Abstract:
A feeding apparatus of capsules to a brewing device of an automatic beverage vending machine; the feeding apparatus comprising two stores for respective types of capsules; an outlet device, common to the two stores, to feed the capsules to the brewing device; and, for each store, dispensing means of the respective capsules one by one; and orientating means configured to give the capsules a determined final orientation before they are dispensed to the brewing device; the feeding apparatus also comprising detecting means to detect whether or not a capsule is present inside the outlet device; and control means for stopping the dispensing means of both stores and preventing further capsules from being dispensed in response to a capsule-presence signal emitted by the detecting means.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a capsule feeding apparatus, in particular disposable capsules containing powdered anhydrous material for producing beverages, for example coffee, tea, soup or similar. 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention may be advantageously applied in automatic beverage vending machines, where it is known to use a capsule feeding apparatus for supplying single capsules to a brewing device capable of preparing the relative brewed beverage starting with the contents of the capsule. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Known capsule feeding apparatuses normally comprise a store, which is adapted to contain a plurality of capsules of the same type, arranged inside the store randomly or according to a determined order; orientating means, which is adapted to receive the capsules from the store and arrange them in a preferential orientation; and a delivery device, which is adapted to receive the capsules from the orientating means and to cooperate with a brewing device inlet to deliver a single capsule to the brewing device each time. 
         [0004]    Capsule feeding apparatuses of the known type specified above are described, for example, in EP1571951 and EP1859418 filed in the name of the same Applicant. 
         [0005]    In the field of automatic beverage vending machines, use of capsules to produce specific beverages, in particular coffee-based beverages, is particularly appreciated both since it allows a beverage to be obtained of considerably higher quality than a beverage using loose soluble material, and for reasons of hygiene, practicality and efficiency. 
         [0006]    Until now, however, the known automatic vending machines have normally been capable of producing one beverage type only starting with capsules, since they are generally only provided with a single capsule feeding apparatus associated with a brewing device. In order to overcome this limitation, an obvious solution could be to add other production devices, each comprising a respective capsule feeding apparatus and a respective brewing device. In practice, however, a solution of this type would be unacceptable, for reasons of space and costs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    It is the object of one or more embodiments of the present invention to provide a capsule feeding apparatus that overcomes the limitation described above and that simultaneously is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a capsule feeding apparatus for feeding capsules to a brewing device of an automatic beverage vending machine is disclosed. The capsule feeding apparatus includes two stores each of which is designed to store a respective type of capsule; and an outlet device, common to both of the stores, for feeding the capsules to the brewing device. For each store, respective dispensing means to dispense a succession of the respective capsules one by one; and respective orientating means designed to cooperate with the respective capsules so as to cause the capsules to be dispensed by the outlet device to the brewing device with a determined final orientation are provided. The capsule feeding apparatus further includes first detecting means to detect whether or not a capsule is present within the outlet device, and control means to stop the dispensing means of both stores and prevent further capsules from being dispensed in response to a capsule-presence signal emitted by the first detecting means. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the capsule feeding apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, on an larger-scale and with parts removed for clarity, of a detail in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a further detail in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates an axial cross-section of part of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section, according to line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6 to 8  show a detail in  FIG. 4  in respective different operating configurations; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section, according to line IX-IX in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In  FIG. 1 , the number  1  indicates, as a whole, a capsule feeding apparatus  2  for feeding disposable capsules containing powdered anhydrous material, such as coffee, tea, etc., for the preparation of beverages. 
         [0018]    In a condition of normal use, the feeding apparatus  1  is housed inside an automatic hot beverage vending machine (not shown) to cooperate with a brewing device A (of known type) designed to receive, each time, from the feeding apparatus  1 , a single capsule  2 , orientated in the manner which will be described below, and to supply a flow of hot water through the capsule  2  in order to extract the relative beverage from it, by brewing the material it contains. 
         [0000]    As will be described in detail below, the feeding apparatus  1  of capsules  2  is configured to contain and to deliver to the brewing device A two types of capsules  2 , indicated, hereunder, with  2   a  and  2   b,  which are substantially identical to each other as far as concerns the shape and external dimensions, but differ in terms of the material they contain, thus making it possible to prepare the respective different beverages. 
