Adapter for beverage preparation machines, particularly for making espresso coffee

An adapter for machines for preparing beverages, particularly espresso coffee, comprising a supporting element which can be associated with water dispensing means and a cartridge holder associated with the supporting element, the cartridge holder comprising a plurality of receptacles for respective cartridges for infusions or the like and being movable, with respect to the supporting element, from a position for dispensing the infusion to a position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges, the supporting element being further provided with a front opening for moving the cartridge holder from the position for dispensing the infusion to the position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges and vice versa, at least one guide being provided for the translational motion of the cartridge holder with respect to the supporting element between two intermediate positions which are comprised between the loading and/or unloading position and the infusion dispensing position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adapter for beverage preparation machines, particularly for preparing espresso coffee.

BACKGROUND

Adapters for machines for preparing beverages such as espresso coffee are known which comprise generically a supporting element, which is adapted to be connected to the beverage preparation machine, and on which a cartridge holder is mounted which is adapted to contain the cartridge or cartridges through which hot water, dispensed by the machine, is filtered under pressure, in order to obtain the beverage or infusion.

From the functional point of view, the cartridge holder is associated with the supporting element in order to allow the operations for loading and/or unloading the cartridges, as well as the arrangement of the cartridge holder in an active position for providing the infusion and in an inactive position to allow the operations for cleaning the adapter.

Aside from the fact of providing one or more cartridges, these conventional adapters are not devoid of drawbacks, which include the fact that the movement of the cartridge holder with respect to the supporting element, in order to perform the functions described previously, is entrusted to complicated kinematic systems that make the adapter structurally complex and expensive as well.

Another drawback of conventional adapters is in the fact that, in order to perform the operations for loading and/or unloading the cartridges and for cleaning, complete extraction of the cartridge holder from the supporting element is not provided.

In fact, this extraction typically can be achieved only by disassembling, where possible and with difficulty on the part of the average user, the cartridge holder from the supporting element.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The aim of the present invention is to provide an adapter for beverage preparation machines, particularly for preparing espresso coffee, that is structurally simple and easy to use on the part of the user for the operations for loading and/or unloading the cartridges, for the operations for providing the infusion, and for performing the operations for cleaning the adapter.

Within this aim, the invention provides an adapter for beverage preparation machines wherein the cartridge holder can be extracted easily in order to perform the operations for cleaning the adapter.

The invention further provides a multi-cartridge adapter for beverage preparation machines that provides for the use of even a single cartridge in order to prepare the infusion.

More particularly, the invention provides an adapter for beverage preparation machines, particularly for preparing espresso coffee, comprising a supporting element which can be associated with water dispensing means and a cartridge holder associated with said supporting element, the cartridge holder comprising a plurality of receptacles for respective cartridges for infusions or the like and being movable with respect to said supporting element from a position for dispensing the infusion to a position for loading and/or unloading said cartridges, the supporting element being provided with a front opening for moving said cartridge holder from said position for dispensing the infusion to said position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges and vice versa, the adapter being characterized in that it comprises at least one guide for the translational motion of the cartridge holder with respect to the supporting element, said at least one guide comprising a first straight portion which is adapted to allow a sliding of the cartridge holder with respect to the supporting element between two intermediate positions comprised between said loading and/or unloading position and said infusion dispensing position, said at least one guide further comprising a second portion that branches off from a first end of said first portion, said first end being adjacent to the front opening of the supporting element, the second portion being inclined with respect to the first portion away from the cartridge holder and comprising a first stroke limiter, which is adapted to stop the cartridge holder with respect to the supporting element in said position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, the adapter for beverage preparation machines, particularly for preparing espresso coffee, generally designated by the reference numeral1, comprises a supporting element2, which can be associated with water dispensing means of a beverage preparation machine such as, for example, for preparing espresso coffee, and a cartridge holder4, which is associated with the supporting element2. In machines for preparing espresso coffee, as is known, the water dispensing means are capable of dispensing hot water under pressure, typically water at a temperature of approximately 90±2° C. and a pressure of 6-9 bar.

In greater detail, the supporting element2is constituted by a hollow body shaped substantially like a parallelepiped, which has, respectively at a lateral face thereof and at its lower face, a front opening5and a lower opening6, for moving the cartridge holder4.

At its upper face, the supporting element2can engage a traditional machine for preparing espresso coffee, not shown, by means of a standard coupling7of the bayonet type. Machines for preparing espresso coffee, as is known, have at least one coupling of the bayonet type at least one point for dispensing the hot water under pressure, in order to fix a respective filter basket holder that contains a dose or a cartridge of ground coffee.

The standard coupling7of the adapter1is shaped identically to the similar coupling used in traditional filter basket holders, i.e., such as to engage a machine for preparing espresso coffee at the means for dispensing hot water under pressure. In this way, the adapter1replaces the traditional filter basket holders and is thus perfectly compatible with existing machines for preparing espresso coffee, without requiring them to be modified in order to use the invention.

