WITH REFILLABLE MULTI-DOSE CONTAINER

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a machine for preparing beverages from a flowable beverage ingredient and comprising a refillable multi-dose container used for storing said flowable ingredient.

Background of the invention

It is known to prepare hot or cold beverages with beverage preparation machine. In a conventional beverage machine, a metered amount of water soluble beverage powder, stored in powder refillable tank, and a metered amount of hot or cold water, supplied from a water source, are mixed to produce a beverage or food, either in a chamber dedicated to mixing or in a cup.

WO 2009/000836 and WO 2015/193489 describe a machine with a powder refillable tank that can be refilled with specific powder cartridges. This machine enables an easy and proper refilling : there is no significant loss of powder during the transfer of the powder from the refilling tank to the tank to be refilled.

Usually this machine is used for preparing coffee beverage from instant coffee powder. Since coffee powder is not a food product in which unhealthy germs can easily developed, a simple cleaning of the tank to be refilled from time to time is sufficient. Indeed the advantage of cleaning the tank consists more in avoiding machine failure due to coffee powder caking between the tank and the lower dosing unit rather than stopping the development of bacteria/microbial flora since coffee is not a source of such germs.

It is now proposed to fill this type of powder refillable tank with a milk powder in order to be able to produce beverages comprising a coffee beverage component and a milk beverage component such as a cappuccino, coffee latte, etc ...

In view of the above mentioned problem of bio sensitivity of milk powder, it becomes essential :

- to be able to clean the milk powder tank regularly and easily,

- to urge the operator to clean all the parts of the milk powder,

- to provide a tank wherein the risk of powder being trapped inside is limited.

The same problem exists with the filling of the tank with other sensitive powders such as matcha tea powder, beverage powders comprising vitamins, ...

An object of the invention is to address this problem. Summary of the invention

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a machine for preparing beverages from a bulk beverage ingredient, said machine comprising an assembly of a storing container and a dosing unit, wherein in said assembly :

- the storing container is a refillable multi-dose storing container for storing the bulk beverage ingredient, said container presenting a storing volume defined between a bottom wall, a top wall and lateral walls, and said refillable multi-dose storing container comprises a first bottom opening, a second opening for refilling the container with a bulk beverage ingredient and a removable cover for closing said opening for refilling the container,

- the dosing unit is configured for dosing the stored bulk beverage ingredient stored in the container, said dosing unit being attached to the bottom of the storing container and cooperating with the first bottom opening of the storing container,

wherein the storing container is the assembly of two separable bottom and upper parts, said two parts being attached one to the other by a hinge,

wherein the separable bottom part of the storing container comprises a plate positioned along the length of the hinge and said plate extending :

- above the upper edge of the bottom part inside the internal volume of the separable upper part, and

- along the internal surface of one first portion of the lateral wall of the upper part.

The machine of the present invention prepares beverages from a bulk beverage ingredient. The bulk beverage ingredient can be a powder, pellets or granules, generally of agglomerated powder. The beverage ingredient is preferably a soluble beverage ingredient like instant coffee, instant tea, milk powder, chocolate powder.

The machine prepares the beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient with a diluent, preferably water. The beverage ingredient and the diluent can be contacted by any device like : a jet(s) head, a mixing bowl, a whipper bowl, a brewing chamber

The machine comprises an assembly of a storing container and a dosing unit. Preferably, in the assembly, the dosing unit cannot be separated from the storing container.

As a result, when the container is dismantled during a cleaning operation, there is no risk that he/she inverts the dosing unit of a first powder container with the dosing unit of another second container which would have an impact on the correct dosing of each product after re- assembling and introduction in the machine.

In the assembly, the container is used to deliver individual doses of bulk ingredient to the dosing unit and aims at storing this product before it is dosed ; it is why it is defined as a multi-dose container.

The storing volume of the container is defined between a bottom wall, a top wall and lateral walls. The bottom wall comprises a first bottom opening so as to deliver the beverage ingredient to the dosing unit positioned at the bottom of the storing container. Due to gravity the beverage ingredient falls in the dosing unit.

Preferably the bottom wall of the storing container presents the shape of a funnel, the bottom of the funnel forming the first opening of the storing container cooperating with the dosing unit. Accordingly, bulk ingredient is urged to follow the walls of the funnel and to fill the dosing unit.

Preferably, the separable bottom part of the storing container presents a smaller internal volume than the separable upper part. Since the container is usually made of plastic and produced by injection moulding, a smaller volume of the bottom part enables an easier unmolding of this part of the container. In addition, the machine preferably comprises a powder level detector detecting the presence of powder in the bottom part of the container. For this reason, the bottom part of the container is usually made of a transparent material enabling the level detection (visually or by means of infrared detector for example). Simultaneously it is preferable that the powder in the container is protected from light. Consequently it is preferable that the upper part is made of a material blocking light and that this upper part presents a larger volume and consequently surface to protect globally all the powder stored in the container.

