MACCIONI, Roberto (Via Vittor Pisani 37, Viareggio, I-55049, IT)
LEVANTINO, Enrico (Via Vittorio Veneto, 187, Viareggio, I-55049, IT)
MACCIONI, Roberto (Via Vittor Pisani 37, Viareggio, I-55049, IT)
| CLAIMS 1 . A unit for positioning and extracting a disposable pod (C) of a machine for preparing hot beverages, in particular coffee, comprising a pod gravity feed duct (12) extending in a pod feeding direction (X), a stationary plate (16) and a mobile plate (17) slidable towards said stationary plate (16) in a processing direction (M) orthogonal to the pod feeding direction (X) to mate with said stationary plate (16) at the stroke end of said mobile plate (17), characterized in that it comprises first support means (27, 28) slidable along said processing direction (M) towards each other to grasp said pod and second support means (20; 120; 220) for holding said pod in said feed duct (12) in a position substantially perpendicular to said processing direction (M), said second support means (20; 120; 220) being movable between a pod holding position and a pod discharge position, arranged sideways relative to said feed duct (12), wherein said second support means (20; 120; 220) are displaced after said first support means (27, 28) have grasped said pod, said stationary plate (16) and said mobile plate (17) being formed with respective cavities (16a, 17a) facing to each other for containing said pod and said first support means (27, 28) being also slidably connected with said stationary plate (16) and said mobile plate (17), whereby, after said second support means are displaced in said pod discharge position, said mobile plate (17) mates with said stationary plate (16) to form a sealed pod containing chamber, in which the beverage is prepared, said mobile plate (17) and said first support means (27, 28) being also slidable in the reverse direction to leave the pod that is discharged into a collecting section. 2. The unit according to claim 1 , wherein said second support means comprise a substantially U-shaped container (20; 120; 220) lying on a plane orthogonal to the processing direction (M) and configured for housing said pod with pod axis substantially aligned to the processing direction (M). 3. The unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first support means comprise a pair of pistons (27, 28) extending between said plates (16, 17) each of said pistons (27, 28) being mounted at the end of a respective stem (25, 26) extending from the centre of said stationary plate (169 and said mobile plate (17), said stems (25, 26) being slidably and frictionally connected to the respective plates, whereby they are integral to said plates until a stem movement is allowed, whereas said plates are slidable on said stems when the stem movement is no longer allowed. 4. The unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said stationary plate (16) is formed on a stationary slide (14) and said mobile plate (17) is formed on a mobile slide (15) mounted on fixed guides (13), drive means (31 ; 331 ) being provided for sliding the mobile slide (15) along said guides. 5. The unit according to claim 4, wherein said drive means comprise a lever (31 ) connected with said mobile slide (15) through a kinematism (32, 33). 6. The unit according to claim 4, wherein said drive means comprise a motor (331 ) connected with said mobile slide (15) through motion transmission means (332, 30, 32, 33). 7. The unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein on the piston (27) associated with said stationary plate (16) acts a force for keeping said piston extended from said plate, the sliding of the piston (28) associated to said mobile plate (17) to tighten said pod against said piston (27) associated to the stationary plate (16) being such as to overcome the force to bring said piston (27) in said stationary plate (16). 8. The unit according to claim 7, wherein said force is exerted on the end of the stem (25) of said piston (27) associated to said stationary plate (16) by a rocker (34), one end of which is engaged on a cam profile (36) integral to said mobile slide (15), said cam profile (36) being configured for rotating said rocker (34) at the end of the grasping stroke of said piston (28) associated to said mobile plate (17) to allow said stem (25 to slide in a direction with respect to said stationary plate (16) and in an opposite direction when said piston (28) associated to the mobile plate (17) moves away from said pod. 9. The unit according to claim 7, wherein said force is exerted by elastic means (434) placed between said stem (25) of the piston (27) associated to said stationary plate (16) and a seat (435) formed on said stationary slide (14) in which the opposed end of said stem (25) is slidable. 