Capsule piercing module

A capsule-based beverage production machine comprises a module (2) designed for producing a beverage on the basis of ingredients (5) which are contained in a capsule (1). The module (2) comprises: —means (3, 4) for retaining the capsule (1) in a fixed position, and—means (6) for perforation the capsule (1), wherein the perforation means (6) are controlled to perforate the capsule (1) after the capsule (1) is retained in the fixed position by the retaining means (3, 4).

The present invention relates to the field of producing beverages or other liquid comestibles (soups, etc.) on the basis of ingredients which are contained in a capsule.

The capsule is inserted into the beverage production module of a beverage production machine (coffee machine, etc.). The module is designed to inject a liquid such as for example hot water under pressure into the capsule in order to have the liquid interact with the ingredients contained in the capsule.

Note that some beverage production techniques ask for a pressurized injection, others such as e.g. brewing tea can be made at ambient pressure. The invention can find application in both scenarios.

The result of the interaction, i.e. the produced beverage or liquid comestible is then drained from the capsule and fed to a receptacle such as e.g. a coffee cup placed below an outlet for the beverage.

The invention preferably deals with capsules which are inserted into the beverage production module while being sealed. Therefore, the capsules have to be opened both at a fluid inlet side as well as at an outlet side after being inserted into the beverage production module.

The invention now targets at a reliable perforation of the capsule inside the beverage production machine.

This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop further the central idea of the present invention.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a method for operating a beverage production system comprising a beverage production module and a capsule containing ingredients is proposed. The module injects a liquid into the capsule in order to produce a beverage. The module comprises at least a first and a cooperating second capsule engagement member, which first and second operating capsule engagement member are moved relative to each other.

The method comprises the step of inserting the capsule in the beverage production module. Then the first capsule engagement member is moved relative to the second capsule engagement member in order to arrive at a relative closing position in which the capsule is retained in a defined position by being engaged by the first and second engagement member.

After the capsule is safely retained in the defined position, the capsule is opened.

The capsule can be retained in the defined position by a clamping engagement of the first and second engagement member.

At least one of the first and second engagement members and perforation means are mechanically coupled such that the perforation means open the capsule after the capsule is retained in the defined position.

At least one of the first and second engagement members and the perforation means can be controlled by a common actuator.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a beverage production machine comprising a beverage production module designed for producing a beverage on the basis of ingredients contained in a capsule. The beverage production module comprises means for retaining the capsule in a defined position.

Opening means are designed to open the capsule while the capsule is retained in the defined position by the retaining means.

The retaining means and the opening means can be mechanically coupled such that the opening means open the capsule after the capsule is safely retained in the fixed position by the retaining means.

The retaining means can comprise a first and a second capsule engagement member which are supported relatively displaceable to each other such that they can immobilise the inserted capsule in the defined position.

The opening means can be perforation means which are functionally associated with one of the first and second engagement members and designed to be displaced at least partially together with the associated engagement member.

The retaining means and the opening means (perforation means) can be controlled by a common manual or electric actuator.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a beverage production machine designed for producing a beverage from a capsule. The beverage production machine comprises a module with a first capsule member, which can be displaced relative to a second, cooperating capsule engagement member between an opened capsule in searching position and a closed capsule-enclosure position.

The relative displacement is a combined displacement comprising a linear displacement when the first and second capsule engagement members are close together and a swivelling or rotating movement when they are distanced from each other.

Capsule perforation means can be functionally associated with one of the first and the second engagement members such that the perforation means protrude into the capsule-enclosure space after the first and second engagement members have reached the capsule engagement position, and the perforation means are transferred into a retracted position relative to the associated engagement member during or after the swivelling movement.

Throughout the figures only the beverage production module2of a beverage production machine is shown.

Usually the beverage production module2is supplied with a liquid at a liquid inlet14which can be in fluid connection with means for heating and/or pressurizing the supplied liquid.

At the outlet side, means for guiding a produced beverage or liquid comestible to a designated outlet of the beverage production machine is provided.

The beverage production module2as shown in the figures is preferably housed in a casing of the beverage production machine such that it assumes an essentially horizontal position as shown inFIGS. 1-4andFIGS. 7-10, respectively.