The container comprises a second opening for refilling the container with a bulk beverage ingredient. According to the preferred embodiment, this second opening is positioned in a wall of the separable upper part of the container.

Preferably this second refilling opening is positioned on one of the lateral walls of the storing container. Due to the position of the refilling opening on the lateral side of the container, the user is not able to refill the container while the container is positioned inside the machine. Firstly because the refill opening is not at the top of the container and the bulk ingredient cannot flow by gravity in the container. Secondly because the container is positioned in a receiving area of the machine, said receiving area blocking the access to the refilling opening.

This refilling opening can present any form either circular, oval, square, ... Preferably it corresponds to the form of the cartridge outlet used for refilling the refillable multi-dose container, for example for avoiding the erroneous refilling with a wrong product. In its simpler and easier form, it is circular. The storing container comprises a removable cover for closing said second opening for refilling the container.

The storing container is the assembly of two separable bottom and upper parts which when assembled together forms the storing container. These two parts are attached one to the other by a hinge, meaning that, when the upper and bottom parts are separated one from the other, they remain attached by the hinge only. This hinge is positioned at one upper edge of the bottom part and at one lower edge of the upper part and connect these edges together. As a result, the storing container can be opened by separating its two parts and the operator is able to get a full access to the inside of the container for a thorough cleaning operation or for a control operation. The two parts remain attached one to the other by means of the hinge facilitating the re-assembly of the container.

In addition, the separable bottom part of the storing container comprises a plate positioned along the length of the hinge. The plate is attached to the bottom part and this plate extends

- laterally, along at least the length of the hinge,

- vertically, above the upper edge of the bottom part, and, when the two separable parts are attached one to the other : inside the internal volume of the separable upper part and along the internal surface of one first portion of the lateral wall of the upper part.

As a result, this plate provides a protection for the hinge against powder and fines when the storing container is opened and the two parts of the container are separated. This plate retains powder and fines inside the bottom part and urge them to fall in that bottom part while the upper part is moved upside down further to rotation around the hinge.

The plate acts like an internal lateral wall of the upper part of the container, this wall forming a barrier to bulk material for the hinge.

Consequently, the hinge is protected from fines that may slide inside the hinge creating dirtiness and potential blocking.

Preferably, when the assembly of the two separable bottom and upper parts is assembled, the plate extends vertically along the internal surface of one first portion of the lateral wall of the upper part by at least half of the height of said lateral wall of the upper part, preferably at least two third of the height of said lateral wall of the upper part.

According to the preferred embodiment, in the container, the second opening for refilling the container with the bulk beverage ingredient is positioned on one second portion, of the lateral walls of the separable upper part of the storing container. Since the second opening is on a second portion and not on the first potion of the lateral all wall, the refilling of the container through this second opening is not hampered by the plate.

According to said preferred embodiment, preferably, the removable cover for closing the second opening for refilling the container is configured for attaching the two separable bottom and upper parts of the storing container together. As a result, the two parts of the container can be safely locked one to the other. The single cover supplies the functions of closing the second opening and locking the two parts of the container together.

To provide these functions, preferably :

- the bottom part of the assembly of the two separable bottom and upper parts comprises a first tongue, said first tongue extending horizontally from the upper edge of the bottom part, and

- the removable cover for closing the second opening for refilling the container is configured for holding together said first tongue of the bottom part and the outline edge of the second opening for refilling the container.

According to the above preferred embodiment, the removable cover for closing the second opening for refilling the container comprises a second tongue, said second tongue :

- extending vertically from the lateral wall of the cover and being positioned so as to rise in direction of the bottom part of the assembly of the two separable bottom and upper parts when the cover is covering the opening and

- presenting a shape such that, while the bottom and uppers parts of the assembly are separated one from the other and the removable cover covers the opening, the first tongue of the the bottom part of the assembly of the two separable bottom and upper parts bumps into said second tongue of the removable cover during the movement of assembling together the upper and bottom parts.

Due to this bumping effect, it becomes impossible to reassemble the upper and lower parts of the container while having the cover closing the second refilling opening. With this preferred embodiment, the operator is forced to remove the removable cover from the second opening when the two upper and bottom parts are separated for the cleaning operation.

Forcing the operator to remove this cover guarantees a better cleaning in the area of the second opening and a more rapid drying of the tank due to air circulation through said second opening.