10. The unit according to any one of the claims 2 to 9, wherein said substantially U- shaped container (20) is connected to a pivot (18) parallel to the processing direction (M) and angularly displaceable about its axis when said mobile slide (15) reaches prefixed points of its forward and reverse stroke. 1 1 . The unit according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein said substantially U- shaped container (20) is formed in two equal parts (120a, 120b) each connected to a respective pivot (1 18a, 1 18b)) parallel to the processing direction (M) and angularly displaceable about its axis when said mobile slide (15) reaches prefixed points of its forward and reverse stroke. 12. The unit according to claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein on said pivot (18; 1 18a, 1 18b) a groove (37) is formed comprising two axial lengths (37a, 37b) and an intermediate inclined length (37c) joining said axial lengths, a pin (38) integral with said mobile slide (15) being engaged in said groove (37). 13. The unit according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein said substantially U- shaped container (20; 120) is formed with a perimetrical portion (20a; 120a) narrower than the pod thickness and open downside and having a depth to contain a perimetrical flange (C1 ) of the pod, without deforming it, from said perimetrical portion a containment portion (20b; 120b) extends on which rigid pod edges (C2) rest. 14. The unit according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein said substantially U- shaped container (220) is formed with a groove (221 ) extending along its inner edge for housing a perimetrical rigid flange (CR1 ) of a capsule (CR) fed from the upside through a feed channel (212) with size adapted to said capsule. |
MACHINES
DESCRIPTION
Field of the invention
The present invention refers to the field of machines for preparation of hot beverages, in particular coffee, of the type using disposable refill doses, such as pods or capsules, and in particular it refers to a unit for positioning and extracting disposable pods in coffee machines.
State of the art
Coffee machines using disposable coffee refill, commonly referred to as pods or capsules, consisting of containers of various shapes within which coffee powder is pressed, have been known over the years.
Preparing a coffee with such pods is simple. A pod is inserted into a special housing formed in a coffee machine, where it is subjected to the impact of a hot water jet which allows extracting substances contained in the powder, thus obtaining a beverage, coffee in this case, which is conveyed towards a cup or other container.
There are different types of pods. For example, some of them are actual pods made of paper, others are capsules more properly made of rigid plastic material for food products of the thermoformable type or even of the injection moulding type, or even made of aluminium sheet preformed and protected internally by films made of material for food products. Such pods and capsules are defined with a central axis and two opposite bases substantially perpendicular to the axis, the term "base" being used to indicate a portion of the pod into which the water enters or from which the coffee exits; the pods can have different shapes: cylindrical, cask-like, conical, hemispherical etc.
While the paper pods are permeable to water, some types of capsules are pre- perforated or are intended to be perforated during use to allow the exit of coffee. For this purpose, coffee machines designed for their use are provided with needles which perforate the outer surface of the capsule while it is placed in the housing. Perforation by means of needles may be performed on a single base, for example the one facing toward the exit of coffee, while on the opposite base, i. e. the one corresponding to the entrance of water, the pod can be broken by the water pressure. In other cases, needle perforation may be performed on both bases.
Coffee machines using substantially rigid capsules of this type are equipped with capsule positioning/extracting units structured in various ways, depending, among others, on the shape of the capsule. A positioning unit of this type is for example described in the International patent application n° WO2008142663 in the name of the same Applicant.
This kind of devices, in which the positioning and extraction of the capsule is carried out mechanically, are not suitable for paper pods, essentially due to the lack of rigidity of the pods. The machines using paper pods or more generally permeable material require the manual intervention of the user for the positioning thereof, generally on a horizontal plate, and for their removal after use. Even more so, positioning and extraction systems capable of processing both rigid capsules and paper pods and having the same overall dimensions and movements are presently unavailable in the market.
