BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE WITH SIMPLE ERGONOMIC OPENING-CLOSURE

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) •a beverage processing unit (10,20) having a first and a second parts (10, 20) that are movable one relative to the other from a distant to a proximate relative position to form an ingredient mixing seat (11); and •a dampening device being: •operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts (10, 20) moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts (10, 20) are at a relative position that is close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions; and •inoperative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts (10, 20) moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts (10, 20) are at a relative position that is remote from the first and second relative positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention pertains to beverage preparation machines which uses thermally conditioned liquid, such as heated and/or cooled liquid. The liquid is typically water or water-based. The machine may be configured to prepare the beverage by passing the liquid through an ingredient of the beverage to be prepared, such as at least one of coffee, tea, cacao, milk, sugar and/or soup ingredient. The ingredient may be supplied within a capsule into the machine. For instance, the liquid is mixed with the ingredient contained in the capsule by centrifuging the capsule while the liquid is passed through the capsule.

For the purpose of the present description, a “beverage” is meant to include any human-consumable liquid substance, such as tea, coffee, hot or cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc . . . . A “capsule” is meant to include any container such as a packaging for containing a pre-portioned beverage ingredient, e.g. a flavouring ingredient, the packaging forming an enclosure of any material, in particular an airtight or pervious material, porous or non-porous material, e.g. plastic, aluminium, paper, recyclable and/or biodegradable packagings, and of any shape and structure, including soft pods or rigid cartridges for containing the ingredient.

BACKGROUND ART

Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or to be dissolved and/or ingredients that are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or else are added at the time of preparation of the drink. Some beverage machines possess filling means that include a pump for liquid, usually water, which pumps the liquid from a source of water that is cold or indeed heated through heating means, e.g. a thermoblock or the like.

Especially in the field of coffee preparation, machines have been widely developed in which a capsule containing beverage ingredients is inserted in a brewing device. The brewing device is tightly closed about the capsule, water is injected at the first face of the capsule, the beverage is produced in the closed volume of the capsule and a brewed beverage can be drained from a second face of the capsule and collected into a receptacle such as a cup or glass.

The preparation of a beverage by using centrifugation is known. Such beverage preparation includes: providing a beverage (flavoring) ingredient, e.g. as powder and/or leaves, in a capsule; circulating liquid into the capsule and rotating the capsule at sufficient speed to ensure interaction of the liquid with the ingredient while creating a gradient of pressure of liquid in the capsule. Such pressure increases gradually from the center towards the periphery of the capsule. As liquid traverses the ingredient, e.g. coffee bed, extraction of the ingredient, e.g. coffee compounds, takes place and a liquid extract is obtained that flows out at the periphery of the capsule. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO2008/148601, WO 2013/007776, WO 2013/007779 and WO 2013/007780.

Certain beverage ingredients, such as roast and ground coffee or tea, must be brewed with a heated liquid, e.g., hot water, within a particular range of temperature to ensure the full extraction of the ingredients including the capture of the desired aroma compounds. Therefore, the liquid supplied in the brewing unit cannot be overheated to compensate for the temperature losses endured by the liquid after extraction as it would negatively affect the quality of extraction. The range of temperatures for an optimal brewing such as for coffee or tea must be so respected for ensuring the best quality of the final beverage. Furthermore, other quality characteristics of the coffee beverage must be preserved during preparation such as the head of foam called “crema”. It is already known from EP 2393404 to compensate for a temperature loss in a device as described above by using additional heating elements, but these devices are very complex. Advantageous systems to manage the temperatures of the liquid before mixing it with the beverage flavouring ingredient and of the resulting beverage are disclosed in WO 2010/089329, WO 2014/090850 and WO 2020/201469.

Further beverage preparation machines are disclosed in WO 2009/043630 and WO 2011/042401 which disclose semi-automatic opening or closure arrangements for brewing units. The latter publication discloses that the semi-automatic arrangement can be associated with a movement dampener, for example in the form of inertia dampeners, friction dampeners, hydraulic dampeners, air dampeners, magnetic dampeners, in particular spur gears.

