Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser configured for preparing beverages from beverage ingredients pellets, in particular bally of soluble beverage ingredient.

Background of the invention

Many beverages like coffee , milk beverages, chocolate beverages, ... are often prepared by mixing a soluble powder or a liquid concentrate with a diluent. Mixing devices are known for speedier preparation of such beverages by mixing the soluble component with the diluent, such as water. These devices typically comprise a mixing 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 component in the hot water or the hot diluent can be introduced under the form of jets that provides mixing, dissolving and frothing. The mixture is then usually frothed by a rotor in a whipping chamber to reconstitute the beverage and produce foam. The beverage is then usually evacuated from the whipping chamber through the bottom of the chamber and dispensed into a receptacle for drinking. Such a device is illustrated for example in WO 2013/149942.

Such devices of the prior art are configured for mixing beverage ingredient in the form of powder or concentrate with diluent. Yet beverage ingredient powder exists under the shape of pellets also. These pellets are issued from the compression of the powder. This form of beverage ingredients presents several advantages like taking less volume during storage, being easier to dose, limiting creation of fines and so dirtiness.

In the past US2552856 has proposed a crushing disc to break the balls of coffee, cream or sugar in a mixing chamber. GB952687 has proposed a crushing member with grid-like members to disintegrate the soluble beverage pellet. Then the disintegrated pellets and water are introduced in a cup to produce the beverage. In both cases the pellets are stored in piles or columns and, for this reason each dispenser presents an important volume for pellets storage, on particular according to the vertical orientation.

The object of the present invention is to propose a beverage dispenser able to produce beverages from beverage ingredients pellets comprising a compact device for storing pellet.

The object of the present invention is to propose a beverage dispenser able to produce beverages from beverage ingredients pellets comprising a device for storing pellets wherein the pellets are protected from mist and humidity during beverage preparation. Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect the invention concerns a beverage ingredient pellet distributor configured for being plugged in a receiving area of a beverage preparation machine, said receiving area being above a beverage preparation chamber of the machine and said receiving area being inclined with respect to horizontal, said distributor comprising :

- a storing ring with several cavities, each cavity being configured for holding a pellet and each cavity being opened at its top and at its lateral side facing the centre of the ring,

- a cover ring for covering the top and the internal lateral side of the storing ring and comprising a lateral side dispensing hole ,

- the cover ring and the storing ring being rotatably movable one to the other,

- the distributor comprising a positioning element configured for plugging the storing ring in the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber so that during the plugging operation no cavity is at the highest point, and once it is plugged the distributor being configured for being freely rotated inside the receiving area,

- the cover ring comprising a positioning and anchoring element configured for plugging the cover ring in the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber so that during the plugging operation the lateral side dispensing hole is at the highest point and avoiding the movement of said cover ring when the distributor is plugged at the top of the mixing chamber.

Preferably the space in the middle of the cover ring and the storing ring is empty. Due to this space the customer can handle the distributor more easily.

Preferably in the storing ring the cavities are equally distanced one from the other except two. According to this embodiment the storing ring the cavities can be equally distanced one from the other and one cavity can be full or absent.

Preferably in the cavities of the storing ring the openings at the top and at the lateral side are sufficiently large to enable a pellet to go through.

Preferably the bottom wall of the cavities is flat. So a pellet - and preferably a ball - can easily roll on the bottom wall of its cavity when said cavity is at the highest point of the receiving area. In general the bottom wall of the cavities presents a global slope when the distributor is positioned in the receiving area of the machine that enables a pellet to roll down to the mixing chamber. Usually the cavity bottom "retention slope" is designed with an angle smaller than the angle of inclination of the machine with respect to vertical.

The positioning element of the storing ring can comprise a slot, usually vertical, on its lateral side configured for cooperating with a stud rising from the lateral side of the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber. A visual indicator like an arrow or an index can also be present in order to help the consumer to orientate the distributor in the receiving area.

Preferably the storing ring presents a horizontal guiding slot along its lateral side configured for cooperating with at least one stud rising from the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber and guiding the storing ring during its rotation in the receiving area.

