MACHINE FOR PREPARING AND EXTRACTING A HOT BEVERAGE

A machine for preparing/extracting a hot beverage from a capsule includes a first fixed extraction unit associated with the frame and having a housing for the capsule and a perforator for perforating the capsule, to extract the beverage; a second movable extraction unit is movable to bring a capsule into the housing; the perforator includes a perforating punch, positioned fixed at a bottom of the housing, and partly protruding from the bottom; the punch includes a first apical portion to intercept and perforate a wall of the capsule at a deformation of the wall, due to the effect of pressurised fluid, towards the bottom of the housing and a second base portion having a bridge-shaped cross-section defining an opening passing towards a channel or chamber, positioned below the punch, configured for the controlled falling of the beverage coming out of the opening while the punch is inside the capsule.

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to a machine for preparing and extracting a hot beverage.

Background Art

The machine according to the invention is of the type using single capsules, preferably of the single-dose type, from which the hot beverage is extracted (such as coffee, tea, milk, camomile and similar beverages) by extracting the product with pressurised hot fluid.

The capsules used for this type of machine basically comprise a capsule body forming a chamber having a bottom and an opening of the capsule body delimited by an annular collar protruding transversally with respect to the body.

A dose of extraction product is housed in the chamber.

The opening of the capsule is sealed by a piece of film adherent to the annular collar.

The prior art machines using these capsules basically comprise:a load-bearing frame having an inlet opening for the capsule;a first fixed extraction unit positioned in the load-bearing frame and comprising a housing for the capsule and means for perforating and passage of the mixture, to obtain the extraction of the beverage, positioned on the bottom of the housing;a second movable extraction unit, positioned inside the frame, and movable inside the frame along a linear trajectory, in both directions, between a first non-operating end position away from the first fixed extraction unit (wherein the second movable extraction unit is positioned close to the inlet opening), and a second operating end position wherein the second movable extraction unit is moved towards the first fixed extraction unit in such a way as to move the capsule from an inlet position in the frame to a housing position in the first fixed unit for extracting the beverage by feeding a pressurised hot fluid.

Means for supporting the capsule are interposed between the movable extraction unit and the frame.

Usually, these supporting means may comprise a pair of protruding arms, positioned on both sides of the movable extraction unit, configured to retain the capsule entering (by falling) from the opening present on the frame. The pair of arms is configured to move along the frame synchronised with the movable extraction unit.

These arms can move between an operating position, with the ends of the arms positioned at a reciprocal reduced distance, for retaining the capsule (with the extraction unit movable in the first non-operating position), to a non-operating position, wherein the ends of the arms are at a mutual distance greater than the previous distance so as to free the capsule at the housing of the capsule in the fixed dispensing extraction unit (with the movable extraction unit in the second operating position).

The movable extraction unit has a head provided with perforating elements which are able to perforate, according to a first solution, the sheet of film (if the capsule is inserted in the frame with the bottom facing towards the fixed extraction unit) or, according to a second solution, the perforating elements perforate the bottom of the capsule (if the capsule is inserted in the frame in the opposite direction to the previous one).

The head of the movable extraction unit is provided with ducts for the passage of the pressurised hot fluid to be introduced into the capsule after the capsule has been perforated.

The extraction of the beverage occurs by the combination given by the increase in the pressure inside the capsule supplied by the fluid entering and by the presence of the perforating means positioned on the bottom of the housing of the first fixed extraction unit which allow an opening in the capsule to be obtained for the passage of the beverage obtained from the product/fluid mixture towards the dispensing conduits of the extracted beverage made in the first fixed extraction unit.

The perforating means positioned on the bottom of the housing, which are of particular interest in this invention, may comprise, according to a prior art solution: a perforating element positioned close to the bottom of the housing and movable, by suitable movement means, between a withdrawn non-operating position, below the bottom of the housing, and an advanced operating position, protruding from the bottom of the housing, in such a way as to perforate the bottom of the capsule inserted in the housing.

After perforation, the perforating element returns to the withdrawn non-operating position.

At this point, the increase in the pressure inside the capsule is such that the bottom deforms downwards and increases the size of the incision on the bottom. At the same time, the pressurised fluid mixes with the product forming the product to be dispensed which starts to come out of the incision on the bottom and flow into one or more ducts feeding the beverage dispensing nozzle.