Note that other arrangements of the beverage production module2are equally possible, although the horizontal arrangement has the advantage that the insertion of the capsule and the subsequent pre-positioning are assisted by gravity.

FIG. 1ashows a state of the beverage production module2in which a capsule1being at least partially filled with ingredients5can be inserted from the top through an opening (slot)8of a casing19of the beverage production module2.

FIG. 1ashows the state in which the capsule1has been already manually inserted by a user from the top through the opening8into the interior of the casing19of the beverage module2.

Preferably in the state as shown inFIG. 1athe capsule1is held by pre-fixation means12which will be explained later on in detail referring toFIG. 6.

As can be seen inFIG. 1a, in this pre-fixation position the capsule1is preferably held in an essentially vertical orientation, i.e. the symmetrical axis of the capsule is essentially horizontal.

Other pre-positioning arrangements of the capsule1can be thought of in which the capsule1is held in an orientation which forms a small (acute) angle vis-à-vis the vertical axis.

In the state as shown inFIG. 1athe capsule is pre-fixed close to a second engagement member4which can comprise means for opening (perforating, etc.) the face of the capsule adjacent to the second engagement member4.

The first engagement member3is in an opened state, i.e. as controlled by a manual actuator mechanism in the capsule insertion state as shown inFIG. 1a, the first capsule engaging member3is distanced from the second engagement member4, wherein this distance is substantially larger than the corresponding dimensions of the capsule1.

According to a further aspect which will be explained in detail later on, optionally the first engagement member3is not only distanced from, but also slightly rotated vis-à-vis the main plane formed by the second engagement member4.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 1the first engagement member3is provided with capsule opening means, which can be perforation means such as a hollow needle6. InFIG. 1athe perforation means6are in a position in which they are retracted such that they do not protrude into a half dome formed by a hollow bell member13of the first engagement member3. The hollow bell member13has an essentially matching shape to the contour of the capsule1.

The rear end of the first engagement member3is provided with a liquid supply14which is in fluid connection with the hollow needle (perforation member)6.

The first engagement member3is connected to an actuator mechanism7. According to a first embodiment the actuator mechanism7comprises a manually operable lever handle9and the first engagement member3is connected to the lever handle9by means of a knee-joint mechanism11which can preferably comprise several axis10and intermediate levers20.

In a second embodiment the first engagement member3is connected to a manually operable drawer34by means of a coupling element39which can preferably comprise several openings and clearance areas adapted to cooperate with several pins.

The actuator mechanism7is designed to control both the displacements of the first engagement member3and the displacements of the perforation member6. Note that alternatively or additionally an electric actuator can be used.

By operating the lever handle9or the drawer34of the actuator mechanism7, the first engagement member3can be transferred into an intermediate stage as shown inFIG. 1b. The intermediate stage as shown inFIG. 1bis characterized in that the hollow bell member13has essentially fully engaged the outer contour of the capsule1, while the hollow needle (perforation member)6is still in its retracted position vis-à-vis the bell member13and correspondingly the perforation member6is not yet interfering with the capsule1.

Now, when turning the lever handle9further in the anti-clockwise direction, the beverage production module2can be transferred from the intermediate stage as shown inFIG. 1bto a final closure state as shown inFIG. 1c. The final closure state as shown inFIG. 1cis characterized in that the hollow bell member13still fully engages the capsule1, however, also mechanically controlled by manipulating the actuator mechanism7, the perforation member6has been actively pushed from its retracted position (FIGS. 1a,1b) to a protruding position as shown inFIG. 1c.

By being actively moved from the retracted position to the protruding position as shown inFIG. 1c, the perforation member6will perforate the associated face of the capsule1and will at least partially protrude into the interior of the capsule1.

In this state the liquid supplied to the liquid supply14of the first engagement member3can be injected into the interior of capsule1through the perforation member6. Thus, in the state as shown inFIG. 1cthe injected liquid can be made to interact with the ingredients of the capsule1in order to produce a beverage or another liquid comestible.

During the transition from the capsule insertion state ofFIG. 1ato the final closure state as shown inFIG. 1c, the first capsule engagement member3has been moved along a composite trajectory vis-à-vis the second engagement member4. The composite trajectory preferably comprises a rotational movement at the beginning in order to align the front contour21of the first engagement member3with the vertical plane of the second engagement member4.

