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the outlet duct, - a movable cover (15) configured for closing the external end (131) of the outlet duct (13), wherein: - the container comprises a rotatable longitudinal rod (14) extending along the longitudinal axis of the endless screw (12), said rod driving the rotation of the at least one endless screw so that when the rod (14) rotates in a first direction D1 the endless screw (12) rotates to displace a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct (13), and - a part (141) of the rotatable longitudinal rod extends through and outside the outlet duct (13), - the movable cover (15) cooperates with the part (141) of the rod extending through and outside the outlet duct so that when said rod (14) rotates in the first direction D1 rotating the endless screw (12) to displace a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct (13), the cover translates along the longitudinal axis of the rod and away from the external end (131) of the outlet duct simultaneously.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH POWDER CONTAINER

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to beverage dispensers preparing beverages from a food powder stored in a container and from which a dose of powder is dispensed to prepare a beverage.

Background of the invention

Many beverages like espresso and other coffee beverages, milk beverages, chocolate beverages are prepared by mixing a beverage soluble powder with a diluent. Mixing devices are known for speedier preparation of such beverages by mixing the beverage soluble powder with the diluent, such as water. These devices can comprise a dissolution chamber in which the soluble component and the diluent are fed. The diluent can be introduced into the dissolution chamber in order to create a whirlpool to efficiently dissolve the soluble powder in the hot water or the hot diluent can be introduced under the form of jets that provides mixing, dissolving and frothing. The mixture can also eventually be frothed by a whipper in the dissolution chamber to reconstitute the beverage and produce foam. The beverage is then usually evacuated into a receptacle for drinking. These devices can also mix the beverage soluble powder with the diluent in a drinking cup, usually a single use cup. In that case the soluble food component is introduced in the cup and the diluent is introduced under the form of jets that provides mixing, dissolving and/or frothing.

Whatever the way the powder and the diluent are mixed together the beverage soluble powder is usually stored in a container placed above the dissolution chamber opened mouth and a dosing device like a screw or an auger doses and delivers the beverage soluble powder which falls in the dissolution chamber or the drinking cup. Diluent is simultaneously fed to the dissolution chamber so that dissolution occurs. Several issues exist with such a configuration.

First it has been noticed that powder positioned at the outlet of the container can easily falls from the outlet between two dosing operations and can dirty the internal housing of the dispenser.

Secondly the vapour and humidity generated during the beverage preparation in the dissolution chamber or the drinking cup raises and surrounds the container outlet. If another beverage is rapidly prepared after another one then the new dose of powder delivered by the container reacts partially with the humidity and creates non hygienic deposits around the outlet. After a period of time, this process can lead to an accumulation of moisture on the discharge port of the container. As the quantity of soluble powder accumulating on discharge port increases over time, the outlet becomes increasingly constricted. Ultimately, this can result in the outlet becoming completely clogged, which results in the complete failure of the dosing device. Additionally, the soluble powder adhering to the discharge port is constantly moistened by the rising vapours. This can result in the soluble powder caking and even turning mouldy or growing harmful bacteria after extended use. This may lead to the dosing device rendering the powder ingredient inconsumable.

Consequently it has been proposed to close the discharge port when no powder is dosed and when the powder is mixed with water in the dissolution chamber.

EP-A1 -331 271 has proposed a dispenser with a powder container comprising a metering screw, drivable by an electromotor, the metering screw being surrounded by a tubular member. The container comprises a closing valve at the discharge end of the metering screw tube, said closing valve being activated by a driving pin extending through the longitudinal axis of the metering screw and displaceable by a solenoid connected in the starter of the electromotor. Such a dispenser presents the drawbacks of using two electric appliances, the motor and the solenoid valve, which increases the manufacturing costs. Moreover the container is not compact and can hardly be used for retrofitting an existing dispenser.

In US 4,610,378 a container for food powders, particularly for automatic beverage distributing machines, comprises a screw member revolving inside a duct bearing a delivering mouth which is closed, in non-working conditions, by a plate closing member. The closing member is opened by the end of the screw member during its rotational motion at the dosing operation. During said dosing operation the delivering mouth is successively opened and closed which does not enable a rapid and fluid dosing and powder is compressed.