One of these solutions of the machine and perforating means is described in patent document WO 2008/014830.

However, this type of structure of the perforating means has drawbacks.

The perforating means needs movable elements in order to be able to make the incision and, therefore, the central part of the bottom zone of the housing cannot be used to correctly make the ducts for feeding the beverage, which must be obtained peripherally with respect to the central opening with risks of a partial loss of quality and quantity of product.

Moreover, the early perforation of the bottom of the capsule may result in incorrect escape of product which has not yet been mixed perfectly with the pressurised fluid.

Aim of the Invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a machine for preparing and extracting a hot beverage that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a machine for preparing and extracting a hot beverage which is able to correctly guide the escape of the beverage from the capsule base.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a machine for preparing and extracting a hot beverage with an extremely compact perforating unit so as to reduce the overall dimensions of the machine.

Said aims are fully achieved by the machine for preparing and extracting a hot beverage according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particularFIGS.1and2, the machine according to the invention, labelled100in its entirety, is used with single capsules, preferably of the single-dose type, from which the hot beverage is extracted (such as coffee, tea, milk, camomile and similar beverages) by extracting the product with pressurised hot fluid.

The capsule1which can be used in the machine100basically comprises a capsule body2, forming a chamber, having a first closed wall3or bottom and a second open wall4or opening delimited by an annular collar5protruding transversely with respect to the capsule body2.

A sheet for sealing the chamber (not illustrated) is positioned on the second open part4and the collar5.

The chamber houses at least one dose of product.

FIGS.1and2illustrate a part of the machine for preparing and extracting a hot beverage from the capsule1, that is to say, the operating parts of relevance for the invention.

The machine100comprises a load-bearing frame6having an inlet opening7for the capsule1.

Moreover, the machine100comprises a first fixed extraction unit8associated with the frame6and comprising a matching housing9for the capsule1and means10for perforating and passage of the mixture, to then obtain the extraction of the beverage.

The machine100also comprises a second movable extraction unit11, positioned inside the frame6, and movable inside the frame6along a linear trajectory T, in both directions, betweena first non-operating end position away from the first fixed extraction unit8(FIGS.2and3), wherein the second movable extraction unit11can receive the capsule2through the inlet opening7, anda second operating end position (FIGS.4-6) wherein the second movable extraction unit11is moved towards the first fixed extraction unit8in such a way as to move the capsule1from an inlet position to a position for insertion in the housing9of the first fixed unit8for extracting the beverage by feeding a pressurised hot fluid inside the capsule1.

According toFIGS.4to6and7to9, the means10for perforating and passage of the mixture comprise a perforating punch12, positioned fixed at a bottom9aof the housing9, and partly protruding from the bottom9a.

Again as illustrated, the punch12comprises a first apical portion12aconfigured, in use, to intercept and perforate the first wall3of the capsule1upon a deformation of the first wall3of the capsule1, by effect of the pressurised fluid, towards the bottom9aof the housing9.

The punch12has a second base portion12bhaving a bridge-shaped cross-section defining an opening13passing towards a channel14or chamber, positioned below the punch12, configured for the controlled falling of the liquid mixture coming out from the opening of the wall3of the capsule1whilst the punch12is kept, that is, inserted, inside the capsule1.

In other words, the perforating means are positioned in a fixed position and use the deformation of the wall of the capsule for cutting the wall of the capsule. Moreover, the same means are configured to remain inside the capsule during the fluid/product mixing and, at the same time, are configured to allow the controlled escape of the mixture through the opening of the punch and the underlying duct.

As illustrated, the channel14has two semi-circular portions defined by the overlying punch12and configured to contain two lips3a,3bof the first wall3of the capsule1, defined by the incision of the punch12, generated upon the deformation of the capsule1by effect of the pressurised fluid, and in such a way as to define a single controlled outlet point of the liquid mixture. (seeFIG.6).

More specifically, the punch12is partly housed in a cylindrical cavity9bmade in the bottom9aof the housing defining the upper part of the channel14or chamber.