Both in the intermediate stages shown inFIG. 1band the final closure state as shown inFIG. 1cthe capsule1is held safely in a defined position by having a flange-like rim portion of the capsule1being clamped between the rim of the front contour21of the first engagement member3and in associated clamping surface23of the second engagement member4.

In other words, according to one aspect of the present invention, the capsule1finds itself already in a defined perforation position before the perforation member16will start its opening or peroration action on the associated wall of the capsule1. Therefore, when the perforation member6will perforate the associated wall of the capsule1this can be done with a high precision as the capsule1is not moving relative to the main elements of the beverage production module2when it encounters the opening action of the perforation member6. This leads to a higher position of the opening action and preferably both the location and the timing of the opening can be finely adjusted.

Preferably the perforation position of the capsule1also corresponds to the beverage production position in which the liquid is injected into the capsule1. This clamping engagement in which the flange-like rim portion22of the capsule1is clamped or pinched between the first and the second engagement member3,4, respectively, is assumed

The cooperation of the first and second engagement members3,4in the perforation and beverage production position is such that the capsule1is contained in a pressure tight manner in a space defined by the hollow bell member13of the first engagement member3on the one hand and the second engagement member4on the other hand. Thus, liquid injected into the interior of the capsule1under pressure can only flow through the capsule1, but can not leak outside the capsule walls. Preferably the sealing engagement occurs at the flange-like rim of the capsule pinched between the first and second engagement members3,4.

FIGS. 2ato2cessentially show the same transition from the capsule insertion state of the beverage production module2to the final closure state ofFIG. 2c, which is only also the beverage production state of the beverage production module2.

After the end of the beverage production, the actuator means7can again be manually and/or electrically operated in order to transfer the beverage production module2back to the opened capsule insertion state (FIG. 2e).

However, according to the invention, the transition from the beverage production state (FIG. 2c) to the capsule insertion state according toFIG. 2eis not simply a reversal of the closing movement, i.e. the transfer ofFIG. 2atoFIG. 2c.

As it is shown inFIG. 2dandFIG. 2e, when manually moving the lever handle9of the actuator mechanism7in the clockwise direction of the embodiment ofFIG. 2, in a first step the first engagement member3is linearly retracted and distanced from the second engagement member4.

Likewise, a movement of the drawer34in a direction away from the beverage production module2causes the first engagement member3to be linearly retracted and distanced from the second engagement member4.

Essentially due to the friction between the perforation member6and the surrounding walls of the opening in the capsule1the perforation member6remains in the protruded state and thus holds the capsule1in the hollow bell member13of the first engagement member3when the first engagement member3is transferred to the intermediate state as shown inFIG. 2d.

This holding-back function of the perforation member6of the first engagement member3thus leads to a separation of the capsule1from the second capsule engagement member4.

Starting from the intermediate state as shown inFIG. 2dthe first engagement member3is controlled to carry out a swivelling movement. During the final transition to the capsule insertion state as shown inFIG. 2ethe perforation member6is finally made to be retracted from the hollow bell member13. The capsule1which has been hitherto retained by the frictional engagement with the perforation member6, will drop from the first capsule engagement member3and will be discharged from the beverage module2through a opening24at the lower side of the beverage production module2.

Thus, the swivelling movement at the end of the trajectory of the first capsule engagement member3facilitates the discharge of the capsule1in the retracted position e.g. towards a waste container placed inside the beverage production machine and below the beverage production module2.

WhileFIG. 2in the above explanation mainly serve to illustrate the functionality of the present invention, further implementation details according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference toFIGS. 3,4and5.

As shown inFIGS. 5aand5b, the actuator mechanism7comprises a lever handle9acting on a knee-joint mechanism11, wherein the extremity of the actuator mechanism7being at the opposite end of the lever handle9comprises a first control curve17.

This first control curve17cooperates with a guiding pin16which is fixed to a U-shaped support member25which in its centre portion supports the perforation member6and the fluid supply14.

Each of the two outer legs26of the U-shaped support member25are respectively provided with a guiding pin16.