WO 2014/115061 has proposed an extruder for use in a dispenser of loose product that is substantially insensitive to operation in a moist environment. The extruder includes a screw that is both rotatably and translatably received in a bore of the dispenser such that it is axially movable along the longitudinal axis of the bore between a first position and a second position. The extruder includes a sealing device that is configured to releasably fluidtightly seal a portion of the bore interconnecting the product inlet and the product outlet in dependence of the axial position of the screw. The configuration of the extruder is such that, in said first axial position of the screw, the sealing device fluidtightly seals the portion of the bore interconnecting the product inlet and the product outlet. In the second axial position of the screw, in contrast, the sealing device does not fluidtightly seal the portion of the bore interconnecting the product inlet and the product outlet, and rotation of the screw effects the continuous extrusion or discharge of loose product, supplied at the product inlet, from the product outlet. Consequently humidity due to the hot water used to prepare beverage cannot rise in the discharge opening of the extruder since the discharge opening can be closed during beverage preparation.

Although this extruder solves the problem of humidity arising in the discharge opening during beverage preparation, this extruder does not take into account the problem of keeping the dosing of loose product, like powder, consistent. Yet the consistent preparation of a beverage is essential with a beverage dispenser. Customers expect to get always the same beverage when they order the same beverage at different times with the same dispenser. An important factor of control of a beverage consistency consists in a consistent dosing of the soluble beverage powder during beverage preparation. The extruder of WO 2014/115061 does not enable a consistent dosing because the back rotation of the screw seems to create a void in the outlet of the extruder which affects the following dosing operation since no loose product is dispensed by the extruder at the beginning of its activation. Moreover this extruder is made of complex mechanical pieces which increase its costs of production.

Another solution has been proposed in EP-A1 -1 176402 in which the outlet of the container is opened only when the powder is dosed and delivered in order to prepare a beverage and is closed the rest of the time. Consequently humidity is avoided from reaching the outlet of the powder container and from entering inside the container outlet. The risk of clogging in the container outlet is limited.

Yet the way the above solution is implemented presents some drawbacks. In particular the outlet is closed by a sealing element operated by a gear train comprising intermeshing gears connected to a transmission rod which is in turn connected to a motor. The gear train is positioned close to the container outlet and is not protected against humidity rising from the dissolution chamber or the drinking cup. Consequently if powder fines flies around the powder outlet and deposit on the gear train, the reaction of powder fines and humidity could cause the failure or blockage of the gear train. Actually the dispenser described in EP-A1 - 1 176402 is a relatively small dispenser that is not conceived for significant preparation of beverages during the whole day.

Besides such a dispenser presents the drawbacks of using two motors : one for the sealing element and one for dosing screw , which increases the manufacturing costs. Moreover the container is dedicated to a particular type of beverage dispenser and can hardly be used for retrofitting common existing dispensers. An object of the invention is to address at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art storing and dosing powder containers or at least to provide an alternative thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storing and dosing powder container for a beverage dispenser of which outlet prevents humidity from rising in the container.

It would be advantageous to provide a storing and dosing powder container for a beverage dispenser in which the powder outlet can be alternatively closed and opened. It would be advantageous to provide a powder container for a beverage dispenser in which the powder outlet can be alternatively closed and opened without having a motor specifically dedicated to closing and opening the powder outlet.

It would be advantageous to provide a powder container for a beverage dispenser in which the powder outlet can be alternatively closed and opened without affecting the consistency of the dosing.

It would be advantageous to provide a powder container for a beverage dispenser in which the powder outlet can be alternatively closed and opened with a mechanism of reduced volume.

It would be advantageous to provide a powder container for a beverage dispenser in which the powder outlet can be alternatively closed and opened and which can be used in existing beverage dispensers.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for storing, dosing and dispensing a food or beverage powder comprising :

- a tank,

- a horizontal outlet duct at the bottom of the tank,

- at least one endless screw positioned at the bottom of the tank and configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the outlet duct,

- a movable cover configured for closing the external end of the outlet duct,

wherein :

- the container comprises a rotatable longitudinal rod extending along the longitudinal axis of the endless screw, said rod driving the rotation of the at least one endless screw in one direction D1 only, so that, when the rod rotates in said first direction D1 , the endless screw rotates to displace a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct, and

- a part of the rotatable longitudinal rod extends through and outside the outlet duct,

- the movable cover cooperates with the part of the rod extending through and outside the outlet duct so that, when said rod rotates in the first direction D1 rotating the endless screw to displace a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct, the cover translates along the longitudinal axis of the rod and away from the external end of the outlet duct, and

when said rod rotates in the second direction D2 opposed to the first direction D1 , the cover translates along the longitudinal axis of the rod to the external end of the outlet duct.