Preferably the distributor is able to rotate in only one direction. This feature avoids that the customer places an empty cavity in front of the lateral side dispensing hole of the cover ring. This embodiment can be implemented with a clicking freewheel between the bottom survey of the storing ring and the upper surface of the receiving area. In such an embodiment the bottom surface of the distributor can comprise several notches configured for cooperating with a stud erecting from the top surface of the receiving area of the machine, said stud being spring loaded and presenting :

- an inclined face enabling storing ring bottom surface to compress the spring during the rotation of the storing ring in one sense and

- a face blocking the stud in one notch during the rotation of the storing ring in one sense.

Preferably there is one notch per cavity.

According to the preferred embodiment the cover ring comprises a top refill hole and said top refill hole and the lateral side dispensing hole are positioned in the cover ring so that each of these both holes cooperate with a different cavity of the storing ring.

Preferably in the cover ring the top refill hole and the lateral side dispensing hole are positioned one to the other so that they face contiguous cavities in the storing ring.

The storing ring and the dispensing ring are movable one to the other. Preferably they can slide one relatively to the other.

Preferably the cover ring comprises a sliding door configured for either closing the lateral side dispensing hole or optionally the top refill hole of the cover ring. Usually the sliding door can be manually actuated.

Preferably the positioning and anchoring element of the cover ring comprises a vertical stud on its bottom side configured for cooperating with a notch in the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber. Due to this anchoring element the cover ring cannot move when the distributor is fixed in the machine.

Preferably the distributor of the present invention comprises pellets in the form of balls or pearls. Such a shape presents the advantage of easily rolling out of a cavity when the dispensing hole of the cover ring faces said cavity. Preferably the pellets are made from soluble powder beverage ingredient.

The soluble beverage ingredient can be an instant beverage powder like instant coffee, 3- in-1 powder, milk powder, instant tea, chocolate powder, soup powder. Pellets can be obtained by compression of powder.

According to a particular embodiment the distributor can be disposable. In that embodiment the cover ring can be devoid of a top refill hole and of a sliding door.

The distributor can be made of plastics or carton if disposable. Preferably the cover ring is made of a transparent material so that the customer can see if pellets are still present in the distributor. According to a second aspect the invention concerns a beverage preparation machine comprising a beverage preparation chamber and a receiving area for plugging the beverage ingredient pellet distributor such as described hereabove and wherein the upper surface of the receiving area receiving the bottom surface of the distributor is inclined with respect to horizontal.

The upper surface of the receiving area can be inclined according to an angle comprise between 10 and 40° with respect to horizontal.

According to one preferred mode the upper surface of the receiving area can be inclined because the top of beverage preparation chamber is inclined or because the whole beverage preparation machine is inclined.

According to one another mode only the upper surface of the receiving area is inclined in order to position the distributor inclined with respect to horizontal.

Preferably the machine comprises a mixing chamber for mixing at least one pellet with a liquid in order to prepare a beverage.

Preferably the receiving area is configured for plugging the beverage ingredient pellet distributor so that the space in the middle of the cover ring and the storing ring is above the top of the beverage preparation chamber.

Preferably the machine comprises a cover for closing the top of the beverage preparation chamber and said cover is configured for passing through the space in the middle of the rings.

Preferably the receiving area presents at least one opening so that the storing ring can be manually touched and rotated.

According to a particular mode the machine can comprise a motorized actuator to rotate the distributor automatically. According to a third aspect the invention concerns a system for preparing beverages comprising :

- a beverage ingredient pellet distributor such as described here above, and

- a machine such as described here above

wherein :

- when the distributor is plugged in the machine :

. the distributor is inclined with respect to horizontal,

. no cavity of the storing ring is at the highest point ,

. the lateral side dispensing hole of the cover ring is at the highest point,

- once the distributor is plugged, the storing ring is rotated to dispense pellets through the lateral side dispensing hole of the cover ring.