The U-shaped support member25can be linearly displaced vis-à-vis the bell-shaped member13by having a further control pin27cooperate with an axial slot28respectively provided at each of the side surfaces of the hollow bell member13.

Therefore, the cooperation of the first guiding curve17with the guiding pin16is designed to selectively displace the first engagement member3, comprising essentially the U-shaped support member25and the attached perforation member6as well as the bell-shaped member13. On the other hand, the guiding curve17is designed to selectively control a relative displacement of the U-shaped support member25vis-à-vis the dome member13and thus a displacement of the perforation member6attached to the U-shaped support member25vis-à-vis the dome-shaped member13.

As can be seen inFIGS. 3 to 5, the first guiding curve17is essentially composed of a first linear section29and a second linear section30, being shorter than the first linear section29and forming an obtuse angle vis-à-vis the first linear section29.

When starting from the capsule insertion position (FIGS. 3a,4a), the guiding pin16is made to cooperate with the first linear section29which is designed to linearly and integrally displace the first engagement member3.

On the other hand, in the final phase, i.e. when the first engagement member3approaches the beverage production state (transition fromFIGS. 3bto3c,4bto4c), the guiding pin16is made to cooperate with the second linear section30of the guiding curve17. This second linear section30is designed to essentially control a relative displacement of the U-shaped support member25and the fixedly attached perforation member6vis-à-vis the dome ship member13.

Therefore, it is due to this specific design of the guiding curve17(having at least two different sections) that (cooperation with the first linear segment29) the capsule is held in a defined position before (cooperation with the second linear segment30) the perforation member6is made to open the capsule.

Other functional couplings between the motion control of the perforating means and at least one of the engagement members can be thought of which also guarantee a immobilisation of the capsule in the perforation position before it is perforated at its liquid inlet face.

As can be seen particularly fromFIGS. 3d,4a, c, dande, the guiding pin16is not only made to cooperate with the first guiding curve17(being part of the actuator mechanism7), but also with a second guiding curve18provided in the lateral walls of the casing19of the beverage production module2.

As can be seen from the figures, also the second guiding curve18is composed of at least two different segments, such as for example an essentially horizontal linear segment21and an inclined linear segment20being raised to the rear end of the module.

Due to the cooperation of the guiding pin16with this particular design of the second guiding curve18, the first engagement member3carries out an essentially linear relative movement vis-à-vis the second engagement member4when the first and the second engagement member are close together, while the upwards inclined second linear segment20of the control curve18results in the swivelling movement of the first engagement member3such that the half dome defined by the bell member13is rotated slightly downwards, as it is illustrated inFIG. 3e.

As shown inFIG. 7ato7c, the actuator mechanism7of the second embodiment comprises a drawer34acting on a coupling element39which in turn is coupled to the guiding pin16of the first engagement member3.

The drawer34is adapted to be manually operated by a user. When moving the drawer34, the movement via the coupling element39will be transferred to the pin16of the first engagement member so that by operating the drawer34the capsule is transferred from the capsule insertion state to the engagement state. With a reverse movement of the drawer34the capsule1is liberated from the engagement state and can be discharged.

The drawer34is attached to one side of the casing19. As shown inFIG. 7ato7cthe drawer is attached to the top of the casing19. The drawer34hereby is attached moveably to the casing19, so that the drawer34can be moved in a direction parallel to the side of the casing19to which it is attached.

The drawer34cooperates with one end of the coupling element39so that the movement of the drawer34is transferred to the coupling element39. The other end of the coupling element39cooperates with the pin16of the first engagement member3so that in turn the movement of the coupling element39is transferred to the guiding pin16and thereby to the first engagement member3.

The drawer34is a substantially flat element covering at least partially the side of the casing19to which it is moveably attached. The casing19hereby provides a guiding bar35for enabling the movement of the drawer34and at the same time limiting the movement of the drawer34in a direction parallel to the side of the casing19to which the drawer34is attached.

On each side of the drawer34a drawer pin37is provided. This drawer pin37slides within a bar opening36provided on both sides of the drawer34within the guiding bar35. Alternatively, the guiding bar35and the bar opening36can be separated so that the guiding bar35extends along the whole side of the casing19and the bar opening is provided beyond or above the guiding bar35.