Objects and summary of the invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a unit for positioning and extracting disposable pods for a coffee machine which allows the introduction of the abovementioned pods by gravity, in the perpendicular direction with respect to the surface plane of the machine, exploiting the weight of the pod without deforming the paper flange surrounding the abovementioned pod when performing this operation, and capable of allowing the ejection of the paper pod, after dispensing the beverage, from the seat without resulting in the breakage of the pod with ensuing exit of the interior powder and blocking of the unit.
Another important object of the present invention is also to combine all the components of the unit, except for those related - in terms of configuration - to the type of pod, so as to handle with the resulting structure, and thus with the model of the coffee machine, the different types of pods available in the market, i.e. paper pods, capsules made of rigid pre-perforated material, and capsules made of rigid hermetic material to be perforated by means of needles. These objects are attained by means of the unit for positioning and extracting disposable pods for a coffee machine according to the present invention whose essential characteristics are indicated in claim 1 . Further important characteristics are indicated in the dependent claims.
Brief description of the drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the unit for positioning and extracting disposable pods for coffee machines according to the invention shall be apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the unit for positioning and extracting a pod according to the invention in the pod insertion condition;
figure 2 is a longitudinally sectioned top plan view of the unit according to the invention in the condition of figure 1 ;
figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the unit according to the invention taken along lines Ill-Ill of figure 1 ;
figures 4 , 5 and 6 are longitudinally sectioned top plan views of the unit according to the invention shown in subsequent operational steps;
figure 7 is a side sectional view of the unit according to the invention in the step of discharging the used pod;
figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the unit according to the invention;
figure 9 is a side longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the unit according to the invention adapted for processing rigid capsules,
figure 10 is a side longitudinal section of another embodiment of the unit according to the invention;
figure 1 1 is a longitudinally sectioned top plan view of a further embodiment of the unit according to the invention.
Detailed description of the invention
With reference to figures 1 and 2, the unit for positioning and extracting a disposable pod according to the invention comprises an external casing, schematically indicated with 1 1 , in which a vertical feed duct 12 is defined, open at its upper part for the insertion of a pod C of the conventional type. As shown in figure 2, the pod C is of the type having a substantially circular flat body with substantially rigid edges C2 and a perimeter flange C1 extending from edges C2.
The feed duct 12 is configured so as to allow the sliding - by gravity - of the pod oriented with its axis C5 substantially orthogonal to the extension of the feed duct along a pod feeding direction X.
Two lateral guides 13 extend parallel along the sides of the casing 1 1 and integral therewith. A stationary slide 14 and a mobile slide 15 are mounted on the guides 13, the mobile slide 15 being slidable thereon. The two slides 14 and 15 define respective opposite hollow portions, substantially plate-shaped, indicated with 16 and 17. A rod 18 is rotatably supported by the stationary slide 14 and extends parallel to one of the two guides, while the mobile slide 15 is slidably connected thereto.
An arm 19 carrying a substantially U bolt-shaped body 20 extends rigidly from the rod 18. Body 20 is adapted to be housed in the feed duct 12 and is formed with a pocket 21 adapted to contain a pod C. In particular, as shown in figure 3, the U bolt- shaped body 20 is - at its front part - substantially U-shaped with a perimeter portion 20a narrower than the thickness of the pod and whose depth is suitable to contain the flange C1 of the pod, without deforming it. A containment portion 20b, on which the rigid edges C2 of the pod rest, widens from the perimeter portion 20a.. The portions 20a and 20b define in their entirety a pocket 21 for containing the pod and the portion 20a has an opening 20c at its lower part to prevent the flange of the pod - falling into the U bolt-shaped body 20 - from deforming due to the impact against the perimeter edges of the portion 20a.
A preloaded spring 22 is wound on the rod 18 and is fixed with one end to the rod 18 and with the other end to the arm 19. The spring 22 keeps the U bolt-shaped body 20 with its opening facing upwards so as to allow the positioning of the pod C therein once it is inserted into the feed duct 12.