According to a fourth aspect the invention concerns a method for preparing a beverage from a system such as described hereabove comprising the steps of :

- rotating the storing ring in order to dispense at least one pellet in the beverage preparation chamber,

- introducing a diluent in the chamber through the space in the middle of the rings,

- optionally closing the cover, if the machine comprises a cover, and

- activating the beverage preparation.

The diluent is usually water, but other diluent like milk can be used. Water can be previously heated, for example in a kettle, or the beverage can be heated during its preparation.

The storing ring can be rotated manually or automatically for example by a motor.

In the present application the terms "bottom", "top", "upper", "lateral", "external", "internal", "horizontal" and "vertical" are used to describe the relational positioning of features of the invention. These terms should be understood to refer to the device in its normal orientation when positioned in the machine as shown for example in the Figures 9 to 15. Brief description of the drawings

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

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the distributor of the present invention,

- Figure 2 is the same view as Figure 1 wherein the cover ring has been made transparent,

- Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the storing ring,

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cover ring,

- Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views of the cover ring and the sliding door,

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of the machine of the present invention,

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the machine wherein the cover is opened,

- Figures 1 1 and 12 are perspective views of the receiving area in the machine,

- Figure 13 is a side view of the machine of Figures 1 1 and 12,

- Figure 14 is a side view of another embodiment of the machine of the present invention,

- Figure 15 illustrates the dosing of a pellet from the distributor.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a beverage ingredient pellet distributor 1 according to the invention. The distributor is configured for being plugged in a beverage preparation machine 2 as illustrated in Figure 9, more precisely in a receiving area 20 of said machine as illustrated in Figures 1 1 , 12 and 13. The receiving area 20 is positioned above a beverage preparation chamber 3. Consequently pellets dispensed from the distributor are directly received in the beverage preparation chamber 3 wherein the beverage can be prepared. The chamber 3 can be any type of chamber configured for preparing a beverage from pellets of beverage ingredients. Preferably the beverage ingredient is a soluble beverage ingredient and the chamber is a mixing chamber for mixing the pellet with a diluent, usually water.

In the present invention the area 20 for receiving the distributor is inclined with respect to horizontal as illustrated in Figure 13. In said figure the top of the beverage preparation machine (that is the cover) has been removed to show the inclination of the receiving area, in particular the top surface of the receiving area, with respect to horizontal according to the angle a. This angle can be comprised between 10 and 40°.

Due to this inclination, there is a highest point A in the receiving area with respect to vertical as illustrated in Figure 13 and 14. Any pellet distributed from point A directly falls in the opening of the chamber. The distributor 1 comprises a storing 1 1 , a cover ring 12, a sliding door 13 and is filled with pellets 4.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the storing ring 1 1. The storing ring 11 comprises several cavities 1 1 1 (9 cavities in this particular embodiment), each cavity being configured for holding a pellet 4. Each cavity 1 11 is opened at its top 1 1 1 a and at its lateral side 1 11 b that faces the centre of the ring. The top openings 1 11 a aim to introduce pellets in the storing ring during refilling of the distributor by the customer. The lateral openings 1 11 b aim to dispense pellets from the storing ring for the preparation of a beverage by the customer. Preferably in the storing ring 1 1 the cavities 1 1 1 are equally distanced one from the other except two. Consequently a space 1 14 in the ring does not comprise any cavity.

Figures 2 and 5 illustrate the cover ring 12. The cover ring 12 covers the top and the internal lateral side of the storing ring 1 1. Consequently the cover ring 12 covers the openings 1 1 1 a, 1 1 1 b of the cavities of the storing ring. Yet the cover ring 12 comprises one top refill hole 121 and one lateral side dispensing hole 122. These both holes are positioned in the cover ring 12 so that each of these holes cooperates with a different cavity 1 1 1 of the storing ring. Figure 5 shows how these openings 121 , 122 are positioned so they do not face the same cavity in the storing ring 1 1. In order to make the refill possible when the product dispenser is attached to the machine, the refill hole 121 must be positioned at a location "downstream" (with respect to the rotation direction) the dispensing hole 122. If it was located "upstream" (with respect to the rotation direction), then the refill operation would release balls to the mixing chamber as they are introduced through the refill hole 122. If the refill hole 121 was located at the same angular location as the dispensing hole, then the balls would fall directly to the mixing chamber as well, during the refill operation.