When moving the drawer34the drawer pin37slides along the bar opening36and the drawer pin37is further provided to operate with a hole52at one end of the coupling element39.

Thereby, when moving the drawer34one end of the coupling element39executes a movement parallel to the movement of the drawer34and along the side of the casing19.

FIG. 11shows a detailed view of the coupling element39according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The coupling element39has a substantially longitudinal shape and substantially comprises tow sections, namely a first coupling element section50and a second coupling element section51. The second section51is shorter in length than the first section50and forms an obtuse angle with the first section50.

At the end of the first section50a hole52is provided for cooperating with the drawer pin37. Two further longitudinal openings are provided in the coupling element39which form a first guiding curve41and a second guiding curve44.

The second guiding curve44extends over the whole second section51and over a part of the first section50. Thereby the second guiding curve44comprises a first linear section42along the second section51of the coupling element39and a second linear section43along a part of the first section50of the coupling element, said first and second linear section42,43forming an obtuse angle.

Along the first section50between the hole52and the second guiding curve44the first guiding curve41is provided which extends partially over the first section50.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8the detailed functionality of the actuator mechanism according to the second embodiment will now further be explained.

A fixed pin40is provided on the casing19and fixedly attached to the casing19. The fixed pin40operates with the first guiding curve41of the coupling element39.

The first guiding curve41cooperating with the fixed pin40has an elongated shape. The fixed pin serves substantially as a centre of rotation of the coupling element39. Due to the elongated shape of the first guiding curve41in addition to the rotational movement of the coupling element39around the fixed pin40a slight lateral movement is possible. The lateral movement and the rotational movement thereby superimpose.

Thereby, when moving the drawer34the coupling element39executes a substantially rotating movement around the fixed pin40.

The second guiding curve44is made to cooperate with the guiding pin16of the first engagement member3. Thereby, when moving the drawer34in a first direction caused by the substantially rotational movement of the coupling element39around the fixed pin40, the guiding pin16, is moved in a second direction due to the cooperation with the second guiding curve44. This second direction is substantially an opposite direction to the first movement direction of the drawer34.

As can be seen inFIGS. 7 and 8the second guiding curve44is essentially composed of a first linear section42and a second linear section43, being shorter than the first linear section42and forming an obtuse angle vis-à-vis the first linear section42.

When starting from the capsule insertion positionFIGS. 7aand8a, the guiding pin16is made to cooperate with the first linear section42which is designed to linearly and integrally displace the first engagement member3.

On the other hand, in the final phase, i.e. when the first engagement member3approaches the beverage production state (transition fromFIG. 7bto7cand8bto8c), the guiding pin16is made to cooperate with the second linear section43of the second guiding curve44. The second linear section43is designed to essentially control a relative displacement of the U-shaped support member25and the fixedly attached perforation member6vis-à-vis the dome shaped member13.

In addition to the cooperation with the second guiding curve44in accordance with the first embodiment, the guiding pin16is also designed to cooperate with the second control curve18provided in the lateral walls of the casing of the beverage production module2.

With reference toFIG. 8ato8cfurther details of the second embodiment will now be explained. The drawer34comprises a holding element48adapted to be gripped by a user who wants to manually operate the drawer34. The holding element48further serves for stopping the movement of the drawer34when the drawer is moved from the capsule insertion state to the capsule engagement state. The holding element48is herefor formed as a plate attached to the drawer34forming a substantially rectangular angle with the sliding part of the drawer34.

The drawer34in addition comprises a capsule insertion slot38which enables the insertion of a capsule.FIG. 8ashows the beverage production module2in the capsule insertion state. In this state the drawer34has been moved into a direction away from the beverage production module so that a significant part of the drawer34protrudes the casing19. The movement in a direction away from the casing19is stopped by the drawer pin37when reaching the end of the bar opening36. In this capsule insertion state the capsule insertion slot38of the drawer34is placed above and in alignment with the capsule insertion slot8of the beverage production module2so that a capsule1can be inserted.

For moving the first engagement member3towards the second engagement member4the drawer34has to be pushed in a direction towards the beverage production module2. The drawer pin37thereby cooperates with the coupling element39which in turn executes a substantially rotational movement around the fixed pin40and thereby cooperates with the guiding pin16so that the first engagement member3is moved towards the second engagement member4.

