Abstract:
In a percolating machine for making beverages from a closed container containing a powder, a drawer, having a percolating member for supporting the container, is mounted to move, along a first horizontal axis and through a vertical beverage extraction device, between a loading position to load the container, and an infusion position in which the percolating member cooperates with the extraction device to define an infusion chamber communicating with a beverage dispensing device; the percolating member being mounted to turn over about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis, and over a box for collecting the used containers, during and by movement of the drawer into the loading position.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to a percolating machine for making beverages.  
         [0002]     More specifically, the present invention relates to a percolating machine for making beverages from a closed container containing a powder, the machine being of the type comprising a frame; a beverage dispensing device; an infusion chamber housing a container and communicating with said dispensing device; an extraction device located on the frame along a vertical axis and at least partly movable along the vertical axis to define the infusion chamber; a drawer comprising a percolating member for supporting the container, the drawer being fitted to the frame and being movable, along a first horizontal axis and through the extraction device, between a loading position in which the container is loaded onto the percolating member, and an infusion position in which the percolating member is located inside the extraction device; and a used-container collecting box located on the frame, beneath the drawer; the infusion chamber comprising a top half-chamber along the vertical axis, and a bottom half-chamber defined by the percolating member.  
         [0003]     Though the percolating machine according to the present invention is suitable for percolating any type of beverage produced by feeding hot water through a relative substantially anhydrous powdered or granulated food substance, specific reference is made in the following description, purely by way of example, to a percolating machine for making espresso coffee.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Percolating machines substantially of the type described above are known, for example, from WO-A-01/84993, in which, however, the percolating member or cup is not fitted to the movable drawer, and in particular from EP-A-1050258, which is considered the latest known priority.  
         [0005]     EP-A-1050258 describes an espresso coffee percolating machine, wherein the percolating member or cup is movable with the drawer between a loading position to load a wafer containing ground coffee, and an infusion position, and wherein the frame comprises a gripper which, when the wafer in the percolating member or cup reaches the infusion position, closes onto a central flange of the wafer to make the wafer integral with the frame.  
         [0006]     When percolation is completed and the percolating cup is moved, by extracting the drawer, into the loading position, the gripper remains closed, thus extracting the wafer from the percolating cup, and is only opened, by contrast with the drawer, when the drawer reaches the loading position, in which the percolating cup can be loaded with another wafer. When the gripper opens, the wafer drops through a hole previously closed by the percolating cup in the infusion position.  
         [0007]     The known percolating machine described above thus provides for extracting and unloading the used wafer automatically, but not without certain drawbacks.  
         [0008]     That is, in the event two coffees are made one immediately after the other, the wafer is damp and subject to breakage by the tangential extraction force imparted to the wafer by the horizontal movement of the percolating cup. Conversely, when two coffees are made with a certain time lapse in between, in which the gripper remains closed, the flange on the wafer is dried by the relatively high temperature inside the machine, and may stick to one of the gripper jaws, so that, when the gripper is released, the wafer fails to drop down and remains jammed between the drawer and the frame, thus preventing preparation of the next coffee.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a percolating machine of the type described above, designed to extract and unload the used wafer automatically, but involving none of the aforementioned drawbacks.  