In greater detail, the standard coupling7can engage the corresponding coupling on the machine for preparing espresso coffee so that the dispensing means, once engagement has occurred, communicate with a spreading disc8, which is arranged between the upper face of the supporting element2and the standard coupling7, said disc8having the function of dividing the main water jet dispensed by the dispensing means into two distinct secondary water jets.

The spreading disc8has a channel system9which merges into two holes9a, one for each cartridge10, for the passage of the water50dispensed by the dispensing means, as described hereinafter, inside the cartridges10.

The choice to have two distinct secondary water jets is due to the fact that the illustrated adapter1is of the two-cartridge type and it is necessary to define a respective water jet for each cartridge10.

In a possible variation of the adapter1with more than two cartridges, the spreading disc8is shaped so as to divide the main water jet into a plurality of secondary jets, one for each cartridge10provided.

A closing plate11is fixed to the supporting element2, at its lower opening6, and delimits in a downward region the internal cavity of the supporting element2.

In order to allow the infusion to be dispensed into two cups arranged below the adapter1, the closing plate11has an opening12, which is arranged at the region in which the infusion is dispensed.

The cartridge holder4is provided by a substantially prism-shaped body the dimensions of which are such that it can be accommodated inside the supporting element2.

More precisely, the cartridge holder4can be inserted in the supporting element2through the front opening5of said supporting element2and can move, with respect to the latter, from an infusion dispensing position to a position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges10and vice versa, passing through two intermediate positions.

According to the invention, the adapter1comprises at least one guide13for the translational motion of the cartridge holder4with respect to the supporting element2.

Advantageously, in the supporting element2there are two guides13which are arranged laterally with respect to the front opening5of the supporting element2and two sliders14which are defined on the cartridge holder4at the sides of the latter that face the sides of the supporting element2where the guides13are arranged.

In a possible variation of the adapter1, not shown, the guides13and the sliders14can be kinematically reversed, i.e., they can be defined, respectively, on the cartridge holder4and on the supporting element2.

Reverting to the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the guides13are defined in an upward region by adapted inner profiles of the lateral shoulders of the supporting element and, in a downward region, by two lateral elements15, each of which is fixed inside the supporting element2at said lateral shoulders.

More precisely, this fixing occurs by inserting ribs16which are defined on the inner walls of the shoulders of the supporting element2in adapted slots17which are defined on the lateral elements15. The lateral elements15are thus locked against possible sliding motions by means of the closing plate11, which is fixed to the supporting element2, by means of screws which are screwed into adapted holes which are provided at the bases of the ribs16and pass through the lateral elements15.

Advantageously, each of the guides13comprises a first straight portion18, which is adapted to allow a sliding of the cartridge holder4, by way of the sliders14, with respect to the supporting element2, from the first intermediate position to the second one and vice versa.

Furthermore, each of the guides13comprises a second portion19, which branches off from a first end of the first portion18which is adjacent to the front opening5of the supporting element2, and is inclined with respect to the first portion18away from the cartridge holder4.

At the end of the second portion19there is a first stroke limiter20, which is adapted to stop the stroke of the cartridge holder4with respect to the supporting element2when the position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges10occurs, as shown inFIGS. 2-5.

In order to completely remove the cartridge holder4from the supporting element2, at the first end of the first portion18that is adjacent to the front opening5of the supporting element2, there is a guiding portion21which is inclined with respect to the first portion18away from the second portion19.

Advantageously, again at the first end of the first portion18and at the guiding portion21, there is a second stroke limiter22, which is adapted to define an abutment for the sliders14with which such sliders14can be used substantially as a fulcrum for the cartridge holder4in the rotary motion, indicated with the arrow60inFIG. 8, that leads to the complete separation of the cartridge holder4from the supporting element2.

At the second end of the first portion18, which lies substantially opposite to the first end of the first portion18and extends toward the upper surface of the supporting element2, i.e., toward the dispensing means, in order to guide the cartridge holder4toward said dispensing means, each of the guides13has a third portion23, which branches out substantially at right angles to the first portion18. The third portion23thus allows the vertical translational motion of the cartridge holder4with respect to the supporting element2toward the infusion dispensing position.

The movement of the cartridge holder4with respect to the supporting element2along the guides13is provided thanks to the presence of movement means24, which are adapted to move the cartridges10toward or away from the dispensing means.

In greater detail, the movement means24comprise a movement ring25, which is associated with the cartridge holder4by means of a cam which is integral with the ring25, which can produce the translational motion of the cartridge holder4along the rotation axis26of the movement ring25as a consequence of the relative rotation of the movement ring25with respect to the axis26.

According to a reference system which is integral with the supporting element2, the movement ring25can rotate about its own axis26and does not perform a translational motion.