Respective sleeves 23 and 24 extend coaxially from the centre of the plate portions 16 and 17 and from parts opposite to the concavities 16a and 17a. The stems 25 and 26 of two pistons 27 and 28 arranged at two respective ends are slidably engaged in the sleeves 23 and 24. The stems 25 and 26 pass through respective plate portions 16 and 17 and the pistons 27 and 28 are both positioned on the side of the concavities 16a and 17a of the plate portions 16 and 17. The longitudinal axes of the stem 25 and 26 define a common processing axis indicated with M in the figures. When the pod C is positioned within the U bolt-shaped body 20, the processing axis M is orthogonal to the pod, i.e. the axis C5 of the pod is substantially coincident with, or anyway parallel to the axis M.
The sliding of the stems 25 and 26 within the respective stems 23 and 24 occurs in a frictioned manner through gaskets 29 interposed therebetween, thus, unless there is a direct thrust on the stems 25 and 26, these are integral with the respective slides.
A pin 30 connected with a lever 31 is rotatably supported by a portion 1 1 a of the casing 1 1 . The lever 31 is connected to a leverage formed by a crank 32, through which the lever 31 is fixed to the pin 30, and a connecting rod 33, whose ends are respectively connected rotatably to the slide 15 and to an end of the crank 32. Thus, to an angular movement of the lever 31 there corresponds a sliding of the mobile slide 15 along the guides 13. When sliding the mobile slide 15 integrally moves the stem 26 nearing the respective piston 28 to the pod C.
A cam 40, whose function will be described hereinafter, extends radially from the pin 30 aligned with the stem 26.
A rocker 34 is connected to a portion 1 1 b of the casing 1 1 , substantially located on the opposite side with respect to the portion 1 1 a, through a pin 35 orthogonal to the axis D of the rod 18, so that the rocker 34 extends with its arms 34a and 34b on a horizontal centre plane. More in particular, the arm 34a is rotatably connected with its free end to the end of the stem opposite to the piston 27, while the arm 34b slidably abuts through a projection 34c of its free end against a cam profile 36 integral with the mobile slide 15 and extending substantially parallel to the processing axis M. The cam profile 36 comprises two terminal lengths 36a and 36b parallel to the axis M joined by an inclined length 36c.
On the cylindrical surface of the rod 18 there is formed a groove 37and a pin 38 integral with the mobile slide 15 is engaged within the groove 37. The groove 37 has two terminal lengths 37a and 37b parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 18 joined by an inclined length 37c which extends on a cylindrical surface and, therefore, has a helical shape. In particular the inclined length 37c extends for about 90°, whereby, when the pin 38 is engaged in the inclined length 37c of the groove 37, the sliding of the mobile slide 15 in the direction of the axis M is transformed into a corresponding rotation of the rod 18.
The operation of the unit for positioning and extracting the pods according to the invention is described hereinafter.
The pod C is inserted from the top into the feed duct 12 (fig 1 ) to position it within the U bolt-shaped body. The flange C1 of the pod is arranged without being deformed in the perimeter portion 20a of the U bolt-shaped body and extends into the opening 20c, while the edges C2 of the pod rest on the containment portion 20b. The pistons 27 and 28 are positioned on opposite sides of the U bolt-shaped body 20 and they do not touch the pod C (fig 2). The mobile slide 15 is at its maximum retracted position with respect to the stationary slide 14 and the respective stem 26 abuts against the radial cam 40 of the pin 30.
Rotating the lever 31 anticlockwise (with respect to the drawing) triggers the sliding of the mobile slide 15 towards the stationary slide 14 and of the piston 28, whose stem in this step moves integrally with the mobile slide 15 towards the pod C, due to the friction developed by the gaskets 29. Simultaneously the pin 38 starts sliding in the straight terminal length 37b of the groove 37 while the projection 34c of the rocker 34 abuts against the straight terminal length 36a of the cam profile 36, hence the rocker 34 remains stationary.