         [0019]    In the example shown, each capsule  2   a,    2   b  comprises an external, cup-shaped cover, which has a longitudinal axis  3  and is defined by a bottom surface and by a side surface provided with an external annular flange  4  around its free edge, to which a closing surface  5  of the capsules  2   a,    2   b  is firmly attached. The side surface is preferably truncated cone shaped and tapered towards the bottom surface and the closure surface  5  is a film sealing the capsule  2   a ,  2   b.    
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the feeding apparatus  1  comprises two stores  6   a  and  6   b,  which are designed to contain a plurality of capsules  2   a  and, respectively,  2   b,  and an outlet device  7 , which is configured to receive, in use, a capsule  2   a  from store  6   a  or a capsule  2   b  from store  6   b  and to deliver it to an inlet of the aforementioned brewing device A. 
         [0021]    The feeding apparatus  1  also comprises electronic control means  8 , configured to manage, in the manner which will be described below, stores  6   a  and  6   b  and outlet device  7  so that, in use, stores  6   a,    6   b  are activated selectively as a function of the beverage type selected and for the time necessary to deliver a single capsule  2   a  or  2   b  to outlet device  7 . 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , store  6   a  has a generally cylindrical shape, develops around substantially vertical axis  9  and comprises an upper storage portion of the capsules  2   a  and a lower supporting plate  10 , which is attached to a frame (not shown) of the automatic vending machine (not shown), is coaxial to axis  9  and has, along one peripheral portion, a pass-through hole  11  parallel to axis  9  and defining an outlet of the capsules  2   a  from store  6   a.    
         [0023]    Said upper storage portion is supported by plate  10  by means of a plurality of columns  12  parallel to axis  9  and distributed along a peripheral edge of plate  10  itself, and comprises a preferably cylindrical container  13  coaxial to axis  9  and defining, inside it, a chamber  14 , an upper portion of which is adapted to contain a plurality of capsules  2   a  positioned completely randomly. At its lower end, chamber  14  is occupied by orientating means  15 , which perform the function of orientating the capsules  2   a  coming from the upper portion of chamber  14  in a manner that the respective longitudinal axes  3  are in a radial position with respect to the axis  9 . 
         [0024]    In greater detail and with reference to  FIG. 4 , the orientating means  15  comprise an annular body coaxial to axis  9  and equipped internally with a plurality of radial baffles, which are uniformly distributed around axis  9  to define a plurality of cavities  16  open at their respective axial ends and communicating above with the upper portion of storage chamber  14 . The amplitude and shape of each cavity  16  is such as to allow, in use, a capsule  2   a  to enter and cross it transversally solely when oriented with its longitudinal axis  3  positioned radially and with the respective closing surface  5  facing or opposite axis  9 . 
         [0025]    Store  6   a  is also equipped with a release device, comprised between plate  10  and orientating means  15  and comprises a carousel  17  shaped to receive, in use, the capsules  2   a  from orientating means  15  and to dispense them, one by one, to the inlet of brewing device A through outlet hole  11 . 
         [0026]    For this purpose and according to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , carousel  17  comprises an annular body, which is coaxial to axis  9 , is equipped with a plurality of pass-through axial cavities  18  distributed uniformly around axis  9 , and is mounted rotating around axis  9 , to rotate with respect to plate  10  and selectively bring the cavities  18  into a position facing the outlet hole  11 . 
         [0027]    The shape and dimensions of cavities  18  are identical to those of cavities  16  with the result that, when in use, a cavity  18  is aligned axially to a cavity  16  containing a capsule  2   a,  said capsule leaving cavity  16  and entering cavity  18 , maintaining precisely the previous orientation acquired in the relative cavity  16 , i.e. with the respective longitudinal axis  3  positioned radially with respect to axis  9  and with the respective closing surface  5  facing or opposite axis  9 . 
         [0028]    Preferably, but not necessarily, the number of cavities  16  of the orientating means  15  is equal to the number of cavities  18  of carousel  17 ; in the embodiment shown, there are six cavities  16  and also six cavities  18  and they are uniformly distributed around axis  9  with a 60° pitch. 
         [0029]    In order to ensure uniform filling of the carousel  17  whatever the orientation of the capsules  2   a  in the respective cavities  16 , the cavities  18  are shaped ( FIG. 5 ) in a manner to house, alternating around axis  9 , capsules  2   a  arranged with closing surface  5  facing axis  9  and capsules  2   a  arranged with closing surface  5  opposite axis  9 . 