There is still a need to provide an economic and/or ergonomic beverage machine with a mixing arrangement and/or improve the reliability of the capsule removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a machine for preparing a beverage from an ingredient. The beverage preparation machine can be an in-home or out of home machine. The machine may be for the preparation of coffee, tea, chocolate, cacao, milk, soup, baby food, etc . . . .

The beverage preparation typically includes the mixing of a plurality of beverage ingredients, e.g. water and milk powder, and/or the infusion of a beverage ingredient, such as an infusion of ground coffee or tea with water. One or more of such ingredients may be supplied in loose and/or agglomerate powder form and/or in liquid form, in particular in a concentrate form. A carrier or diluent liquid, e.g. water, may be mixed with such ingredient to form the beverage. Typically, a predetermined amount of beverage is formed and dispensed on user-request, which corresponds to a portion (e.g. a serving). The volume of such a serving may be in the range of 15 to 1000 ml such as 25 to 600 ml for instance 40 to 250 ml, e.g. the volume for filling a cup or mug, depending on the type of beverage. Formed and dispensed beverages may be selected from ristrettos, espressos, lungos, cappuccinos, café latte, americano coffees, teas, etc . . . . For example, a coffee machine may be configured for dispensing espressos, e.g. an adjustable volume of 20 to 60 ml per serving, and/or for dispensing lungos, e.g. a volume in the range of 70 to 200 ml per serving, and/or for dispensing americanos, e.g. a volume in the range of 150 to 750 ml.

The ingredient may be supplied into and processed in such machine within in a capsule, e.g. provided with a flange. Such capsule may be of the type described above under the title “Field of the Invention” and/or the capsule may include an ingredient described under the same title. Examples of suitable capsules are disclosed in WO 2008/148601, WO 2008/148604, WO 2008/148646, WO 2008/148650, WO 2008/148656, WO 2008/148834, WO 2011/141532, WO 2011/141535, WO 2013/072239, WO 2013/072297, WO 2013/072326, WO 2015/044400. The capsule may be of the variety commercialised by Nespresso under the brand Vertuo.

The capsule can comprise a capsule body. The capsule body may be symmetric or asymmetric, conical or frusto-conical, pyramidal or frusto-pyramidal, cylindrical or prismatic, spherical or hemispherical or frusto-spherical, domical or frusto-domical. The capsule body may contain the ingredient, e.g. ground coffee, tea or cacao or another beverage ingredient.

The capsule can have a circular peripheral annulus flange, e.g. a flexible or rigid flange, extending from a peripheral part, e.g. an edge or face, of the capsule body.

The machine is configured for preparing a beverage from a flavouring ingredient by mixing water with the flavouring ingredient, e.g. by centrifugally driving such flavouring ingredient with the water.

The machine has a beverage processing unit that includes a first part and a second part that are movable one relative to the other from a distant relative position to a proximate relative position. The first and second parts form in the proximate position an ingredient mixing seat for mixing the ingredient with water and in the distant relative position a passage for insertion of the ingredient into the mixing seat and/or removal of the ingredient from the mixing seat, e.g. upon use.

The machine has a dampening device associated with the processing unit and configured for dampening a relative movement of the first and second parts when moving one relative to the other.

The first part and the second part can be movable in translation and/or in rotation, e.g. about a rotation axis, one relative to the other from a distant relative position to a proximate relative position.

The dampening device is operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts are at a relative position that is close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions.

By providing such a dampening arrangement it is possible to relatively move the first and second parts between their proximate and distant positions quickly, e.g. by using an automatic or semi-automatic actuator typically as discussed below, and still avoid excessive end-of-movement shocks, especially shocks that would damage the machine and/or cause significant vibrations through the machine, e.g. vibrations of a magnitude suitable to displace the entire machine and/or interfere with the ingredient handling, e.g. with a removal of an ingredient capsule from the mixing seat.

The first and the second parts may each have a weight that is a fraction of a total weight of such machine, the fraction being in the range of 5 to 95%, for instance 10 to 90%, such as 15 to 85%, e.g. 20 to 80%.