         [0010]     According to the present invention, there is provided a percolating machine for making beverages from a closed container containing a powder, the machine comprising a frame; a dispensing device for dispensing said beverage; an infusion chamber housing a said container and communicating with said dispensing device; an extraction device located on the frame along a vertical axis and at least partly movable along said vertical axis to define said infusion chamber; a drawer comprising a percolating member for supporting said container, the drawer being fitted to said frame and being movable, along a first horizontal axis and through said extraction device, between a loading position in which said container is loaded onto said percolating member, and an infusion position in which said percolating member is located inside said extraction device; and a collecting box for collecting the used containers and located on said frame, beneath said drawer; the infusion chamber comprising a top half-chamber along said vertical axis, and a bottom half-chamber defined by said percolating member; and the machine being characterized by comprising turnover means for rotating said percolating member on said drawer by an angle of, or equal to a multiple of, 180° about a second horizontal axis, perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, and over said collecting box, during and by movement of said drawer into said loading position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the percolating machine according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a partly sectioned plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of the  FIG. 1  machine;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a section along line III-III in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a section along line IV-IV in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows the same view as in  FIG. 4  of the  FIG. 1  machine in a different operating position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  shows an axial section of a detail of the  FIG. 1  machine in a first operating position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the  FIG. 6  detail;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 8, 9 ,  10  show axial sections of the  FIG. 6  detail in respective successive operating positions;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of the  FIG. 6  detail in an operating position immediately following the  FIG. 10  position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  shows a section along line XII-XII in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  shows an axial section of the  FIG. 6  detail in a further successive operating position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Number  1  in the accompanying drawings indicates as a whole a percolating machine for making espresso coffee from a wafer  2  ( FIG. 4 ) containing ground coffee.  
         [0024]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , machine  1  comprises a frame  3 , in turn comprising a base  4 , a vertical portion  5  extending upwards from base  4  and having a central vertical axis  6 , and an intermediate horizontal portion  7  extending across vertical portion  5  and having a central horizontal axis  8  perpendicular to vertical axis  6 .  
         [0025]     Vertical portion  5  comprises two pairs of vertical posts  9  located on opposite sides of horizontal axis  8 , and the posts  9  in each pair are connected at their top ends by a plate  10 , which is parallel to horizontal axis  8 , projects from relative posts  9 , and, together with the other plate  10  and with two cross members  11  and  12  connecting the respective corresponding ends of plates  10 , defines horizontal portion  7 . Vertical portion  5  also comprises two cylindrical guide columns  13 , each of which extends upwards from base  4 , parallel to vertical axis  6 , is located outwards of posts  9  of a relative pair of posts  9  and outwards of relative plate  10 , is located centrally with respect to relative posts  9 , and is connected at its top end to relative plate  10  by an L-shaped bracket  14  extending upwards from an intermediate point along a top edge of plate  10 .  
         [0026]     Vertical portion  5  houses an extraction device  15 , in which an infusion chamber  16  houses a wafer  2  and, by feeding in pressurized hot water, produces an espresso coffee which is fed to a dispensing device  17  fitted to frame  3 , beneath infusion chamber  16 .  
         [0027]     Extraction device  15  comprises a piston  18  coaxial with vertical axis  6 , located between posts  9 , and in turn comprising a bottom body  19 , and a movable output head  20  projecting from the top of body  19  and also coaxial with vertical axis  6 . At its top end, body  19  has a substantially circular flange  21 , to the periphery of which are connected two diametrically opposite sleeves  22 , each fitted in sliding manner onto a respective column  13 .  
         [0028]     Extraction device  15  also comprises a known boiler  23 , which is connected to brackets  14  and to the top ends of columns  13 , is located over plates  10 , and completes vertical portion  5 . Boiler  23  is provided underneath with a concave sprinkler  24 , which is coaxial with vertical axis  6 , with its concavity facing downwards, and defines a top half-chamber  25  of infusion chamber  16 .  
         [0029]     Extraction device  15  also comprises a percolating member  26 , which is located between plates  10 , comprises two opposite percolating cups  27  connected by a cylindrical intermediate body  28 , and, as explained later on, is movable, along plates  10  and in a direction  29  parallel to horizontal axis  8 , to and from an operating position ( FIG. 4 ) in which percolating member  26  is located between sprinkler  24  and head  20 , and can be turned over, about a horizontal axis  30  perpendicular to vertical axis  6  and horizontal axis  8 , to selectively position each percolating cup  27  facing sprinkler  24 , and to define a bottom half-chamber  31  of infusion chamber  16 .  
         [0030]     Each percolating cup  27  communicates with a respective drain conduit  32  formed through intermediate body  28  and having an external spout  33  which, when percolating member  26  is in the operating position and relative percolating cup  27  is positioned facing sprinkler  24 , extends parallel to vertical axis  6  and over an inlet end of a drain channel  34  fitted to frame  3  and defining dispensing device  17 .  