The machine comprises a dosing unit for dosing the stored bulk beverage ingredient. The dosing unit cooperates with the first opening at the bottom of the refillable multi-dose storing container. The dosing unit cooperates so that it simultaneously closes the opened bottom of the container and so that it is able to dose the bulk material stored in the container. The both elements are attached together and form an assembly that can be received in a receiving area of the machine. Preferably this receiving area presents a shape that fits with the external shape of the assembly.

Generally the dosing unit is a volumetric dosing unit comprising a chamber of predefined volume through which a dose of bulk ingredient is introduced and then dispensed downwards to another part of the machine. It can be a barrel, a sliding chamber, a rotary pierced disc or any similar dosing unit.

Generally, the machine comprises a diluent fluid system. The diluent fluid system can comprise a diluent tank, a diluent pump and a diluent heating and/or cooling device.

Preferably, the machine comprises a mixing chamber for contacting diluent and a dose of beverage ingredient dosed form the assembly the storing container the dosing unit.

The mixing chamber is preferably a dissolution chamber for preparing a beverage from the beverage ingredient and a diluent Generally the dissolution chamber comprises an opened top to receive the beverage ingredient dose, at last one diluent inlet and a beverage outlet at the bottom.

According to one embodiment the dissolution chamber comprises at least one diluent inlet configured for introducing the diluent in the form of a jet inside the chamber. The chamber is preferably configured so that a whirlpool of liquid is created in the chamber and the jet of diluent hits said whirlpool. Such a dissolution chamber is described in WO 2008/071613. According to the preferred embodiment said dissolution chamber comprises two water inlets positioned at different heights in the chamber. Preferably the higher inlet is close to the top. Diluent introduced through the higher inlet is usually used to rinse the chamber after a beverage preparation or to prepare big sized beverages

According to another embodiment the dissolution chamber comprises a bowl and a whipper. The whipper is actuated by a motor to mix and usually froth the mixture of powder and diluent.

Usually the dissolution chamber is positioned under the powder outlet of the container so that the powder can be delivered from the container in the chamber through the top of the chamber by gravity fall.

Generally the top of the dissolution chamber is opened so that powder can freely flow inside by gravity fall. By opened it is meant that the top of the chamber is not covered e.g. by a lid. The diluent inlet is connected to a diluent supply. The diluent is generally water. The diluent supply generally comprises a diluent tank, a pump, a diluent heater and/or a diluent cooler and valves to deliver the requested diluent in the chamber.

Yet any type of device currently known for contacting a beverage ingredient and diluent can be used like jet(s) delivering diluent jet in a drinking cup.

Generally, the machine comprises a receiving area for removably receiving the assembly of the refillable multi-dose storing container and the dosing unit positioned at the bottom of the container. Generally, the receiving area is configured for enabling the cooperation of the dosing unit with an actuator

According to a second aspect, there is provided a system for preparing a beverage by mixing a bulk beverage ingredient with a diluent comprising :

- a machine such as described above, and

- a cartridge of bulk beverage ingredient, said cartridge comprising :

. a vessel presenting a closed end and an opened end,

. a hopper placed inside the vessel and tapering to a discharge outlet in direction of the vessel opened end, said discharge outlet presenting a section smaller than the section of the refilling opening of the refillable multi-dose storing container.

Preferably, the cartridge for storing the flowable beverage ingredient comprises a tearable membrane closing the hopper and the vessel. Such cartridges such as above are described in WO 2009/000810, WO 2009/130313 or WO 2009/130315.

In the present application the terms "internal", "rear", "front", "bottom", "top", "upper", "lower" and "lateral" 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 the figures 1 , 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B.

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 schematic view of a machine for preparing beverages according to the present invention,

- Figure 2A is a side view of the assembly of the storing container and the dosing unit according to the invention in its closed state,

- Figure 2B is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2A,

- Figure 2C is a front view of the assembly of Figure 2A,

- Figure 3A is a vertical cross section view of the assembly of Figure 2C along the transversal plane AA,

- Figure 3B is a vertical cross section view of the assembly of Figure 2A along the transversal plane BB,

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2 in its fully opened state,

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2 during the closing operation, the removable being attached to the storing container,

- Figure 6 illustrates the operation of refilling the assembly with a cartridge of bulk material.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a beverage preparation machine 1. The machine includes an assembly 2 of a storing container 21 and a dosing unit 22. The beverage ingredient is stored in the container 21 and the dosing unit 22 meters and dispenses doses of beverage ingredient therefrom.

The dosing unit 22 dispenses the metered dose of beverage ingredient in a mixing chamber 107 generally by gravity fall in a top opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured for producing a beverage from the dose of soluble beverage ingredient and liquid, preferably water, entering the chamber.