Upon reaching the pod C, the piston 28 moves the pod until it is compressed against the piston 27 (fig 3), while the pin 38 reaches the beginning of the inclined length 37c of the groove 37. The projection 34c of the rocker 34 instead continues abutting on the straight terminal length 36a of the cam profile 36, keeping the rocker 34 stationary.
At this point, the pod is held between the two pistons 27 and 28. By continuing the sliding of the mobile slide 15 controlled by the rotation of the lever 31 , the pin 38 traverses the inclined length 37c of the cam groove 37. Since the pin 38 cannot be moved from its trajectory parallel to the processing axis M, given that it is integral with the mobile slide 15, the rod 18 is rotated around its axis by about 90° overcoming the resistance of the spring 22 and causing a corresponding rotation of the U bolt-shaped body 20 integral with the rod 18 through the arm 19 thereof. In this way, the U bolt- shaped body 20 is moved away from the pod C (fig 4). The projection 34c of the rocker 34 instead continues abutting against the straight terminal length 36a of the cam profile 36, still keeping the rocker 34 stationary.
When the projection 34c reaches the inclined length 36c of the profile 36, the rocker 34 is no longer prevented from rotating around the pin 35. The further advancement of the mobile slide 15 generates a thrust on the piston 27 whose stem 25, rotatably connected to the end of the arm 34a of the rocker 34, slides in the sleeve 23 until it moves the piston in abutment against the bottom of the plate 16. In this step, the piston 28 reaches its end stop and the mobile slide 15 slides therealong overcoming the resistance of the gaskets 29. At this point, the projection 34c reaches the end of the inclined length 36c and once again abuts against the second straight terminal length 36b of the profile 36 keeping the rocker 34 in the turned position, while the lever 31 , and hence the mobile slide 15, reaches its end stop moving the plate portion 26 thereof to abut against the plate portion 16 of the stationary slide 14.
At this point, the pod C is entirely clamped between the two plates 16 and 17 and the respective pistons 27 and 28 (fig 5) and the beverage production step may begin. For such purpose, in a substantially known manner not shown, the stationary plate 16 is provided with at least one water injection nozzle, connected by a hydraulic feed duct to pumping means and heating means of the coffee machine, which the unit is associated to, while the mobile plate 17 is provided with a nozzle for the exit of coffee also connected to the hydraulic circuit. The production of the beverage continues in a fully conventional manner and thus it shall not be described in detail. The sealing between the two plates is obtained through an annular gasket 39 thus forming a sealed chamber within which the pod is enclosed.
Once the beverage is dispensed, by actuating the lever 31 in the opposite direction with respect to that provided for positioning the pod in the beverage dispensing condition described above, the leverage formed by the crank 32 and the connecting rod 33 allows the inverse translation of the slide 15, and of the relative mobile plate 17 which moves away from the stationary plate 16, by sliding on the lateral guides 13.
During the first translation length of the mobile slide 15 the stem 25 carrying the piston 27 translates in the same direction towards and simultaneously with the mobile plate 17, which moves away from the stationary plate 16, in that the projection 34c of the rocker 34 inversely travels over the entire inclined length 36c of the profile 36 integral with the slide causing the rocker 34 to rotate in the inverse direction returning to the position of figure 5. In this manner, the pod is translated and it is detached from the cavity of the stationary plate 16 until it projects entirely therefrom.
By continuing to actuate the lever 31 the stem 26 of the mobile plate 17, frictioned to the mobile slide 15 through the gaskets 29, continues to move integrally with the mobile slide 15 until the end thereof abuts against the radial cam 40 of the pin 30. Thus, also the stem 26 of the mobile plate 17 returns to the initial position and the pod C, no longer pressed between the two pistons 27 and 28, is free to fall by gravity into the underlying area for collecting the used pods (figure 7).