The dampening device is inoperative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts are at a relative position that is remote from the first and second relative positions.

The first and second parts moving one relative to the other may be close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is closer to said at least one distant and proximate relative positions than 10% of a spacing, e.g. a distance spacing and/or an angular spacing, extending from the distant to the proximate relative positions, such as closer than 5% of the spacing, for instance closer than 2.5% of the spacing, e.g. closer than 1% of the spacing.

The distance spacing can in the range of 1.5 to 7 cm, such 2 to 5 cm.

The angular spacing may be in the range of 20 to 95 deg, such as 30 to 60 deg.

The first and second parts moving one relative to the other may be remote from at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is different to their relative close position.

The dampening device can be operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts when the first and second parts are at a relative position that is close to either the distant relative position or the proximate relative position or to any of the distant and proximate relative positions.

The processing unit may include an automatic or semi-automatic actuator configured to move by urging one part relative to the other part into at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions, in which relative position the dampening device is operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts. For instance, the automatic or semi-automatic actuator is configured to urge the first and second parts into the distant relative position in which the dampening device is operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts.

The automatic or semi-automatic actuator may have at least one of: an electric actuator, e.g. a motor; a pneumatic actuator, e.g. a pneumatic semi-automatic return actuator; and a spring actuator, for instance a return spring actuator, optionally a spring actuator having a blade, torsion, spiral and/or helicoidal spring. For instance, the helicoidal spring has a first end associated with the first part and a second end associated with the second part, e.g. first and/or second ends being allowed to flex or not flex. The actuator may include several such springs e.g. a pair of springs, for instance side-by-side springs.

The dampening device can form an end-of-movement bumper that is stressed, e.g. compressed or stretched or flexed, when the first and second parts reach at least one of their distant and proximate relative positions.

The dampening device may include at least one of: a resilient member, such as a spring or rubber or rubber-like member; a magnetic device; a hydraulic device; and a friction device.

The dampening device can be stationary or mobile relative to one part of the first and second parts, such as directly or indirectly fixed thereto, the other part of the first and second parts may include a member, e.g. a rigid member, that contacts and stresses, e.g. compresses or stretches or flexes, the dampening device when the dampening device is operative to dampen.

The dampening device may have a recess and at least one of the first and second parts may have a member including a protruding part, and or vice-versa, the protruding part entering the recess and contacting the dampening device so as to stress, e.g. compress or stretch or flex, the dampening device when the dampening device is operative to dampen.

The machine can have a foot configured to rest and be stationary on an external support surface, such as a table top or shelf top surface or cabinet top, during beverage preparation, the processing unit and the dampening device being directly or indirectly mounted to the foot. The foot may be fixed to or integral with an outside machine housing and/or with a machine frame.

One part of the first and second parts can be stationary or movable relative to the foot and the other part of the first and second parts can be movable relative to the foot when moving one part relative to the other part.

The dampening device may be movable or stationary relative to one or more of the foot, the first and second parts.

The first and second parts can be both movable relative to the dampening device, the dampening device being movable or stationary relative to foot, when moving one part of the first and second parts relative to the other part.

The dampening device may be stationary relative to one part of the first and second parts, the dampening device being movable or stationary relative to the foot, when moving one part of the first and second parts relative to the other part.

The first part can have a cavity and the second part can have a cover, the cavity and the cover delimiting the seat in the proximate relative position.

Examples of such seats and covers are for instance disclosed in WO2014/096122, WO2014/096123 and WO2020/201469.

The processing unit may have a water feed conduit for feeding said water into the seat and a beverage outlet passage for passing the beverage out of the seat. For example one part of the processing unit, e.g. the second part, having both and/or delimiting both water feed conduit and beverage outlet passage.

The seat may be configured to house the flavouring ingredient supplied within a capsule, for instance a capsule of the type described above and/or provided with a flange.

The beverage processing unit may have at least one capsule inlet piercing element, e.g. a central piercing element, associated with the water feed conduit. For instance, the conduit is delimited by the piercing element, e.g. extending inside the piercing element.