Accordingly objects of the invention are solved since the cover at the outlet of tank is opened during the dosing operation and can be closed when no dosing operation is implemented. Consequently the outlet of the tank can remain closed during the beverage preparation operations, that is to say when moisture is generated. Moisture is prevented from entering inside the powder container.

The closure of the outlet between two dosing operations prevent that powder remaining near the end of the outlet falls out of the outlet between two beverage preparation and affects the consistency of the dosing for the following beverage preparation.

Advantageously the same device - the rod - is used to actuate the endless screw for dosing and to actuate the movable cover for opening and closing the outlet of the tank. Consequently only one motor is used for actuating the endless screw and the movable cover.

Advantageously the rod is rotated and can be actuated by any motor with a rotating shaft such as commonly used in connection with containers for storing and dosing a food powder in beverage dispensers. Generally the tank of the container presents two lateral walls and two end walls, usually one rear end wall and one front end wall. The walls extend between the bottom and the top of the tank and are essentially vertical. By essentially vertical it is meant that some parts of the walls can be inclined, for example for increasing the storing volume of the tank above the screw or for creating a funnel that pushed powder to the screw.

The bottom of the tank is preferably U shaped and the endless screw is lodged in this U- shaped bottom. If two screws are present, preferably, they are lodged in a double U-shaped bottom. The top of the tank is preferably closed by a removable lid in order to be able to refill the tank.

The horizontal outlet duct is usually positioned at the bottom of the front end wall. Usually the end of the endless screw extends through the horizontal outlet duct. Preferably the end of the endless screw does not overlap the end of the outlet duct. Yet depending on the shape of the cover the end of the endless screw may slightly overlap the end of the outlet duct. The length of the horizontal outlet duct at the bottom of the tank can be quite short. In particular embodiment, it can be limited to the thickness of the wall of the container.

The cover is movable between a position where it closes the outlet duct and a position where it opens the outlet duct.

Preferably the cover comprises a hole and the part of the rotatable longitudinal rod extending through and outside the outlet duct cooperates with said hole in a screwing manner.

Generally the part of the rotatable longitudinal rod extends through and outside the outlet duct permanently. Preferably the external surface of the part of the rotatable longitudinal rod extending through and outside the outlet duct can present a screw path cooperating with the hole in the cover.

Preferably the screw path is designed so that when the rod rotates in the first direction D1 the cover translates away from the external end of the outlet duct. Then implicitly, in the opposite way, when the rod rotates in the opposite second direction D2, the cover translates back to the external end of the outlet duct.

Preferably the pitch of the screw path on the external surface of the part of the rotatable longitudinal rod extending through and outside the outlet duct is greater than the pitch of the endless screw path.

Accordingly when the rod rotates in direction D1 , the cover moves rapidly away from the external end of the outlet duct while the endless screw moves powder to the outlet duct. There is no risk that the powder is compacted against the internal surface of the cover. According to the preferred embodiment the internal surface of the hole in the cover comprises at least one bump, the rotatable longitudinal rod extends through the hole in the cover and the at least one bump in the cover cooperates with the screw path in the longitudinal rod.

As the rotatable longitudinal rod extends along the longitudinal axis of the endless screw, the at least one endless screw is generally internally hollowed around its longitudinal axis.

Accordingly the rotatable longitudinal rod can be positioned inside the endless screw.

According to the invention the endless screw is movable in rotation only and can rotate in one direction D1 only. Accordingly there is no risk that the endless screw moves back powder present in the outlet duct to the tank compact the powder at the bottom of the tank during a reverse rotation of the screw in direction D2 or during a translation of the endless screw. Consequently powder is gently treated and consistent dosing can be ensured.

At least one internal part of the at least one endless screw may present at least one indentation and at least one internal part the rotatable longitudinal rod presents at least one tab extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, the at least one indentation and the at least one tab being configured so that :

- when the rotatable longitudinal rod rotates in the first direction D1 the at least one tab engages in the at least one indentation,

- when the rotatable longitudinal rod rotates in the second direction D2 the at least one tab does not engage the at least one indentation.

Preferably a rotating cutting blade may be attached to the front end of the at least one endless screw.