That is why the refill hole 121 is positioned at the cavity position which is just after the dispensing hole, located at the top point of the dispensing module attached to the machine.

The cover ring 12 and the storing ring 1 1 are rotatably movable one to the other. This feature is essential for the use of the distributor either for filling it with pellets 4 of for dispensing the pellets in the chamber 3 as will be explained hereunder.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the distributor comprises a positioning element configured for plugging the storing ring 1 1 in the receiving area 20. This positioning element of the storing ring is a vertical slot 1 12 on the lateral external side of the storing ring. The shape of this slot fits with one stud 21 rising from the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber as illustrated in Figure 11. The stud 21 and the slot 1 12 are positioned in the receiving area 20 and in the storing ring 11 respectively so that during the plugging operation no cavity 1 1 1 is vertically at the highest point of distributor. Preferably the stud 21 is positioned in the storing ring so that it is the space 1 14 of the storing ring that is devoid of any cavity which is positioned at said highest point. Due to this positioning element the attachment of the distributor to the receiving area is possible in one unique position only (with no product dose in front of the dispensing hole 122). This is the "zero" position, corresponding to either the plugging or removal of the distributor in or from the receiving area.

Once it is plugged in the receiving area 20 the distributor can freely rotate inside the receiving area. Actually the storing ring 1 1 presents a horizontal guiding slot 113 along its lateral external side configured for cooperating with at least one stud 22 rising from the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber and guiding the storing ring 1 1 during its rotation in the receiving area as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 12.

The cover ring 12 comprises an anchoring and positioning element 123 configured for positioning the cover ring in the receiving area 20 at the top of the mixing chamber too so that during the plugging operation the lateral side dispensing hole 122 is at the highest point. Consequently during the plugging operation the dispensing hole 122 in the lateral side of the cover ring faces the space 1 14 of the storing ring 1 1 between two cavities 1 1 1. So during this operation no pellet 4 can fall from the storing ring 1 1. The customer can safely plug the distributor in the machine. Moreover the anchoring and positioning element 123 prevents the movement of the cover ring 12 when the distributor is plugged in the receiving area. Consequently the lateral side dispensing hole 122 of the cover ring is always at the highest point of the distributor. Since the storing ring 11 can be freely rotated in the distributor, the cavities can successively be placed at the highest point of the distributor in front of the lateral side dispensing hole 122. In this position the pellet 4 falls in the middle space 14 of the rings an in the beverage preparation chamber 3. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 the anchoring element 123 of the cover ring can be a vertical stud on its bottom side configured for cooperating with a notch 23 in the receiving area at the top of the mixing chamber. Moreover the storing ring 1 1 can freely slide under the fixed storing ring 12. In the illustrated embodiment the cover ring 12 is simply snap fitted on the storing ring by means of two retention members 126 (Figures 5, 6) cooperating with the internal annular bottom 1 16 of the storing ring.

The cover ring 2 comprises a sliding door 13 as illustrated in Figures 1 , 2, 6, 7 and 8.

This door is configured for either closing the top refill hole 121 or the lateral side dispensing hole 122 of the cover ring. This door is snapped to the cover ring 2 but remains slidable over the cover ring by means of :

- an upper hook 131 sliding in a groove 125 at the top of the external side surface of the cover ring (illustrated in Figure 8),

- at least one lower hook 132 sliding in a slot 124 in the lateral or bottom surface of the cover ring (illustrated in Figure 5).

When all the pellets have been dispensed from the distributor 1 , the empty distributor can be refilled as follows. The customer can slide the sliding door 13 so that said door closes the lateral side dispensing hole 122 of the cover ring and then he/she can rotate the storing ring 1 1 in the cover ring 12 so that successively each cavity 1 11 is positioned under the refill hole 121 : each time the customer can introduce a pellet inside the cavity. There is no risk that a pellet falls from a cavity since the lateral side dispensing hole 122 of the cover ring is closed by the door 13. When all the cavities are filled, the customer can slide the door 13 so that it closes the refill hole121 of the cover ring and opens the dispensing hole.