         [0030]    According to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , cavity  16  aligned with outlet hole  11 , and indicated, in the appended figures, with reference number  16   a,  is closed at the top by a partition  19 , which prevents the capsules  2   a  arranged in the upper portion of chamber  14  from entering cavity  16   a  and therefore reaching, in a totally uncontrolled manner, outlet hole  11 , passing through the cavity  18  which is aligned each time with cavity  16   a.    
         [0031]    Also associated with carousel  17  are presence detecting means ( 20 ) ( FIG. 5 ), which are connected to the electronic control means  8  and serve to detect the presence of the capsules  2   a  near the outlet hole  11 . In particular, detecting means  20  comprise two micro-switches  21  (illustrated in  FIG. 5  with a broken line), which are mounted on plate  10  on the opposite part with respect to carousel  17 , are arranged close to and as opposing bands of outlet hole  11 , and are provided with respective active elements, each of which extends across plate  10  in a manner to be engaged by the capsule  2   a  which is positioned at outlet hole  11  each time. 
         [0032]    Carousel  17  is rotated by means of an actuator device  22  comprising ( FIG. 4 ) an electric motor  23 , controlled by the electronic control means  8 , and a transmission which is adapted to convert the continuous motion of the motor  23  into an intermittent motion of the carousel  17 . For this purpose, motor  23  is arranged, in a fixed position, beneath plate  10  and is provided with an outlet shaft  24  rotating around an axis  25  parallel to axis  9 , and the transmission comprises a gear  26 , which is keyed onto the shaft  24  and carries attached, on the part facing plate  10 , a bearing  27 , which defines the actuator unit of a Maltese Cross-shaped shaped mechanism (of known type) comprising, besides bearing  27 , a cross-shaped guide (not shown) on a lower surface of carousel  17  and engaged by bearing  27  to convert, in use, the continuous rotary motion of bearing  27  around axis  25  into an intermittent rotary motion of the carousel  17  around axis  9 . In this case, since there are six of cavities  18 , the cross-shaped guide (not shown) will be configured in a manner to give 60° advance step to carousel  17 . 
         [0033]    Gear  26  also engages with a gear  28 , which is coaxial to axis  9  and has a tubular hub, the lower portion of which is fitted rotating onto a tubular end-piece of plate  10 , and the upper portion  29  of which engages, in a rotating manner, a ferrule  30  forming one piece with the lower surface of carousel  17 . The upper portion  29  extends across the carousel  17  and the orientating means  15  and supports, at its free end, a distribution cone  31  with the function of moving the capsules  2   a  arranged inside chamber  14  in a manner to assist entry of capsules  2   a  into cavities  16 , breaking any bridges which may be created upstream of the orientating means  15 . 
         [0034]    A micro-switch  32  is also associated with the actuator device  22 , which is electrically connected to control means  8  and cooperates with a peripheral portion of gear  26  to signal to control means  8 , when this commands activation of motor  23 , rotation of gear  26  around axis  25  and, in this manner, to allow control means  8  to control correct functioning of the carousel  17  and promptly to identify any blocking or malfunction. 
         [0035]    According to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 4  and  FIGS. 6 to 9 , outlet device  7  is arranged laterally to plate  10  immediately beneath outlet hole  11  and comprises a hollow body  33  with an axis  34  parallel to axis  9 , comprised between two flat side surfaces  35  and  36  parallel to each other and to axis  34  and comprising an inlet funnel  37  tapering downwards and presenting an upper inlet opening  38  facing outlet hole  11 , and an outlet funnel  39  tapering upwards and provided with a lower outlet duct  40  coaxial to axis  34 . The outlet funnel  39  is provided at its opening with two internal ribs  41  arranged as opposing bands of axis  34  and transversal to both axis  34  and to side surfaces  35  and  36 . 
         [0036]    The inlet of lower outlet duct  40  is controlled by a release device  42  comprising two blocks  43  arranged between surfaces  35  and  36  and oscillating, under the thrust of an actuator device  44 , around respective axes  45  perpendicular to surfaces  35  and  36  between a blocking position ( FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  7 ), in which the blocks  43  define support housing  46  for flange  4  of a capsule  2 , and a release position ( FIG. 8 ), in which the blocks  43  allow free passage of the capsule  2  from outlet funnel  39  to lower outlet duct  40 . 