         [0031]     Percolating member  26  forms part of a drawer  35  fitted to horizontal portion  7 , between plates  10 , and movable in direction  29  along a guide  36  defined by two slots  37 , each formed along respective plate  10  and parallel to horizontal axis  8 . Drawer  35  comprises two lateral plates  38 , each of which is located outwards of a relative plate  10 , and is connected to the other lateral plate  38 , at one end, by a cross member  39  parallel to horizontal axis  30  and connecting the ends of the two lateral plates  38  facing cross member  11 , and, at the other end, by a pin  40  coaxial with horizontal axis  30 , fitted with intermediate body  28  of percolating member  26 , and extending diametrically through intermediate body  28 . Pin  40  and cross member  39  extend in transversely sliding manner through the two slots  37 , and cross member  39  comprises, inside each slot  37 , a respective substantially rectangular slide shoe  41 . By means of an actuating device  42  described later on, drawer  35  is moved along guide  36  between an infusion position, in which percolating member  26  is set to the operating position coaxial with vertical axis  6 , and shoes  41  are positioned contacting the ends of slots  37  facing cross member  11 , and a loading position, in which percolating member  26  is positioned contacting cross member  12 , and is locked angularly about horizontal axis  30  by a pin  43 , integral with cross member  12  and coaxial with horizontal axis  8 , engaging one of two diametrically opposite cavities  44  formed in intermediate body  28 . At the end facing cross member  11 , each slot  37  of drawer  35  has a wide portion  45  enabling drawer  35 , in the infusion position, to rotate upwards about an axis  46  extending substantially along an edge of cross member  39  facing cross member  11 ; for which purpose, a slot  47  extends upwards from an intermediate point along each slot  37 , and is engaged in transversely sliding manner by pin  40  when drawer  35  is rotated upwards.  
         [0032]     Machine  1  also comprises a turnover device  48 , in turn comprising a pinion  49  fitted to pin  40  between intermediate body  28  and one of plates  10 , hereinafter indicated  10   a ; and a rack  50  located along slot  37  of plate  10   a  and, as explained later on, engaged by pinion  49  as drawer  35  moves from the infusion position to the loading position. Rack  50  is formed along a top edge of a lever  51  extending towards cross member  11  from a pin  52  fitted through plate  10   a  close to cross member  12  and parallel to horizontal axis  30 . Close to its free end, lever  51  has rack  50  on top and, underneath, an appendix  53  fitted in rotary manner, by means of a pin  54  parallel to pin  52 , with a block  55  located beneath plate  10   a  and fitted laterally with a projecting flexible plate  56 , which slopes upwards towards cross member  11  and extends beneath and outwards of plate  10   a . A spring  57  is interposed and compressed between block  55  and one of posts  9  to push lever  51  upwards and keep lever  51  in a normal raised position in which a lateral stop  58  on lever  51  engages a bottom edge of plate  10   a , and rack  50  is located along the path of pinion  49  as drawer  35  moves into the loading position.  
         [0033]     Plate  56  forms part of a control device  59 , which also comprises a horizontal shoe  60  fitted to drawer  35 , by means of a bracket  61 , outwards of and beneath plate  10   a , and movable with drawer  35  along a horizontal path parallel to horizontal axis  8  and crossed by plate  56 .  
         [0034]     Actuating device  42  has the dual function of moving drawer  35  along guide  36 , and moving piston  18  towards boiler  23  as drawer  35  moves into the infusion position.  
         [0035]     To move drawer  35  along guide  36 , actuating device  42  comprises two brackets  62 , each of which is integral with base  4  and, outwards of relative column  13 , extends upwards from base  4  in a vertical plane parallel to the plane defined by vertical axis  6  and horizontal axis  8 . Actuating device  42  also comprises, for each bracket  62 , a link  63 , one of which is integral with an external operating handle  64 , is hinged to relative bracket  62  to rotate, with respect to frame  3 , about an axis  65  parallel to horizontal axis  30 , and comprises a slot  66  engaged in transversely sliding manner by a relative pin  67  parallel to horizontal axis  30  and projecting outwards from a bracket  68  integral with relative lateral plate  38 .  