The dosing device can be any suitable system such as a dosing screw, a reciprocating dosing piston or a rotating disc. The dosing technology is also of course dependent on the nature of the soluble ingredient. The soluble ingredient is typically a dry beverage powder. The device is fed upon request with ingredient manually or automatically as prompted by a controller 11 1 and command 109.

The assembly 2 is positioned removably in a receiving area 1 12 of the machine. This area is configured for correctly orienting the assembly in the machine and to enable the cooperation of the dosing unit with any type of actuator (motor or manual actuation) and provide cooperation between the mixing chamber liquid inlet(s) and the liquid supply tube(s) 106. Usually, the chamber 2 is immobile within the machine. Yet, in a less preferred embodiment, the mixing chamber 1 can be movable to a position placed under the dosing device 108 as described in WO 2009/153157.

A liquid, preferably water, supplying system 105 is provided in the machine to be able to feed water in the mixing chamber 107, more particularly, hot water.

The water supplying system comprises :

- a tank 101 that can be replenished with fresh water, or eventually connected to tap water,

- a water pump 102 for pumping water from the tank 101. The pump can be any type of pump such as a piston pump, diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump.

- a water heater 103 such as a thermoblock or a cartridge type heater to heat the pumped water, alternatively or in addition to, the machine can comprise a water cooler in a line bypassing the heater,

- a non-return valve 104.

Finally water is fed into the mixing chamber by a tube 106.

As illustrated in Figure 1 , the mixing chamber 1 can be placed directly above a service tray 108 onto which is placed a drinking receptacle 110 to receive the beverage. Generally, the mixing chamber 1 is removable from the machine for cleaning and optionally for dosing.

The controller 11 1 can coordinate dosing of the soluble beverage ingredient by the dosing unit 22 and dosing of liquid by the pump 102 upon the user actuating or being prompted to press the command 109 on the machine.

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C are side, perspective and front views of an assembly 2 of a storing container 21 and a dosing unit 22 in its operating position that is with the dosing unit positioned under the storing container.

The storing container is defined between by a bottom wall 21 1 , a top wall 212 and lateral walls 213. The shape is not limited to the illustrated embodiment : it can be round or square. Preferably, the bottom wall 21 1 is shaped to urge the stored bulk material to flow in direction of the first dispensing opening 216 at the bottom of the container in direction of the dosing unit 22. The storing container comprises a second opening 214 configured for refilling the container with a bulk beverage ingredient. This second refilling opening is positioned preferably on a portion of the lateral walls of the storing container. In a less preferred embodiment, this second opening can be positioned on the top wall 212 of the storing container. A removable cover 215 closes the second refilling opening 214. The top of the dosing unit is attached to the first dispensing opening 21 1 of the storing container. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the dosing unit 22 comprises essentially a drawer 222 with a dosing cavity 223 configured for sliding in a housing 221 as described further in Figure 3A. The drawer usually comprises a pulling member 226, like a tongue, to be able to pull the drawer either manually or in a motorized way (along direction A for delivering a dose of ingredient).

The storing container 21 itself is the assembly of two separable bottom and upper parts, 21 a, 21 b respectively. These two parts are attached one to the other by a hinge 216.

Figure 3A is a vertical cross section view of the assembly of Figure 2 illustrating the internal parts of the assembly 2.

The separable bottom part 21a comprises a plate 217 attached near to the position of the hinge 216. This plate 217 extends vertically above the upper edge 21 1a of the bottom part and inside the internal volume of the separable upper part. This plate extends vertically along the internal surface of the lateral wall of the upper part too.

As apparent in Figure 3B, the plate 217 extends along the internal surface of the lateral wall of the upper part and along the length of the hinge 216.

As a result this plate prevents bulk material from sliding inside the hinge mechanism when the assembly of the upper and lower part 21 b, 21 a is opened as illustrated in Figure 4.

Preferably the width w of the plate corresponds at least to the length of the hinge. Consequently, the plate covers the whole length of the hinge and acts as a powder deflector along the whole length.

Preferably the height H of the plate extends by at least the half of the height of the upper part of the storing container.

In addition Figure 4 illustrates how the assembly 2 can be thoroughly cleaned :

- first, the cover 215 of the refilling opening has been removed to prevent any ingredient from being trapped in this area. In addition, the removal of this cover makes possible the separation of the upper and lower parts 21 a, 21 b. Actually, as previously illustrated in Figure 3A, in the normal operation state of the container, the cover 215 is attached simultaneously to the outline edge 214a of the second refilling opening and to a tongue 31 extending from the upper edge 21 1a of the bottom part. As a results, the cover 215 maintains the upper and lower parts 21 b, 21a locked together. Once the cover 215 is removed, the two parts can be separated.