The rotation of the movement ring25can be achieved manually by way of the presence of at least one handle27, which is fixed to the movement ring25and is adapted to rotate it with respect to the cartridge holder4.

As already mentioned, the adapter1is of the two-cartridge type. For this purpose, the cartridge holder4comprises a pair of receptacles28for respective cartridges10for infusions or the like. Obviously, there can be more than two receptacles, depending on the number of simultaneous extractions of beverages that one wishes to obtain. However, in machines for preparing espresso coffee, the preferred number of receptacles28is two in number.

Such receptacles28are defined on the upper part of the cartridge holder4which faces the dispensing means.

With particular reference to the first embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, on the inner part of the supporting element2which faces the upper part of the cartridge holder4there are first means30afor detecting the presence of the cartridges10in the receptacles28and first flow control means31afor respective ports32afor the flow of water toward the cartridges10.

Advantageously, the first detection means30aare associated with the first flow control means31ain order to clear or block the respective flow port32arespectively in the presence or in the absence of one of the cartridges10in the respective receptacle28.

In greater detail, there are two first hollow perforators33a, which are fixed to the supporting element2and define the respective flow ports32athrough which water50is injected into the cartridges10.

The first perforators33apenetrate in the respective cartridges10with the cartridge holder4arranged in the infusion dispensing position (FIG. 14).

More specifically, the first flow control means31aprovide two normally-closed valves, which operate independently of each other and can be opened in the presence of a respective cartridge10in its own receptacle28. Each valve is composed substantially of a flow control element34, which engages the respective flow port32aas a consequence of the action of first elastic means35, for example first helical springs.

As illustrated more clearly inFIGS. 15 and 16, for each first flow control means31athere are two stems36, which orthogonally protrude into the receptacles28and have, as first elastic means35, the respective first helical springs fitted coaxially over them. If the corresponding cartridge10is present, then when the cartridge holder4is moved closer to the dispensing means the cartridge10pushes the stems36toward the dispensing means, overcoming the action of the first elastic means35and clearing the flow port32afrom the flow control element34, which is translationally integral with the two stems36.

With reference to an alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in some details inFIGS. 17 to 21, there can be second detection means30binstead of the first detection means30a, while the structure that allows the cartridge holder4to be moved with respect to the supporting element2remains the same as in the first embodiment; in this regard, in the second embodiment ofFIGS. 17-21, identical reference numerals correspond to identical structures of the first embodiment inFIGS. 1-16.

The second detection means30bare associated with second flow control means31bin order to clear or block a respective port32bfor the flow of water respectively in the presence or in the absence of one of the cartridges10in the respective receptacle28.

More specifically, the second detection means30band the second flow control means31bdefine, for each of the receptacles28, a normally-open valve which closes owing to the pressure of the water50dispensed by the dispensing means and in the absence of a respective cartridge10from the receptacle28.

For each receptacle28there is a cylinder37, which slides axially along the axis26with respect to the supporting element2in a respective cylindrical sliding channel38, which is fixed with respect to the supporting element2. Such sliding occurs in opposition to second elastic means39, which are constituted for example by a second helical spring, which is fitted externally over the cylinder37and is interposed between a fixed part of the supporting element2and a flange40which is integral with the cylinder37and is grooved in an upward region. The purpose of the second elastic means39is to keep open the valve that results from the combination of the second detection means30band the second flow control means31b, both in the condition in which there is a cartridge10in the corresponding receptacle28, and also in the absence of water being dispensed in input and in the absence of a cartridge in the receptacle. This means that the valve remains open when a cartridge is inserted in the receptacle28and the cartridge holder4is brought to the infusion dispensing position, i.e., the valve is not opened by the cartridge.

Preferably, the second elastic means39are dimensioned so as to keep the flange40in abutment against an abutment wall41of the supporting element2, which is defined at the inlet holes51for the water50that arrives from the dispensing means.

Moreover, on the lower face of each cylinder37, on the opposite side with respect to the flange40, there is a perforator33b, which is adapted to penetrate in the cartridge10which is accommodated in the respective receptacle28with the cartridge holder4arranged in the infusion dispensing position.

The port32bfor the flow of water50is defined in each cylinder37. In greater detail, the flow port32bis provided by a T-shaped pipe, which has a first portion and a second portion at right angles to the first one. The first portion of the T-shaped pipe is coaxial to the respective perforator33band is open at the tip thereof in order to communicate with the cartridge10, while the second portion runs radially through the cylinder37from side to side in order to provide more inlets for the water50that arrives from the dispensing means.

In the presence of the respective cartridge10or in the absence of water50under pressure, the cylinder37, owing to the second elastic means39or to the presence of the cartridge10, is arranged in its upper position, with the flange40in abutment against the abutment wall41.