If the customer has removed the distributor 1 from the machine during the refilling operation, he can introduce the distributor 1 in the receiving area 20 of the machine again before sliding the slidable door 13. He/she is induced to position the distributor so that no cavity 1 1 1 is at the highest point. So no pellet can fall in the chamber 3. Once the distributor 1 is positioned in the receiving area 20 the customer can move the sliding door 13 so that it does not close the lateral side dispensing hole 122 of the cover ring any longer and he/she can rotate the storing ring 1 1 to move a cavity 1 11 at the highest point of the distributor in front of the lateral side dispensing hole 122 through which the pellet falls. The sliding door 13 closes the refill hole of the cover ring and protects the cavities 1 1 1 rotating under the door from mist and humidity rising from the beverage preparation chamber 3.

Usually the storing ring 11 is manually rotated. Yet a motorised actuator could be used too to rotate it. The customer can be free to introduce one or more pellets in the chamber 3 depending on the strength or volume of beverage to be prepared.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the space 14 in the middle of the distributor 1 that is in the middle of the cover ring 1 1 and the storing ring 12 is empty. Consequently as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 a cover 5 of the beverage preparation machine can be introduced through this space 14 to close the top of the beverage preparation chamber during beverage preparation.

Figures 11 , 12 and 13 are views of the machine 2 from which the cover and the distributor have been removed to show the receiving area 20 and its features 21 , 22, 23 for cooperating with the distributor as explained hereabove. The upper surface 201 of the receiving area receiving the bottom surface of the distributor is inclined with respect to horizontal according to angle a. This inclination can be due to a particular orientation of the main body 25 of the machine. For example the machine 12 illustrated in Figure 13 presents a body 25 that is inclined with respect to vertical and for this reason present an upper surface 201 inclined with respect to horizontal. According to another embodiment the upper surface 201 of the receiving area receiving the bottom surface of the distributor can be specifically designed to present this inclination in order to be able to dispense pellets from the distributor. Figure 14 illustrates a machine presenting a current vertical orientation of the body 25. In order to be able to place the distributor 1 in the machine so that each cavity 1 1 1 can successively be positioned at a highest point A to dispense its pellet, the receiving area 20 is configured so that its upper surface 201 is inclined with respect to vertical according to an angle a.

Figure 15 illustrates the dosing of a pellet from the distributor. Step 1 ) presents the distributor 1 fully refilled with pellets and having been just positioned in the machine 2. The cover ring 12 is transparent. The sliding door 13 closes the refill opening. In step 2) the storing ring 1 1 is rotated while the cover ring 12 doesn't move ; so a cavity 1 1 1 and its pellet 4 are rotated at the highest position A of the distributor in front of the dispensing hole 122. When the cavity 1 11 faces said dispensing hole 122, the pellet 4 is free to fall in the beverage preparation chamber 3 and due to the inclination of the distributor the pellet rolls out of the cavity 1 1 1 down to the beverage preparation chamber. The operation is repeated for introducing a new pellet in the chamber. Dosing after dosing the space 1 14 of the storing ring without cavity rotates until it comes back at the highest point A. Although the illustrated embodiments describe a dispensing ring comprising a refill hole, the present invention covers distributors devoid of refill hole in the dispensing ring. The operation for plugging and dispensing pellets from the distributor are identical to the operations described in the illustrated embodiment. The refill function through the top of the distributor is not possible, yet the refill operation can be done if the customer detaches the distributor from the receiving area and slides the rings so that the dispensing hole faces one of the cavities in order to be able to introduce a pellet in the cavity. This operation can be repeated until the storing ring cavities are full and the dispensing hole does not face any cavity and so that the distributor can be plugged in the receiving area again. Of course this last embodiment is less friendly for the user.

An advantage of the system of the present invention is that it proposes a compact pellets distributor for cooperating with the mixing chamber of a beverage preparation machine.

Another advantage is that the pellets remain safe from mist and humidity in the distributor while they are not dispensed.