The beverage processing unit can include one or more capsule outlet piercing elements, e.g. a series of spaced apart peripheral piercing elements, associated with the beverage outlet passage. The beverage outlet passage may extend adjacently to the outlet piercing element (s).

The beverage processing unit may be fitted with a capsule transfer device for inserting a capsule the seat and/or removing a capsule from the seat. The capsule transfer device can be associated with a guide for guiding the capsule to and/or from the seat, such as a pair of slides configured to guide the abovementioned flange of the capsule.

Examples of suitable transfer devices are disclosed in WO2012041605, WO 2017/046294 and WO 2017/202746.

The machine may include a fluid line extending from a source of water, e.g. a water tank, to a beverage outlet.

Examples of water tanks are known from the coffee maker Vertuo Next or from WO 2011/083103, WO 2011/089210 and WO 2017/081055.

Such beverage outlet can be located above a beverage dispensing area for receiving a user-recipient, e.g. a mug or a cup, to be filled with beverage. For example, the beverage dispensing area is delimited by a recipient support and/or an outside machine housing.

The fluid line may include at least one of: a pump for driving the water from the water source to the seat; and a thermal conditioner such as a heater and/or cooler for thermally conditioning water to be supplied into the seat.

Examples of pumps and their incorporation into beverage machines are disclosed in WO 2009/150030, WO 2010/108700, WO 2011/107574 and WO 2013/098173.

Examples of thermal conditioners can be found in EP 1 253 844, EP 1 380 243 and EP 1 809 151, WO 2010/089329, WO 2014/090850 and WO 2020/201469.

The machine can have a removable ingredient container, such as a waste ingredient collector or a flavouring ingredient supplier. The ingredient container may have an upper compartment for containing sold ingredient and a lower compartment for containing liquid.

Examples of such containers are also known from the coffee maker Vertuo Next or from WO 2009/074559.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1to5, in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a machine1and elements thereof in accordance with the invention.

Machine1is configured for preparing a beverage3from a flavouring ingredient2, e.g. coffee or tea or chocolate or cacao or milk or soup, by mixing water4with ingredient2, for example by centrifugally driving such ingredient2with water4.

Machine1includes a beverage processing unit10,20having a first part10and a second part20that are movable one relative to the other from a distant relative position (FIGS.4,4aand5) to a proximate relative position (FIGS.1and1a). First and second parts10,20form in the proximate position an ingredient mixing seat11for mixing ingredient2with water4and in the distant relative position a passage5for insertion of ingredient2into mixing seat11and/or removal of ingredient2from mixing seat11.

Machine1has a dampening device30(FIG.3) associated with processing unit10,20and configured for dampening a relative movement of first and second parts10,20when moving one relative to the other.

First part10and second part20may be movable one relative to the other in translation and/or in rotation, e.g. about a rotation axis20′, from a distant relative position to a proximate relative position.

Dampening device30is operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts10,20moving one relative to the other when first and second parts10,20are at a relative position that is close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions.

Dampening device30is inoperative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts10,20moving one relative to the other when first and second parts10,20are at a relative position that is remote from the first and second relative positions.

For instance, first and second parts10,20each have a weight that is a fraction of a total weight of such machine1, the fraction being in the range of 5 to 95%, for example 10 to 90%, such as 15 to 85%, e.g. 20 to 80%.

First and second parts10,20moving one relative to the other may be considered to be close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is closer to such at least one distant and proximate relative positions than 10% of a spacing, e.g. a distance spacing and/or an angular spacing, extending from the distant relative position to the proximate relative position, such as closer than 5% of the spacing, for instance closer than 2.5% of the spacing, e.g. closer than 1% of the spacing.

First and second parts10,20moving one relative to the other may be considered remote from at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is different to their relative close position.

Dampening device30can be operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts10,20when first and second parts10,20are at a relative position that is close to either the distant relative position or the proximate relative position or to any of the distant and proximate relative positions.

Processing unit10,20may include an automatic or semi-automatic actuator35(FIGS.2and4) configured to move by urging one part20relative to the other part10into at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions, in which relative position dampening device30is operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts10,20. Automatic or semi-automatic actuator35can be configured to urge first and second parts10,20into the distant relative position in which dampening device30is operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts10,20.