Accordingly the rotation of the endless screw rotates the blade and the powder displaced by the endless screw in direction of the outlet duct is cut by the rotating blade before falling out of the external end of the outlet duct as long as the powder is dispensed. The cutting blade cuts the dose of powder displaced by the rotatable volumetric dosing device before it falls out of the outlet duct. Consequently small doses of powder are delivered in the beverage preparation unit that can be easily dissolved. This blade is particularly useful for dosing fat powders like milk powders or chocolate powders.

According to one particular embodiment, the container can comprise two endless screws. Preferably the two endless screws are positioned next to the other in the same horizontal plane.

Advantageously two endless screws improve the dispensing property by avoiding that powder remains isolated in a part of the tank and is not dispensed. Preferably the two endless screws present screw paths configured for displacing the powder in direction of the outlet, each screw rotating in a direction opposed to the other screw. Preferably the container with two endless screws comprises two rotatable longitudinal rods, each of said rotatable longitudinal rods supporting and driving one dedicated screw.

Preferably, for each of the two rotatable longitudinal rods, an end part of the external surface of the rod presents indentations cooperating with indentations of the other rod.

Accordingly the beverage dispenser can comprise one motor for cooperating with one of the two rotatable longitudinal rods only.

Advantageously the rotation of one rod drives the rotation of the other rod simultaneously.

Preferably the cover can comprise two holes, the internal surface of each of said holes comprising at least one bump, and each rotatable longitudinal rods extends through one dedicated hole in the cover and the at least one bump cooperates with a screw path in the longitudinal rod.

Preferably the container comprises at least one fastener between the cover and the outlet duct. This fastener presents preferably a resilient or elastic property so that it can be stretched out when the cover is moved away from the outlet duct and so that it can help the movement of the cover back to the external end of the outlet duct during closure. This fastener is usually a spring. At least two fasteners can be present in order to equilibrate the position of the cover.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a beverage dispenser comprising :

- at least one container such as described above,

- at least one beverage preparation unit operatively linked to the container for preparing a beverage from the stored food or beverage powder,

- at least one motor for actuating the rod of the container.

The beverage preparation unit can be any device for contacting the food or beverage powder with a diluent, preferably water. The device for contacting the food ingredient with the diluent can be comprised in the list of : a jet(s) head, a mixing bowl, a whipper bowl.

The jet(s) head can be a nozzle delivering at least one jet of diluent. Preferably it delivers at least two jets of diluent and even more preferably the jets head is able to rotate during the delivery of the diluent through the nozzle. The mixing bowl can be a chamber configured to receive the diluent and the food or beverage powder. It can be designed so as to make an efficient contact of the powder and the diluent, and improve the dissolution of the powder.

The whipper bowl usually comprises a first part which is a mixing chamber configured to receive the diluent and the powder and a second part comprising a whipper configured to make the mixture of the diluent and the powder foam.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for delivering a dose of powder from a container such as described above comprising the steps of :

- rotating the rod in the first direction D1 until the desired dose of powder is dispensed,

- rotating the rod in the second direction D2 until the cover closes the end of the outlet duct.

In the present invention the food or beverage powder designates powders, pellets or granules of food or beverage ingredients. According to the preferred mode, the beverage ingredients are soluble ingredients like soluble coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, sugar, flavoured powders, soup, .. The beverage ingredients can also be an infusable ingredient like roast and ground coffee.

In the present application the terms "top", "bottom", "lateral", "horizontal", "external" are used to describe the relational positioning of features of the invention. These terms should be understood to refer to the container in its normal orientation when positioned in a beverage preparation dispenser for the production of a beverage as shown in figures 1 , 3, 9a, 10a, 1 1 . The terms "rear" and "front" are to be understood according to the sense of displacement of external the powder inside the container, the powder being moved by the endless screw(s).

In the present invention the terms "endless screw" cover a usual endless screw and also a helicoidal spring attached to a solid insert, said solid insert being placed within the helicoidal spring. The above aspects of the invention may be combined in any suitable combination. Moreover, various features herein may be combined with one or more of the above aspects to provide combinations other than those specifically illustrated and described. Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the claims, from the detailed description, and annexed drawings. Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following figures :

- Figure 1 is a view of a container according to the invention in a closed state,

- Figure 2 is a top view of the bottom of the container of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 3 is a view of a container according to the invention in an opened state,

- Figure 4 is a top view of the bottom of the container of Figure 3,

- Figure 5a is an isolated view of one rod and one endless screw from Figure 2,

- Figure 5b is cross-sectional view of the endless screw of Figure 5a according to section CC,

- Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the container according to section AA in Figure 4,

- Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the container according to section BB in Figure 4,

- Figure 8 is a magnified view of the outlet duct of the container of Figure 4 wherein some elements have been removed.

- Figure 9a is views of a side view of container according to the invention in a closed state,

- Figure 9 b is a top view of the bottom of the container of Figure 9a,

- Figure 10a is views of a side view of container according to the invention in an opened state,

- Figure 10b is a top view of the bottom of the container of Figure 10a,

- Figure 11 is a view of a beverage dispenser according to the state of the art.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a beverage powder container 1 according to the invention. The container comprises a tank 11 to store a powder. The tank 1 1 is closed at its top by a removable lid 110 in order to be able to refill the tank with powder. The container usually presents an essentially parallepipedal shape presenting two vertical lateral walls 1 1 1 and two vertical end walls, one front wall 1 12a and one rear wall 1 12b. The container comprises a horizontal outlet duct 13 at the bottom 113 of the tank for evacuating the powder from the tank. The outlet duct 13 is positioned at the bottom of a terminal wall.

With further reference to Figure 2, the container comprises two endless screws 12a, 12b at the bottom 113 of the tank.

Each endless screw may be arranged to comprise a volume of powder transport that is greater in the front portion of the endless screw than in the rear portion of the screw. For that, as illustrated in section view of Figure 5b, the cylindrical core 122 of the endless screw may present a decreasing section from the rear side to the front side of the tank thus reducing the capacity of the screw to move the powder in the rear region as opposed to the front region of the container and thereby reducing cliffing at the front region.

For each screw of the particular illustrated embodiment, the front end part 123 of the endless screw is positioned in the outlet duct 13 but it does not overlap the external end 131 of the outlet duct. The external end 131 of the outlet duct 13 is closed by a movable cover 15. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the container with the cover 15 closing the outlet duct. The shape of the cover 15 cooperates with the shape of the external end 131 of the outlet duct so that the cover prevents powder from falling from the outlet. With further reference to Figures 5a, the container comprises two rotatable longitudinal rods 14a, 14b. Each rod 14a, 14b is associated with one of the endless screw 12a, 12b and extends along the longitudinal axis of one of the endless screw 12. Actually both endless screws 12 are internally hollowed around their longitudinal axis and the rods 14 are positioned inside the hollow outs 1221 in the cores 122 of the endless screws 12 as further illustrated in Figure 7. The rods 14 are longer than the endless screws 12. The front end part 141 of each rod extends through and outside the outlet duct 13.

Rod 14a drives the rotation of the endless screw 12a so that when the rod 14a rotates in a first direction D1 a (see Figure 4) it drives the rotation of said endless screw 12a which displaces a dose of beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct 13 (according to arrow T). This effect can be obtained with rods 14a presenting at its rear end part 142 tabs 1421 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rod and cooperating with indentations 121 1 in the internal part 121 of the corresponding endless screw 12a during rotation in the first direction D1 a as illustrated in Figures 5a and 6.

Consequently the rotation of the rod 14a according to D1 a drives the rotation of the screw 12a according to D1 a too. The actuation of the rod 14a can be obtained with one motor whose rotary shaft cooperates with the rear end 142 of the rod, for example though internal indentations 1423.

When the rod 14a is rotated in the second reversed direction D2a, the endless screw 12 a is kept immobile and not rotated so that the powder present in the screw is not fed back in the container, which would create compaction and dosing inconsistency during the next dosing operation. For that reason the tabs 1421 at the rear end part 142 of the rod are preferably designed so that they do not engage the indentations 121 1 in the internal part 121 of the corresponding endless screw during rotation of the rod 14a in the second direction D2a as illustrated in Figure 6. The effect is the same with the rotation of the rod 14b in the second direction D2b which does not rotate the corresponding endless screw 12b. The tabs 142 can be made flexible - due to the nature of their material or their shape - so that they slide on the indentations in this direction D2a or D2b.

The rear end parts 142 of the rods 14a, 14b present indentations 1422 cooperating together so that, when one of the rods 14a is rotated, the other rod 14b is rotated simultaneously. Yet due to the direct gearing, when the first rod 14a rotates on one direction D1 a, the second rod 14b rotates in one direction D1 b opposed to D1 a. Consequently the screw path of the second rod 14b is inversed compared to the screw path of the first rod 14a in order to displace the powder in the same direction T to the outlet 13 when it is rotated in direction D1 b (see Figure 4).

Due to the presence of external indentations 1422 on the external surface of the rear end part of the rods cooperating with one another, the actuation of only one rod 14 by a motor shaft is sufficient to get the rotation of both rods and of both endless screws 12. The movable cover 15 cooperates with the front end parts 141 of each rod 14a, 14b extending through and outside the outlet duct 13. The cooperation is such that when the first rod 14a rotates in the first direction D1 a rotating both endless screws 12a, 12b, respectively according to D1 a, D1 b, in order to displace a dose of beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct 13, then the cover 15 translates along the longitudinal axis of the rods 14a, 14b and away from the external end 131 of the outlet duct simultaneously. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the full displacement of the cover 15 away from the external end of the outlet duct. In Figure 8, the upper part of the cover and one rod 14b have been made transparent to illustrate one type of cooperation between the rods 14 and the cover 15.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 the front end part 141 of each rod extends through a corresponding hole 151 inside the cover. The front end part 141 of each rod presents a surface 141 1 in which a screw path 1412 is designed, and the internal surface of each hole 151 in the cover comprises a bump 151 1 configured to slide in the corresponding screw path 1412.

Depending on the direction of rotation of the rods 14, the cover 15 is screwed and translated away or to the outlet duct end 131.

The both screw designs 141 in the rods 14a, 14b are identical except inversed in term of rotation. The container comprises two springs 16 for fastening the cover 15 to the outlet duct 13. The springs are attached to pins 152, 132 on the lateral sides of the cover 15 and the outlet duct 13.

When the cover is at the end of the rod, the dosing screws can be rotated as long as desired in order to get the dose of powder necessary for the preparation of the beverage, the cover remains at the end of the rod. Advantageously this rotation without gripping induces shaking of the cover and of the tank, which improves powder dispensing.

Figures 4, 5a and 5b show the presence of a blade 10 attached to the front end part 123 of each of the endless screws 12a, 12b. This blade is rotatable with the endless screw. The front end part 123 of the endless screw is positioned in the outlet duct 13 but it does not overlap the external end 131 of the outlet duct so that the blades 10 are positioned at external end 131 of the outlet duct. Containers with only one rod and one endless screw are also covered by the present invention.

Figure 9a is a side view of a container according to the present invention represented in a closed state ; it contains only one endless screw 12 as illustrated in Figure 9b. Figures 10a and 10b are corresponding views in the opened state. The endless screw and the cover are made movable in the same manner as described in Figures 5a to 8.

Containers with only one rod and one endless screw present the advantages that they can be used in existing beverage dispensers since they can be designed with the same external features of the containers of the state of the art that cooperate with the existing dispensers, that is to say the shape of the container and the connection with the shaft of the actuating motor.

Figure 11 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to the state of the art. Behind the front door 22, the dispenser comprising beverage powder containers 1 placed above beverage preparation units 21. The outlets of the containers are oriented so as to deliver the beverage powder in the beverage preparation 3 for contacting a dose of beverage powder with a diluent. The diluent is supplied by a fluid system comprising usually a boiler, a pump and a heater placed in the back part of the dispenser (not illustrated). The beverage preparation unit 21 delivers the beverage in a cup placed in a dispensing area 24.

The containers 1 cooperate with motor shafts 23 at their rear end in order to actuate the dosing screw inside the containers.

The containers of the present invention can be positioned in such a dispenser in place of existing containers and the process of dosing the beverage powder according to the present invention can be implemented further to an update of the process control of the dispenser taking into account the two senses of rotation of the shaft.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.

Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

As used in this specification, the words "comprises", "comprising", and similar words, are not the be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to".