         [0036]     To move piston  18  towards boiler  23 , actuating device  42  comprises, for each link  63 , a plate  69 , which is parallel to relative bracket  62 , is integral with relative sleeve  22 , faces relative link  63 , and has, on the side facing link  63 , an inclined groove  70  engaged by a pin  71  projecting from relative link  63  and parallel to relative axis  65 .  
         [0037]     Operation of machine  1  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1  and FIGS.  6  to  13 , and as of an operating position ( FIG. 13 ) immediately preceding the  FIG. 6  position, and in which drawer  35  is in the loading position, with percolating member  26  locked angularly with respect to horizontal axis  30  by pin  43 , so that one percolating cup  27  faces upwards, and the other percolating cup  27  faces downwards.  
         [0038]     At this point, the user places a wafer  2  inside the top percolating cup  27  and operates external handle  64  to move the two links  63  towards cross member  11 , so that, on the one hand, drawer  35  moves into the infusion position, and, on the other, the two pins  71  move down along respective grooves  70  to raise the whole of piston  18  so that head  20  is positioned with its top end substantially tangent to the path travelled by percolating member  26  when moving into the infusion position.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , as drawer  35  moves into the infusion position, shoe  60  engages the top surface of plate  56  and applies downward pressure on plate  56  to rotate lever  51  downwards and so move rack  50  downwards into a position of non-interference with pinion  49 . Consequently, pinion  49  does not engage rack  50 , and no torque is applied to pin  40  as percolating member  26  moves into the infusion position.  
         [0040]     As percolating member  26  and wafer  2  reach the infusion position coaxial with vertical axis  6  ( FIG. 8 ), pressurized water is fed in known manner to piston  18  to raise head  20 , which engages the bottom percolating cup  27  and pushes percolating member  26  upwards ( FIG. 9 ), so that drawer  35  rotates about axis  46 , pin  40  moves along slits  47 , and the top percolating cup  27  contacts sprinkler  24  in fluidtight manner to define infusion chamber  16  and close wafer  2  inside infusion chamber  16 . As infusion chamber  16  is sealed in fluidtight manner, hot water is fed in known manner through wafer  2  to produce an espresso coffee, which flows along relative drain conduit  32  and out through relative spout  33  into drain channel  34 . When the hot water is cut off, head  20  moves down and drawer  35  moves back into its initial horizontal position, so that infusion chamber  16  opens, and the used wafer  2  moves down and remains resting on top percolating cup  27 .  
         [0041]     To make another espresso coffee, the user operates external handle  64  to move drawer  35  into the loading position. In the course of which movement, shoe  60  slides along the top surface of plate  56  to lock lever  51  with its lateral stop  58  contacting the bottom edge of plate  10   a  as pinion  49  reaches rack  50 , which rotates pinion  49  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) to turn percolating member  26  over through 180° about horizontal axis  30  and over a box  72  located beneath horizontal portion  7 , so that the used wafer  2  drops down between plates  10  into box  72 .  
         [0042]     In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that turnover of percolating member  26 , which in itself is relatively fast, always detaches the used wafer  2  from relative percolating cup  27 .  
         [0043]     Once the percolating member is turned over, the previously downward-facing percolating cup  27  is positioned facing upwards, ready to receive another wafer  2  when drawer  35  moves into the loading position.  
         [0044]     In an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the invention, external handle  64  is replaced by a powered actuating device. In a further embodiment not shown, rack  50  is longer than in the preferred embodiment described above, and, in particular, is of such a length that, when pinion  49  engages rack  50 , percolating member  26  is rotated 360° about horizontal axis  30 ; in which case, percolating member  26  obviously has only one percolating cup  27 .