In this position, the ends of the radial portion of the flow port32blead into a connecting chamber42, which in turn is connected to the dispensing means by way of slots43which are defined on the face of the flange40that abuts against the abutment wall41.

In the absence of the respective cartridge10and owing to the pressure applied by the water50which is dispensed by the dispensing means, the cylinder37is moved into its lower stroke end position, shown inFIG. 21, in which the ends of the radial portion of the flow port32bare closed completely by the lateral walls of the sliding channel38, thus preventing the flow of water.

In the second embodiment of the adapter1there is moreover a thrust plate44, which thanks to the presence of third elastic means45, which comprise for example of a third helical spring interposed between the thrust plate44and a fixed part of the supporting element2, push the cartridge10that is accommodated in the respective receptacle28against the bottom of the receptacle28, so as to facilitate the removal of the cartridge10when the cartridge holder is moved from the infusion dispensing position to the second intermediate position.

As is apparent from the above description, operation of the adapter1for beverage preparation machines, particularly for preparing espresso coffee, is as follows.

With particular reference toFIGS. 2 to 5, starting from the position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges10of the cartridge holder4, at least one cartridge10is loaded by inserting it into one of the receptacles28.

In this position, the centre of gravity of the structure that comprises the cartridge holder4and the corresponding movement means24is located outside the supporting element2. Accordingly, the cartridge holder4tilts autonomously by gravity, since it is substantially hinged by means of the sliders14at the first stroke limiter20, and rests against the closing plate11with such an inclination as to direct the upper part, which defines the receptacles28, toward the user: thus the user has an excellent view for performing the operations for loading and/or unloading the cartridges10.

With particular reference toFIGS. 6 to 8, once at least one cartridge10has been loaded, the cartridge holder4is brought to the first intermediate position by rotating the handle27with respect to the axis of the sliders14, until a substantially horizontal orientation of the cartridge holder4is reached.

Subsequently, with particular reference toFIGS. 9 to 11, again by means of the handle27, the cartridge holder4is pushed inside the supporting element2, following the path defined by the first portion18of the guides13, up to the base of the third portion23.

Owing to the position and the shape of the third portion23with respect to the first portion18, the horizontal stroke of the cartridge holder4is stopped upon reaching the second intermediate position.

With particular reference toFIGS. 12 to 21, in order to reach the infusion dispensing position the handle27is rotated through approximately 45° so that the cam-like coupling between the movement ring25and the cartridge holder4converts the rotary motion of the movement ring25with respect to the cartridge holder4into a translational motion of the latter along the axis26in the direction of the dispensing means.

In the first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 12-16), during this translational motion the cartridges10, if present, are pushed against the stems36, which by overcoming the action of the first elastic means35move the flow control element34and clear the flow port32aof the respective perforator33a.

Once the end of the stroke of the stems36has been reached, the perforator33apenetrates in the respective cartridge10, thus providing a fluid connection between the cartridge10and the water dispensing means.

If the cartridge10is not present in the respective receptacle28, then the flow control element34remains engaged on the respective flow port32a.

In the second embodiment of the invention (some details of which are illustrated inFIGS. 17 to 21), the cartridges10, if present, are instead perforated by the perforator33band a fluid connection is provided between the cartridges10and the water dispensing means.

If the cartridge10is not present in the respective receptacle28, then the cylinder37is pushed into its sliding channel38owing to the pressure applied by the water50dispensed by the dispensing means away from the latter, closing the ends of the radial portion of the flow port32band thus preventing the flow of the water.

Regardless of the variation considered, once the infusion has been obtained, the cartridge holder4can be selectively returned to the position for loading and/or unloading the cartridges10simply by repeating the procedure described so far in reverse.

If it is necessary to completely remove the cartridge holder4from the supporting element2for maintenance, cleaning or other reasons, then starting from the first intermediate position the handle27is made to rotate upward with respect to the axis that passes through the sliders14, so that the sliders can be guided toward the guiding portion21and the entire body formed by the cartridge holder and the corresponding movement means24is removed from the supporting element2.

In practice it has been found that the adapter according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it allows the loading and unloading of the cartridges from the cartridge holder by means of a structure that is simple and easy to use.

Another advantage of the adapter according to the present invention comprises in that in addition to the operations for loading and/or unloading the cartridges, it makes it possible to easily perform the operations for providing the infusion and to perform the operations for maintenance or cleaning of the adapter thanks to the easy removability of the cartridge holder from the supporting element.

A further advantage of the adapter according to the present invention is that it is possible to use a plurality of cartridges at a time on traditional beverage preparation machines, without preventing the use of a single cartridge at a time.

The adapter thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. For example, the cartridges illustrated herein are of the rigid type, but the use of flexible cartridges with permeable enclosure, for example E.S.E (Espresso Serving System) cartridges, can be provided.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2010A000239 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.