         [0037]    According to what is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , through side surface  35 , at the inlet of lower outlet duct  40 , there is a slit  47  parallel to axis  34  and engaged by a free end portion of a lever  48  of detecting means  49  detecting the presence of a capsule  2  inside the outlet funnel  39 . The lever  48  is mounted to rotate, under the thrust of a capsule  2  resting on housing  46 , between a stable equilibrium position (no capsule  2  present in housing  46 ), in which the end part of the lever  48  penetrates inside outlet funnel  39  (this position of lever  48  is illustrated in  FIG. 9  with a broken line), and an instable equilibrium position (capsule  2  present in housing  46 ), in which the end part of lever  48  is positioned outside outlet funnel  39  (this position of lever  48  is illustrated in  FIG. 9  with a continuous line). 
         [0038]    The detecting means  49  also comprises a photocell  50 , which is aligned with a pass-through hole  51  through an intermediate portion of lever  48  when lever  48  is in its stable equilibrium position. In this manner, when lever  48  is pushed outwards in its instable equilibrium position by a capsule  2 , the light beam of photocell  50  is interrupted and electronic control means  8 , which is connected to the photocell  50 , is able to detect the presence of capsule  2  in lower outlet duct  40  and consequently to control activation of the actuator device  44  and dispense capsule  2  from the release device  7 . 
         [0039]    At the inlet of lower outlet duct  40 , through side surface  36 , there is an inlet opening  52  for the capsules  2   b  coming from store  6   b.    
         [0040]    According to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , store  6   b  comprises an upper portion defined by a container  53  with a substantially rectangular shape in cross-section and comprising tow semi-shells  54  facing each other and connected, which are provided with respective internal tabs defining a plurality of vertical channels  55 , in this case eight channels  55  parallel to axis  9 , each of which is adapted to accommodate a stack of capsules  2   b  arranged transversally, or with the respective axes  3  extending horizontally, and has an upper inlet opening and a lower outlet opening. 
         [0041]    The store  6   b  also comprises a release device comprising a drum  56  with an axis  57  extending transversally to the channels  55  and arranged under container  53  facing the outlet openings of the channels  55 . The drum  56  is mounted for step-rotation around its own axis  57  under the thrust of an actuator device  58  controlled by the electronic control means  8  and is provided with a plurality of radial housings  59 , which are equal in number to the channels  55 , are arranged at the outlet openings of the respective channels  55 , are configured to receive respective capsules  2   b  arranged vertically and are distributed along the drum  56  according to a cylindrical constant-pitch helix. In the embodiment shown, there are eight radial housings  59  staggered angularly, each by 45° with respect to each adjacent radial housing  59  in a manner that, at each 45° advance step of the drum  56  starting from an initial position, a single radial housing  59  is oriented upwards in a position to receive the respective capsule  2   b  from the respective channel  55  and, simultaneously, a single radial housing  59  is oriented downwards in a position to deliver the respective capsule  2   b.    
         [0042]    The drum  56  has a central axial hole  60  extending along the entire length of the drum  56  and associated with detecting means  61  connected to the electronic control means  8  and comprising a photocell  62  which is adapted to emit a beam along the hole  60  to detect the presence or not of at least one capsule  2   b  inside the radial housings  59 . 
         [0043]    Correct step-rotation of the drum  56  is controlled by a micro-switch  63  associated with the actuator device  58  and connected to the electronic control means  8 . 
         [0044]    According to what is better illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , store  6   b  also comprises, under the drum  56 , a receiving chamber  64 , which is bordered laterally by two surfaces  65  parallel to each other and to the axis  57  and is closed beneath by an inclined channel  67 , with a depth equal to or higher than the height of the capsules  2   b  and with a lower outlet end coupled to the inlet end of a further channel  68  arranged outside the receiving chamber  64  and having a lower outlet end connected to inlet opening  52  of hollow body  33 . 
         [0045]    The sides  65  are arranged at a distance one from the other approximating in excess the diameter of the flange  4  of capsules  2   b  and are provided with a plurality of ribs  66 , which are perpendicular to the channel  67  and define sliding channels of the capsules  2   b  towards said channel  67 . 
         [0046]    The width of channel  67  is higher than the maximum diameter of the body of the capsules  2   b,  but lower than the distance between the sides  65 , to which the channel  67  is coupled by means of two surfaces  69 , facing the drum  56  and inclined downwards and towards the channel  68  in a manner to define a tipping and sliding surface of the capsules  2   b.  In fact, when a capsule  2   b  leaves the respective radial housing  59 , the ribs  66  ensure the capsule  2   b  slides towards the channel  67  arranged with the respective axis  3  substantially parallel to said channel  67 , in a manner that the capsule  2   b  falls transversally towards the channel  67  and, after flange  4  strikes the surfaces  69 , tips backwards due to its own weight, partially enters the channel  67  and, remaining suspended with the flange  4  resting on surfaces  69 , slides along said channel  67 . 