In short, the cylindrical cavity9bmakes it possible to “contain” and guide the burring of the incision made by the punch12.

As illustrated, the bottom9aof the housing9of the first fixed extraction unit8has a profile which is partly rounded and configured to allow a complementary coupling of the wall3of the capsule1perforated by the punch12upon its deformation under the effect of the pressure of the fluid entering.

As illustrated inFIGS.7to9, the punch12has a first apical portion12ahaving a triangular cross-section with a free vertex oriented away from the bottom9aof the housing9of the first fixed extraction unit8.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the punch12has a triangular shape with rounded outer sides (so as to define spreader elements).

In light of this, the second base portion12bof the punch12has a cross section less than the cross section of the first apical portion12a, and comprises two end arms15and16for fixing to the first fixed extraction unit8.

The opening13for the passage of the liquid mixture is formed between the two arms.

It should be noted that the punch12is associated with and protruding from a supporting base17inserted in the first fixed extraction unit8.

On the supporting base17there is the channel14or chamber connected to a conduit18for the passage of the liquid mixture towards a dispensing head19.

In light of this, the supporting base17has the open channel14with a circular cross-section above which the punch12is positioned along a diametric directrix passing through the centre of the circular cross-section of the channel14and covering only a part of the channel14.

As mentioned above, the channel14, having the two semi-circular portions defined by the overlying punch12, is configured to contain the two lips3a,3bof the first wall3of the capsule1, formed by the incision of the punch12and by the deformation of the capsule1by effect of the pressurised fluid.

These two lips3a,3b, widening and inserting in the cavity9b, tend to therefore also reach the semi-circular openings of the supporting base17, due to the effect of the pressure of the fluid, in such a way as to control the outlet flow also thanks to the second open portion12bof the punch12which prevents possible blocking of the flow of the mixture.

The invention also provides a method for preparing and extracting a hot beverage from the capsule1comprising the capsule body2forming a chamber delimited by a first closed wall3and a second open wall4on which is positioned, for closing, a sheet for sealing the chamber; a dose of product being housed inside the chamber.

The method comprises the following steps:inserting the capsule1in an inlet opening7of the machine100and at the second movable extraction unit11positioned in a first non-operating end position;moving the second movable unit11with the capsule1, along a linear trajectory T, towards a first fixed extraction unit8having a matching housing9for the capsule1and means10for perforating and passage of the mixture, to obtain the extraction of the beverage;locking the capsule1inside the housing9without contact between the first closed wall3of the capsule1and the perforating means10;introducing a pressurised hot fluid through the second wall4by perforating its sealing sheet;deforming the first wall3of the capsule1by effect of the pressure of the hot fluid towards a bottom9aof the housing9;perforating the first deformed wall3through a first apical portion12aof a perforating punch12, positioned fixed at the bottom9aof the housing9,outfeed of the liquid mixture at the outlet from an opening of the first wall3of the capsule1perforated whilst the apical portion12aof the punch12is inserted inside the capsule1;controlled falling of the liquid mixture through a second base portion12bof the punch12having a bridge section defining an opening13passing towards a channel14or chamber, positioned below the punch12to obtain the dispensing of the hot beverage.

It should be noted that at the end of the step of dispensing the hot beverage, that is to say, at the end of the introduction of hot fluid under pressure in the capsule1, only the apical portion12aof the punch12remains inserted inside the capsule1, blocking the escape of the remaining liquid inside the capsule1until extraction of the capsule1.

The blocking of the escape of the fluid is obtained thanks to the fact that the first (bottom) wall3of the capsule1, upon completion of the flow of the pressurised fluid, tends to return to a non-deformed position moving away from the second portion12bof the punch12remaining engaged only with the first apical portion12awhich defines a cap for closing the passage of the liquid.

The preset aims are achieved with a machine structured in this way thanks to a perforating unit structured in such a way as to open the capsule only in the presence of the pressurised liquid and thanks to the deformation of the capsule.

The particular geometry of the perforator allows:controlling in an optimum fashion the flow of the mixture, already formed inside the capsule, andblocking any dripping of the remains of the mixture of the product once the dispensing has been completed, thanks to the fact that the apical part of the perforator remains inside the capsule until it leaves the housing.