The last part of the angular displacement of the lever 31 causes a final sliding of the mobile slide 15 until it returns it to the initial condition shown in figures 1 and 2. In this final part of the return motion, the pin 38, integral with the mobile slide 15, slides within the guide 37 integral with the U bolt-shaped body 20 passing along the inclined length 37c thereof and causing the rotation of the pin 18 extending integrally from the U bolt-shaped body 20. The U bolt-shaped body 20 is thus subjected to a corresponding rotation, also assisted by the thrust of the spring 22, thus returning to the initial position within the feed duct 12 (figures 1 and 2).
I n a different embodiment of the invention the U bolt-shaped body which positions the pod along the processing axis of the unit is formed in two halves. As shown in figure 8, a U bolt-shaped body 120 is formed by two equall parts 120a and 120b arranged at the ends of coplanar arms 1 19a and 1 19b extending radially from pins 1 18a and 1 18b located beside the guides 20 and parallel thereto. Like in the previously described embodiment, the pins 1 18a and 1 18b are fixedly supported by the stationary slide 14 and slidably supported by the mobile slide 15. Respective return springs 122a and 122b wound on the pins 1 18a and 1 18b and fixed to the arms 1 19a and 1 19b keep the two equal parts 120a and 120b of the U bolt-shaped body 120 mated in the pod feed duct 12. When the equal parts 120a and 120b of the U bolt- shaped body 120 are mated, the shape of body 120 is identical to that of the U bolt- shaped body 20 of the previously described embodiment. When the used pod requires to be discharged the two halves 120a and 120b move away from each other rotating together with the respective pins 1 18a and 1 18b, which are rotated in the same way as previously described with reference to the previous embodiment. This solution requires a smaller overall rotation space as compared to the previously described one in which the U bolt-shaped body is made in a single piece, whereby, considering the same volume of the compartment for collecting the used pods arranged beneath the U bolt- shaped body, allows providing a coffee machine of lower height.
An important advantage of the unit according to the present invention lies in the fact that it can be adapted to the processing of rigid capsules, both perforated or to be perforated during use, simply by using a U bolt-shaped body of different forms and obviously if required, pistons provided with perforating needles. Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the unit according to the invention incorporating the modified U bolt- shaped body, indicated with 220. In this case, the U bolt-shaped body is provided with a groove 221 formed along the inner edge thereof and configured to receive the rigid perimeter flange CR1 of the capsule CR fed from the top through a feed duct 212 whose dimensions are adapted to those of the capsule.
In a further embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figure 10, a motorized actuation of the unit according to the invention is provided for. For such purpose, the actuation lever 31 was replaced by a motor 331 which rotates the pin 30 through a transmission member, for example, a belt 332. The motor is started by means of buttons, not shown, located on the outer casing of the machine.
According to a further variation of the unit for positioning and extracting disposable pods according to the invention, illustrated in figure 1 1 , the rocker 34 is replaced by a return spring 434 interposed between a flange 435 integral with the stem 25 of the piston 27 and the bottom of a cap seat 436 fixed to the stationary slide 15 and coaxial to the stem 25. The spring 434 keeps the piston 27 at a position spaced from the cavity of the plate 16 and it is compressed, letting the stem 25 slide in the seat 436, under the action of the piston 28 which pushes the pod into the cavity of the plate 16 once the two plates are mated to form the sealed chamber in which the beverage is made.
It should be observed that in the present description the terms "vertical" and "horizontal", "high" and "low", "lower" and "upper" refer to the conditions of use of the unit for positioning and extracting according to the invention within a machine for preparing coffee or other beverages. In particular the vertical direction coincides with that on which the force of gravity acts, the horizontal direction being perpendicular thereto.
The unit for positioning and extracting disposable pods for preparing beverages according to the invention may be subjected to variations and/or modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.
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