In the capsule engagement state as shown inFIG. 8cthe drawer34is substantially in alignment with the casing19and only the holding element48of the drawer34protrudes the casing19.

As can be seen fromFIG. 8ato8cthe drawer34is guided along a guiding bar35provided on both sides of the drawer34. As the holding element48has a shape that is greater than the guiding bar35the movement of the drawer34is stopped by the holding element48. Further, a recess49in the guiding bar35may be provided to house the holding element48or parts of the holding element48when the drawer34is pushed in direction of the casing19.

Alternatively, instead of stopping the movement of the drawer34by the holding element48, the movement of the drawer34in both directions may be stopped by the drawer pin37when reaching the ends of the bar opening36, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 9the interior functions of the beverage production module2according to the second embodiment correspond to the interior functions and movements of the beverage production module according to the first embodiment. With movement of the drawer34the coupling element39operates with the guiding pin16in a way, that the first engagement member3is moved towards the second engagement member4in order to clamp the capsule1and in the capsule engagement step then the perforation member6will perforate the capsule.

As shown inFIG. 7ato7cand8ato8c, knobs45are attached to the casing19. The knobs45hereby serve for attaching a cover46to the casing19. As shown inFIG. 10a cover46is attached to the knobs45. The cover46hereby extends over those parts of the casing where moving elements are provided. Specifically, the cover46extends over the part of the casing19where the coupling element39is provided and in addition extends over a part of the top of the casing19where the drawer34is moving. The cover46hereby in any case is not extending over the capsule insertion slot8of the casing in order to allow the insertion of a capsule. The cover46in addition may comprise a cover extension47which extends along the lateral side of the casing19and covers the linear part21of the second control curve18.

Other mechanical or electric implementations can be thought of for guaranteeing a composite trajectory of the first engagement member such that in and close to the beverage production state the two engagement members3,4are moved in a linear relative trajectory, while they are moved relative to each other in a different trajectory (different angle an/or curvature) when distanced from each other.

With reference toFIGS. 6ato6cnow a further aspect of the present invention will be explained.

According to this aspect the capsule1is pre-positioned by pre-fixation means, such as for example flexible capsule pre-fixation arms12. When seen from above (FIG. 6) the arms12are provided at the lateral sides of the capsule.

The flexible arms12respectively present a vertical groove31made to engage with the rim of the capsule1.

Therefore, when the capsule1is inserted manually by a user from the top of the beverage production module, it will be initially pre-positioned and held in place by the flexible arms12. Note that this pre-fixation position as shown inFIG. 6is not the same position as the final beverage production position (FIG. 6c).

Actually, when the first engagement member3is made to approach the second engagement member4, the front side of the bell-shaped member13of the first engagement member3will push against the rim of the capsule1, will make the capsule leave the pre-fixation position in the vertical grooves31and will displace (push) the capsule1to the final beverage production position as shown inFIG. 6c.

To this regard means can be provided to actively disengage the rim of the capsule1with the pre-fixation means (flexible arms)12. As shown particularly inFIG. 6b, the first engagement member3can be operatively connected to disengagement means32which cooperate with a slanted surface33of the flexible arms12in order to push the flexible arms12to the outside and thus to disengage the vertical grooves31of the flexible arms12from the rim of the capsule1.

Thus, when the front surface of the bell-shaped member13of the first engagement member3is taking over the positioning of the capsule1, the capsule1is made to be disengaged from the flexible arms12serving as pre-fixation means.

In the beverage production position as shown inFIG. 6c, the rim of the capsule1is pushed behind the grooves31of the flexible arms12.

Now, when after completion of the beverage production the first engagement member3is moved rearwards (to the top inFIG. 6) and the capsule1is only held by a frictional engagement of the perforation member6, the disengagement member32of the first engagement member3will again cooperate with specifically designed surfaces of flexible arms12in order to spread these arms12and thus have the capsule1pass these arms12without being engaged by the arms12.

To summarize, where the design as shown inFIG. 6the capsule1can be pre-positioned in a position which is horizontally offset from the beverage production position. The capsule1is pre-positioned in this position until the front surfaces of the bell-shaped member13engages the rim of the capsule1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS