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 2014/1 15061 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 2014/1 15061 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 longitudinal rod extending along the longitudinal axis of the at least one endless screw and movable according to a translational movement along said axis only, - the container comprises driving means configured for being rotated by a motor either in one first direction D1 or in one second direction D2, said driving means cooperating with the at least one endless screw and with the rotatable longitudinal rod extending along the longitudinal axis of said endless screw so that :

- when driving means rotates in the first direction D1 :

. the at least one endless screw rotates in the first direction D1 and displaces a dose of food or beverage powder in direction of the outlet duct, and

. the longitudinal rod translates along the longitudinal axis of the at least one endless screw so that said first translation of the rod displaces the movable cover away from the external end of the outlet duct,

- when driving means rotates in the second direction D2 :

. the at least one endless screw remains immobile, and

. the longitudinal rod translates along the longitudinal axis of the at least one endless screw so that said second translation of the rod displaces the movable cover 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 driving means - is used to actuate the endless screw for dosing and to translate the rod to 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 driving means 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 external 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 a particular embodiment the length can be limited to the thickness of the wall of the container.

As longitudinal rod extends along the longitudinal axis of the endless screw, the endless screw is generally internally hollowed around its longitudinal axis. Accordingly the rotatable longitudinal rod can be positioned inside the endless screw.

The core of the endless screw is empty and the endless screw presents a hole at its end part that faces the outlet duct. Accordingly the rod extends within the endless screw along the longitudinal axis of said endless screw and out of the end of said endless screw. The rod is simply positioned in the endless screw. The rod and the endless screw are independent one from the other and free to move in different manners one from the other. They are not attached one to the other.

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.

The cover of the outlet duct is movable between a position where it closes the outlet duct and a position where it opens the outlet duct. The longitudinal rod presents such a length and is so positioned relatively to the cover of the outlet duct that a translational movement of the rod induces the displacement of the movable cover.

The longitudinal rod is able to move according to a translational movement only. The longitudinal rod generally cooperates with another part of the container, preferably the cover, in order to prevent the rotation of the rod on itself.

According to one first embodiment, one first end of the longitudinal rod is attached to the cover. The attachment is such that the rod and the cover always move together according to the same movement. Accordingly the translational motion of the longitudinal rod pushes or pulls the cover according to the direction of translational the motion.

Preferably the longitudinal rod is attached to the cover so that said attachment prevents the longitudinal rod from rotating and the translational movement of the rod directly induces the translational movement of the cover. The first end of the longitudinal rod can be anchored in the cover.

According to one second embodiment, in the container :

- one first end of the longitudinal rod cooperates with the cover so that :

. the cover prevents the longitudinal rod from rotating, and

. when driving means rotates in the first direction D1 , the longitudinal rod translates along the longitudinal axis and the first end of the longitudinal rod pushes the movable door, and . when driving means rotates in the second direction D2, the first end of the longitudinal rod translates back along the longitudinal axis and the first end of the longitudinal rod stops exerting a force on the cover, and

- the cover is spring loaded against the outlet duct.

Accordingly the translational motion of the longitudinal rod only pushes the cover in order to open the outlet duct. When the longitudinal rod translates back, the longitudinal rod does not pull the cover, yet, due to the spring loading, the cover leans on the first end and displaces in direction of the external end of the outlet duct.

This second embodiment is more advantageous than the first above embodiment because, if it happens that powder remains blocked between the external end of the outlet duct and the cover, while the cover is in the opened position, the longitudinal rod can be translated back while the cover remains in its opened position. On the contrary, in the first embodiment, the cover attached to the rod forces on the blocked powder. Preferably the container comprises a bonnet, said bonnet covering the external end of the outlet duct and the movable cover and holding a spring for spring loading the cover.

Preferably the driving means that is configured for being rotated either in one first direction D1 or one second direction D2 comprises a connecting bush, at least one part of the external surface of said connecting bush cooperating with the endless screw and at least one part of the internal surface of said connecting bush cooperating with the longitudinal rod.

The part of the internal surface of the connecting bush cooperating with the longitudinal rod can cooperate with said rod in a screwing manner.

Preferably the external surface of the part of the longitudinal rod cooperating with the internal surface of the connecting bush presents a screw path and the internal surface of the connecting bush comprises at least one bump, and the at least one bump of the connecting bush cooperates with the screw path of the longitudinal rod.

The screw path is usually designed so that when the rod rotates in the first direction D1 , the rod translates in direction of the external end of the outlet duct.

Since the longitudinal rod is movable according to a translational movement only and cannot rotate on itself, the rotation of the connecting bush induces the translation of the longitudinal rod.

Preferably the connecting bush comprises an external rib for engaging a cooperating rib of the at least one endless screw when said connecting ring rotates in the first direction D1 . Preferably the part of the external surface of the connecting bush cooperating with the endless screw presents at least one first bump and the internal surface of the endless screw cooperating with the connecting bush presents at least one second bump, said two bumps being designed and positioned one to the other so that :

- when the connecting bush rotates in the first direction D1 the first bump of said connecting bush engages the second bump of the endless screw and the screw rotates in the first direction D1 , and

- when the connecting bush rotates in the second direction D2, the first bump of said connecting bush does not engage the second bump of the endless screw and the screw remains immobile.

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

Preferably the container comprises two driving means each of said driving means cooperating with one dedicated endless screw.

Preferably the container comprises a connector for connecting the two driving means to the same motor.

Preferably the connector is configured for rotating the two driving means simultaneously in the same direction D1 . Preferably the container with two endless screws comprises two rotatable longitudinal rods, each of said rotatable longitudinal rods extending through one dedicated screw and cooperating with 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 driving means 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 driving means in the first direction D1 until the desired dose of powder is dispensed,

- rotating the driving means 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 and 10.

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,

- Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view of the container 1 in an opened state as taken along plane AA of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view of the container in a closed state as taken along plane AA of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 3a corresponds to the view of Figure 2a in which one the endless screws have been removed,

- Figure 3b corresponds to the view of Figure 2a in which one the endless screws have been removed, - Figure 4a is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the container 1 in an opened state as taken along plane BB of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 4b is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the container 1 in a closed state as taken along plane BB of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 5 is a cross section of an endless screw used in a container according to the invention,

- Figure 6 is view of a longitudinal rod used in a container according to the invention,

- Figures 7a and 7b are perspective views of a connecting bush used in a container according to the invention,

- Figure 8a is a cross section of the assembly of an endless screw, a rod and a connecting bush, when the container 1 is in a closed state,

- Figure 8b is a cross section of the assembly of an endless screw, a rod and a connecting bush, when the container 1 is in an opened state,

- Figure 9 is a view of illustrating a connector for connecting the two driving means to the same motor,

- Figure 10 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 1 1 to store a powder. The tank 1 1 is closed at its top by a removable lid 1 10 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 powder outlet covered by a chute cover 30 and a bonnet 19. The assembly of the chute cover and the bonnet is fixedly attached to the tank 1 1 by means of a snap on mechanism 31 .

With further reference to Figures 2a and 2b, the container comprises a horizontal outlet duct 13 at the bottom 1 13 of the tank for evacuating the powder from the tank. The outlet duct 13 is positioned at the bottom of a terminal wall. The container comprises two endless screws 12a, 12b at the bottom 1 13 of the tank. Although the drawings illustrate the presence of two endless screws, the invention relates to containers comprising one endless screw only too. In the illustrated embodiment comprising two endless screws, the outlet duct comprises two separated outlet ducts 13a, 13b through which extend the screws 12a, 12b.

The external ends 131 a, 131 b of the outlet ducts are closed by a common cover 15 in Figure 2a. The shape of the cover 15 cooperates with the shape of both external ends 131 a, 131 b of the outlet ducts so that the cover prevents powder from falling from the outlet.

This cover 15 is movable. Figure 2b illustrates the cover that has moved away from the external ends 131 a, 131 b of the outlet ducts. In that state, powder can be dispensed from the container.

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 5, 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. The front end part 123 of the endless screw presents an opening 124. With further reference to Figures 3a and 3b, the container comprises two longitudinal rods 14a, 14b. Each rod 14a, 14b is associated with one of the endless screw 12a, 12b (removed in Figures 3a, 3b) 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 125 in the cores 122 of the endless screws 12 as further illustrated in Figure 5. The rods 14 are longer than the endless screws 12. The first end part 141 of each rod extends through and outside the opening 124 at the front end of the corresponding endless screw.

With reference to Figure 6, each rod 14 presents a screw path at the external surface of rear end part of the rod 142. Preferably the screw path comprises several grooves presenting the same design so that any of these grooves can be engaged by a corresponding bump of the connecting bush as explained later.

As illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b, the container comprises two connecting bushes 161 a, 161 b - or rings or hollowed cylinders - each of them being designed for cooperating with one dedicated endless screw 12a, 12b and one dedicated rod 14a, 14b. The connecting bush is assembled with the rod 14 and the endless screw 12 so that the rear end part of the endless screw surrounds the connecting bush 161 and the connecting bush 161 surrounds the rear end part 142 of the rod.

The connecting bushes 161 a, 161 b are two driving means configured for being indirectly connected to the drive shaft of a motor and being rotated either in one direction D1 or one direction D2. The rotation of the connecting bushes 161 a, 161 b in the first direction D1 from the closed state of Figure 3a : - drive the rotation of the endless screws 12a, 12b in direction D1 , and

- drive the translational motion of the rods 14a, 14b in direction of the front end of the canister, so as to reach the state of Figure 3b.