List of references in the drawings container 1

cutting blade 10

tank 1 1

lid 1 10

lateral wall 1 1 1

front wall 1 12a

rear wall 1 12b

bottom 1 13

endless screw 12, 12a, 12b

internal part 121

indentation 121 1

core 122

hollow out 1221

front end part 123

duct 13

external end 131

pin 132

rod 14, 14a, 14b

front end part 141

surface 141 1

screw path 1412

rear end part of the rod 142 flexible tab 1421 external indentations 1422 internal indentations 1423 movable cover 15 hole 151 bump 151 1 pin 152 fastener 16 beverage dispenser 2 beverage preparation unit 21 front door 22 motor shaft 23 dispensing 24

Claims

1. Container (1 ) for storing, dosing and dispensing a food or beverage powder comprising : - a tank (1 1 ),

- a horizontal outlet duct (13) at the bottom of the tank,

- at least one endless screw (12) positioned at the bottom of the tank (1 13) and configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the outlet duct,

- a movable cover (15) configured for closing the external end (131 ) of the outlet duct (13), wherein :

- the container comprises a rotatable longitudinal rod (14) extending along the longitudinal axis of the endless screw (12), said rod driving the rotation of the at least one endless screw on one direction D1 only, so that, when the rod (14) rotates in said first direction D1 the endless screw (12) rotates to displace a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct (13), and

- a part (141 ) of the rotatable longitudinal rod extends through and outside the outlet duct (13),

- the movable cover (15) cooperates with the part (141 ) of the rod extending through and outside the outlet duct so that, when said rod (14) rotates in the first direction D1 rotating the endless screw (12) to displace a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct (13), the cover translates along the longitudinal axis of the rod and away from the external end (131 ) of the outlet duct, and

when said rod (14) rotates in the second direction D2 opposed to the first direction D1 , the cover (15) translates along the longitudinal axis of the rod to the external end (131 ) of the outlet duct.

2. A container according to Claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a hole (151 ) and the part (141 ) of the rotatable longitudinal rod extending through and outside the outlet duct (13) cooperates with said hole (151 ) in a screwing manner.

3. A container according to the precedent claim, wherein the external surface (141 1 ) of the part (141 ) of the rotatable longitudinal rod extending through and outside the outlet duct (13) presents a screw path (1412),

4. A container according to the precedent claim, wherein the screw path (1412) is designed so that when the rod (14) rotates in the first direction D1 the cover (15) translates away from the external end (131 ) of the outlet duct (13).

5. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one endless screw (12) and the rotatable longitudinal rod (14) cooperate so that when said rod (14) rotates in a second direction D2 reversed to the first direction D1 the endless screw (12) is not actuated.

6. A container according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the pitch of the screw path (1412) on the external surface of the part of the rotatable longitudinal rod extending through and outside the outlet duct is greater than the pitch of the screw path of the endless screw.

7. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein at least one internal part (121 ) of the at least one endless screw presents at least one indentation (1211 ) and at least one internal part the rotatable longitudinal rod (14) presents at least one tab (1421 ) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XX', the at least one indentation (121 1 ) and the at least one tab (1421 ) being configured so that :

- when the rotatable longitudinal rod (14) rotates in the first direction D1 the at least one tab (1421 ) engages in the at least one indentation (1211 ),

- when the rotatable longitudinal rod (14) rotates in the second direction D2 the at least one tab (1421 ) does not engage the at least one indentation (121 1 ).

8. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein a rotatable cutting blade (10) is attached to the front end (123) of the at least one endless screw (12)

9. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein the container comprises two endless screws (12).

10. A container according to any one of Claims 8 or 9, wherein the container comprises two rotatable longitudinal rods (14) each of said rotatable longitudinal rod supporting and driving one dedicated endless screw.

1 1 . A container according to the precedent claim, wherein, for each of the two rotatable longitudinal rods (14), an end part (142) of the external surface presents indentations (1422) cooperating with indentations of the other endless screw.

12. A container according to the precedent claim, wherein the cover (15) comprises two holes (151 ), the internal surface of each said holes comprising at least one bump (151 1 ), and wherein each of rotatable longitudinal rods (14) extends through one dedicated hole (151 ) in the cover and the at least one bump (1511 ) in the cover cooperates with a screw path (1412) in the longitudinal rod.

13. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein it comprises at least one fastener (16) between the cover (15) and the outlet duct (13).

14. Beverage dispenser (2) comprising :

- at least one container (1 ) according to any one of Claims 1 to 13,

- at least one beverage preparation unit (21 ) operatively linked to the container for preparing a beverage from the stored food or beverage powder,

- at least one motor for actuating the rod (14) of the container.

15. Method for delivering a dose of powder from a container according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 comprising the steps of :

- rotating the rod (14) in the first direction D1 until the desired dose of powder is dispensed,

- rotating the rod (14) in the second direction D2 until the cover (15) closes the end (131 ) of the outlet duct.