         [0047]    In other words, the ribs  66 , the surfaces  69  and, in general, the channel  67  define, as a whole, orientating means which ensure that the capsules  2   b  leaving the drum  56  are arranged with the respective closing surface  5  turned upwards and arrive at opening  52  with this same orientation and, therefore, at the inlet of the lower outlet duct  40  of the release device  7 . 
         [0048]    Functioning of the feeding apparatus  1  will be described below starting from an idle condition, in which the carousel  17  is still, two cavities  18  are arranged as opposing bands of the outlet hole  11  at the micro-switches  21 , and one of these two cavities  18  contains a capsule  2   a,  which therefore engages the active element of the respective micro-switch  21 . Similarly, the drum  56  is still, a radial housing  59  is empty and arranged in its delivery position, and several of the remaining radial housings  59  contain respective capsules  2   b.  In the idle condition, lastly, the outlet device  7  is empty and lever  48  is arranged in its stable equilibrium position. 
         [0049]    The case of a user selecting a beverage obtainable by means of a capsule  2   a  on an automatic vending machine will now be examined. 
         [0050]    Once the beverage is chosen, the control means  8  commands activation of the motor  23  in a manner to bring the carousel  17  in step-rotation around the axis  9 . The direction of rotation of the carousel  17  is determined by the control means  8  on the basis of the presence signal detected by the micro-switches  21  in a manner that said one of said two cavities  18  containing the capsule  2   a  is advanced towards the outlet hole  11 . When said cavity  18  is aligned with the outlet hole  11 , the capsule  2   a  falls from the cavity  18  due to gravity and enters the inlet funnel  37  through the outlet hole  11  and the opening  38 . If, after the first advance step of the carousel  17 , the cavity  18  which reaches the position previously occupied by the discharged cavity  18  contains a capsule  2   a,  the corresponding micro-switch  21  sends a presence signal to the electronic control means  8  and the motor  23  is immediately stopped. Otherwise, the carousel  17  is made to rotate through subsequent advance steps until the micro-switch  21  does not detect the presence of a capsule  2   a  in that position. 
         [0051]    According to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the shape of the inlet funnel  37  is such as to alter the freefall trajectory of the capsule  2   a  through the opening  38 , in a manner to cause the relative flange  4  to engage with one or other of the ribs  41 , cause the capsule  2   a  to tip and deliver it to the lower outlet duct  40  arranged with its vertical axis  3  and with closing surface  5  turned upwards. In this regard, it should be noted that the orientation operation of the capsules  2   a  from a random arrangement in the chamber  14  to the final arrangement at the inlet of the lower outlet duct  40  occurs in two separate steps through the action of the orientating means  15  first and, subsequently, the inlet funnel  37  and the ribs  41 . 
         [0052]    When the capsule  2   a  is arranged resting on the housing  46 , the lever  48  is pushed into its instable equilibrium position and the photocell  50  signals the presence of a capsule  2   a  to the electronic means  8 , which commands activation of the actuator device  44 , with consequent release of the capsule  2   a  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0053]    The case of a user selecting a beverage obtainable by means of a capsule  2   b  on an automatic vending machine will now be examined. 
         [0054]    Once the beverage is chosen, the control means  8  commands activation of the actuator device  58 , which step-rotates, with 45° angular advances, the drum  56  until a radial housing  59  containing a capsule  2   b  reaches the delivery position and allows the respective capsule  2   b  to fall through gravity into the receiving chamber  64 , and said capsule, through channel  67 , channel  68  and opening  52 , reaches the outlet funnel  39  and the lower outlet duct  40  and rests on housing  46 , pushing the lever  48  into its instable equilibrium position. The photocell  62  signals the presence of the capsule  2   b  in the outlet device  7  to the electronic control means  8 , which immediately stops the actuator device  58  and, therefore, the drum  56 , thereby preventing other capsules  2   b  from leaving the drum  56 . Simultaneously, the electronic control means  8  control activation of the actuator device  44 , with consequent release of the capsule  2   b  ( FIG. 8 ).