The rotation of the connecting bushes 161 a, 161 b in the second direction D2 from the closed state of Figure 3b :

- does not drive any rotation of the endless screws 12a, 12b, and

- drives the translational motion of the rods 14a, 14b in direction of the rear end of the container, back to the rest position as in Figure 3a. Figures 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views of the front end of the container illustrating the relative positions of the rods and the cover in the closed state and in the opened state of the container.

Each front end parts 141 a, 141 b of the rods are engaged in holes 151 a, 151 b of the cover so that when the rods 14a, 14b moves in translation from the position of Figure 4a to the position of Figure 4b, their front end parts 141 a, 141 b push the cover 15 away from the outlet ducts 131 a, 131 b. Simultaneously the springs 17a, 17b positioned between the cover 15 and the bonnet 19 are compressed, the bonnet 19 being fixedly attached to the tank 1 1.

Then, when the rods 14a, 14b moves in translation from the position of Figure 4b to the position of Figure 4a, said rods do not push the cover 15 any longer, yet the cover 15 is pushed by the springs 17a, 17b and is urged to follow the rods and close the outlet duct 13. The front end parts 141 a, 141 b of the rods are not fixedly engaged in the holes 151 a, 151 b of the cover and are free to slide within and retract from these holes if the cover 15 is blocked on its way back to the outlet duct, for example if powder is blocked between the opened cover 15 and the outlet ducts 13a, 13b.

With further reference to Figures 7a and 7b, the connecting bush 161 presents at its external surface two ribs 162 designed for engaging two cooperating ribs 121 at the internal surface of the endless screw 12 and the connecting bush 161 presents at its internal surface two bumps 163, designed for cooperating with the screw path 1421 of the longitudinal rod.

Figure 8a is a cross sectional view illustrating the assembly of the endless screw 12, the connecting bush 161 and the rod 14 when the cover of the outlet duct is closed, that is to say when the motor of the canister is at rest and no dosing is actuated. The two bumps 163 of the connecting bush are ready to engage with two grooves of the screwing path of the rod 14. The rod 14 is assembled to the container so that it is not rotatable (as will be explained later), accordingly a rotation of the connecting bush 121 initiates a translational motion of the rod 14 and consequently the opening of the cover 15 as explained in relation with Figures 4a and 4b.

With the rotation of the connecting bush 161 in direction D1 , the two ribs 162 of the connecting bush rotate and come to engage the two ribs 121 of the endless screw initiating the dosing of the powder. Preferably the ribs 162 of the connecting bush and the ribs 121 of the endless screw are not in contact at rest, consequently the endless screw does not rotate immediately wen the connecting bush rotates, which enables the displacement of the cover before the powder is displaced to the outlet duct.

Figure 8b corresponds to Figure 8a when the cover of the outlet duct is opened, that is when the motor of the canister is on and dosing is happening. Due to the translational motion of the rod 14, the two bumps 163 of the connecting bush have reached the rear end of the screwing path in the rod and do not displace the rod any longer during the continuous rotation in direction D1 . The ribs 162 of the connecting bush are in contact with the ribs 121 of the endless screw and drive the rotation of the endless screw in direction D1 . Powder can be displaced be the endless screw and dispensed through the opened outlet duct. From this state, dosing can be stopped and cover closed by rotation of the connecting bush 161 in direction D2. During said rotation :

- ribs 162 do not engage the ribs 121 of the endless screw, consequently this screw remains immobile and dosing is stopped.

- the two bumps 163 of the connecting bush engage with two grooves of the screwing path of the rod 14 again which initiates the translational motion of the rod 14 back and consequently the closing of the cover 15.

Consequently, during closing, 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.

Figure 9 illustrates tooth gears 20a, 20b attached to the rear ends 164a, 164b of the connecting bushes and their cooperation with a connector 18 presenting a tooth gear 182 too for engaging simultaneously both tooth gears 20a, 20b. The end 181 of said connector is designed for cooperating with the drive shaft of a motor. The connector enables the rotation of both connecting bushes 161 a, 161 b - and consequently both endless screws 12a, 12b - simultaneously in the same direction.

Containers with only one rod and one endless screw are also covered by the present invention.

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 10 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 to 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

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 rib 121 core 122 front end part 123 opening 124a, 124b hollow out 125 duct 13

external end 131 a, 131 b rod 14, 14a, 14b front end part 141 rear end part of the rod 142 screw path 1421 movable cover 15

holes 151 a, 151 b driving means 16

connecting bush 161 external rib 162 bump 163 rear end 164, 164a, 164b spring 17a, 17b connector 18

bonnet 19

tooth gears 20a, 20b chute cover 30

snap on mechanism 31

beverage dispenser 2

beverage preparation unit 21

front door 22

motor shaft 23

dispensing 24