- secondly, the access to the internal volume of the container is possible due to the separation of the upper part 21 b from the lower part 21a.

- thirdly, the drawer 222 of the dosing unit can be totally removed from the housing 221 of the dosing unit once the assembly 2 is removed from the machine. - lastly, the funnel design of the lower part 21a of the container enables water to totally flow out the assembly before re-assembling.

Finally, it is clear from Figure 4 that the volume of the lower part 21a of the container is quite smaller than the volume of the upper part 21 b. The lower and smaller part 21a is preferably made of transparent material in order to check either visually or with a level sensor the powder level remaining in the container, whereas the upper and larger part 21 b is made of a material blocking UV. It results that when powder is stored inside the assembly, it is globally well protected from UV.

Figure 5 illustrates the operation of closing the assembly of the upper and bottom parts (see arrow B). In the illustrated embodiment, the operator has not removed the cover 215 from the second refilling opening 214 before reassembling the upper and lower parts 21 a, 21 b. As a result the tongue 31 bumps inside the tongue 32 of the cover during the closure operation and prevents the reassembling. In order to close back the assembly, the operator is urged to remove the cover 215 and consequently to control the cleanliness of this part of the storing container. Effectively, when the operator separates the upper and lower parts during the cleaning operation, bulk material may remain trapped in the second refilling opening 214 under the cover 215, but by opening the cover, the operator is able to check the cleanliness of the area. In case of use of ingredient like milk powder hygiene is guaranteed.

Figure 6 illustrates the operation of refilling the assembly 2 with a cartridge 4 of bulk material. The assembly 2 has been removed from the machine and put on a flat surface 6, the front end of the assembly lying on the flat surface. In order to stabilize the assembly on the flat surface, supporting ribs 218 are provided at the external surface of the lateral wall 213 of the container. Preferably the ribs 218 are positioned on each side of the hinge. The edges of the ribs are flat in order to contact the flat surface 6 and provide a stable position for the tank during refilling. It becomes easy to refill the assembly through the second opening 214 oriented upwardly now.

In Figure 6, the cover for this second opening has been removed and a cartridge 4 of bulk ingredient is pushed downwardly in direction of the refilling opening. This cartridge 4 comprises a vessel 41 that is here a rigid cylinder presenting a closed end 41 1 and an opened end 412. The cartridge comprises a hopper 42 positioned inside the vessel volume and near to the opened end 412 of the vessel. Said hopper extends on the whole vessel section and tapers to a discharge outlet 421 that faces the opened end 412 of the vessel. The discharge outlet 421 can comprise a cylinder coupled to the end of the hopper in order to guide the powder to the container interface. Due to the fact that the hopper is placed inside the vessel volume with its discharge outlet facing the vessel opened end, a groove extends between the hopper tapering wall and the vessel wall along all the periphery of the hopper discharge outlet. A tearable membrane 43 is fixed above the opened end 412 of the vessel and above the hopper discharge outlet 421 closing simultaneously the vessel opened end and the hopper tapered end.

In order to create cooperation between the cartridge and the assembly :

- the discharge outlet 421 of the hopper presents a section smaller than the section of the second refilling opening 214, and

- the opened end 412 of the vessel presents a section greater than the section of the second refilling opening 214.

When the cartridge 4 is urged against the second refilling opening 214 (arrow C), the edge of the opening tears the tearable membrane 43. Then the discharge outlet 421 of the hopper slides inside the opening 214 and the opened end of the vessel surrounds the second opening. As a consequence, bulk ingredient 5 slides along the internal slanted wall of the hopper inside the internal volume of the container.

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 : beverage preparation machine 1

assembly 2

storing container 21

bottom wall 21 1

top wall 212

lateral wall 213

first opening 216

second opening 214

edge of the second opening 214a

removable cover 215 bottom part 21 a upper edge 211 a upper part 21 b bottom edge 211 b internal surface 212b hinge 216 plate 217 supporting ribs 218 dosing unit 22 housing 221 drawer 222 metering cavity 223 rear end 224 front end 225 pulling member 226 first tongue 31 second tongue 32 cartridge 4 vessel 41 closed end 41 1 opened end 412 hopper 42 discharge outlet 421 tearable membrane 43 bulk ingredient 5 flat surface 6 tank 101 pump 102 heater 103 valve 104 liquid supplying system 105 pipe 106 chamber 107 service tray 108 command 109 drinking receptacle 110 controller 11 1 receiving area 112