Automatic or semi-automatic actuator35can include at least one of: an electric actuator, e.g. a motor; a pneumatic actuator, e.g. a pneumatic semi-automatic return actuator; and a spring actuator35, for instance a return spring actuator35. Such spring actuator35may have a blade, torsion, spiral and/or helicoidal spring35, such as a spring35having a first end36associated with first part10and a second end37associated with second part20.

Dampening device30may form an end-of-movement bumper that is stressed, e.g. compressed or stretched or flexed, when first and second parts10,20reach at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions.

Dampening device30can include at least one of: a resilient member, such as a spring or rubber or rubber-like member; a magnetic device; a hydraulic device; and a friction device.

Dampening device30may be stationary or mobile relative to one part10of first and second parts10,20, such as directly or indirectly fixed thereto, the other part20of first and second parts10,20having a member21, e.g. a rigid member, that contacts and stresses, e.g. compresses or stretches or flexes, dampening device30when dampening device30is operative to dampen.

Dampening device30may include a recess31and at least one of first and second parts10,20may include a member21having a protruding part21′, and or vice-versa. Protruding part21′ may enter the recess31and contact dampening device30so as to stress, e.g. compress or stretch or flex, dampening device30when dampening device30is operative to dampen.

Machine can have a foot1′ configured to rest and be stationary on an external support surface, such as a table top or shelf top surface or cabinet top, during beverage preparation, processing unit10,20and dampening device30being directly or indirectly mounted to foot1′, such as a foot1′ fixed to or integral with an outside machine housing1″ and/or with a machine frame1′″.

One part10of the first and second parts10,20can be stationary or movable relative to foot1′ and the other part20of first and second parts10,20can be movable relative to the foot1′ when moving one part20relative to the other part10.

Dampening device may be movable or stationary relative to one or more of foot1′, first and second parts10,20.

The first and second parts can be both movable relative to the dampening device, the dampening device being movable or stationary relative to foot, when moving one part of the first and second parts relative to the other part.

Dampening device30may be stationary relative to one part10of first and second parts10,20, dampening device30being movable or stationary relative to foot1′, when moving one part20of first and second parts10,20relative to the other part10.

First part10can have a cavity12and second part20can have a cover22, cavity12and cover22delimiting seat11in the proximate relative position, processing unit10,20having a water feed conduit23for feeding water4into seat11and a beverage outlet passage24for passing beverage3out of seat11. For example, one part20of processing unit10,20, e.g. second part20, having both and/or delimiting both water feed conduit23and beverage outlet passage24.

Seat11may be configured to house flavouring ingredient2supplied within a capsule2′, e.g. provided with a flange2″.

Beverage processing unit10,20can have at least one capsule inlet piercing element23′, e.g. a central piercing element23′, associated with water feed conduit23. Conduit23may be delimited by piercing element23′, e.g. conduit23extending inside piercing element23′;

Beverage processing unit10,20may include one or more capsule outlet piercing elements24′, e.g. a series of spaced apart peripheral piercing elements24′, associated with beverage outlet passage24. Beverage outlet passage24may extend adjacently to outlet piercing element(s)24′

Beverage processing unit10,20can be fitted with a capsule transfer device25for inserting a capsule2′ into seat11and/or removing a capsule2′ from seat11. Capsule transfer device25may be associated with a guide for guiding capsule2′ to and/or from seat11, such as a pair of slides configured to guide capsule flange2″.

Machine1may include a fluid line13,23,24,40extending from a source of water40, e.g. a water tank, to a beverage outlet13. Such outlet13can be located above a beverage dispensing area14for receiving a user-recipient to be filled with beverage3. Beverage dispensing area14may be delimited by a recipient support15and/or an outside machine housing1″.

Fluid line may incorporate at least one of: a pump16for driving water4from source of water40to seat11; and a thermal conditioner25such as a heater and/or cooler for thermally conditioning water4to be supplied into seat11.

Machine1can have a removable ingredient container16, such as a waste ingredient collector16or a flavouring ingredient supplier.