Abstract:
A machine for preparing liquid food or beverage from a beverage or food ingredient contained in a capsule or pod. The machine includes a liquid food or beverage preparation unit arranged to receive capsules or pods for use and evacuate capsules or pods after use; a housing having an opening leading into a seat to which capsules or pods are evacuated from the preparation unit; and a receptacle having a cavity forming a storage space for collecting capsules or pods evacuated to the seat into the receptacle to a level of fill. The receptacle is insertable into the seat for collecting capsules or pods and is removable from the seat for emptying the collected capsules or pods. The preparation machine further comprises a mechanism to inhibit jamming of the receptacle at removal from the seat when the level of fill in the receptacle extends above the opening of the housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention pertains to used capsule or pod receptacles of machines for preparing liquid food or beverages from an ingredient of the liquid food or beverage supplied within a capsule or pod to the machine. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Liquid food or beverage preparation machines are becoming very popular whether at home or in offices. For instance, there are machines for the preparation of beverages such as coffee, tea, soup or other similar beverages, in which at least one ingredient of the desired beverage, for example ground coffee, is supplied within a capsule or pod into a capsule or pod extraction chamber of the machine. 
         [0003]    The use of capsules or pods, such as plastic and/or aluminium-based capsules or pods for the preparation of beverages has many advantages. Capsules or pods, in particular aluminium-based capsules or pods, are hermetic or gas tight and thus can protect the beverage ingredient effectively during an extended period of time against the environment such as air, humidity or light, before use of the ingredient. Thus such capsules and pods prevent premature degradation of the ingredient. Furthermore, capsules or pods of a beverage ingredient are easy to handle, hygienic, and their use involves less cleaning of the beverage preparation machine, in particular no significant part of the machine&#39;s extraction chamber comes into contact with the beverage ingredient contained in the capsule or pod during the extraction process. 
         [0004]    Capsules or pods are usually inserted individually into the machine&#39;s extraction chamber, manually or automatically from a capsule or pod stack. Hot or cold water is then passed through the capsule or pod for brewing or otherwise extracting the ingredient(s) contained within the capsule or pod and form the desired beverage. The prepared beverage is supplied via an outlet of the machine into a cup, mug or other receptacle to the user. 
         [0005]    Used capsules or pods may either be removed individually from the liquid food or beverage preparation machine after each preparation cycle or they may be collected in a machine&#39;s used capsule or pod receptacle for instance as mentioned in EP 1 731 065. 
         [0006]    Typically, the capsule or pod receptacle is located underneath the capsule or pod chamber so that the capsules or pods may fall by gravity into the receptacle upon extraction. In the latter case, the receptacle has to be emptied by the user when full. The receptacle may be a drawer-type removable receptacle located in a seat of the beverage preparation machine typically under the extraction chamber. The used capsule or pod receptacle may be slid in and out of the machine&#39;s housing. 
         [0007]    A problem may arise with such capsule or pod receptacles, in particular in conjunction with rigid capsules or pods, when used capsules or pods accumulate in the receptacle to form a heap of capsules or pods whose top extends above the receptacle in such a manner to come into conflict with the housing when the receptacle is slid out of the machine&#39;s housing for emptying. 
         [0008]    A solution to avoid the jamming of the receptacle by used capsules or pods is to provide an optical level detector for measuring the level of capsules or pods in the used capsule or pod receptacle and inviting the user to empty the receptacle when the level of capsules or pods comes close to the level of the machine&#39;s housing. Another solution involves counting the number of capsule or pod extractions after emptying the receptacle and inviting the user to empty the receptacle after a predetermined number of capsules or pods has been collected, an excess of which may possibly cause jamming. 
         [0009]    A drawback with the level detector system involves the use of expensive electronic detectors, in particular optical detectors. Furthermore, since the accumulated capsules or pods naturally form a heap in the receptacle a waste of space is usually also involved around this heap. A drawback of the capsule or pod counting system lies in the fact that, in order to avoid jamming at all time, it is necessary to set a maximum number of collectible capsules or pods in the receptacle that will often lead to a poor filling of the receptacle at the time when the user will be invited to re-empty the receptacle and to an even greater waste of space around the heap of collected capsules or pods in the receptacle than with the above described level detector. 
         [0010]    Hence, there is still a need to provide an inexpensive simple solution for avoiding jamming of a used capsule or pod receptacle in a liquid food or beverage machine. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention thus relates to a machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage from a pre-portioned beverage or food ingredient in a capsule or pod. 
         [0012]    For instance, the machine is a coffee, tea or soup preparation machine. In particular, the machine is arranged for preparing within a liquid food or beverage module a beverage or liquid food by passing hot or cold water or another liquid through a capsule or pod containing an ingredient of the beverage or liquid food to be prepared, such as ground coffee or tea or chocolate or cacao or milk powder. 
         [0013]    In a broad aspect of the invention, the preparation machine comprises: a liquid food or beverage preparation unit arranged to receive capsules or pods for use and evacuate capsules or pods upon use; a housing having an opening leading into a seat to which capsules or pods are evacuated from the preparation unit; and a receptacle having a cavity forming a storage space for collecting capsules or pods evacuated to the seat into the receptacle to a level of fill. The receptacle is insertable into the seat for collecting capsules or pods and is removable from the seat for emptying the collected capsules or pods. 
         [0014]    In accordance with the invention, the preparation machine further comprises means to inhibit jamming of the receptacle at removal from the seat when the level of fill in the receptacle extends above the opening of the housing. In particular, the jamming inhibiting means are so arranged that the collected capsules or pods in the receptacle are inhibited from interfering with the housing at removal of the receptacle through the housing&#39;s opening. 
         [0015]    The jamming inhibiting means may be arranged to: lower the level of fill of collected capsules or pods in the receptacle for its removal. For instance, the machine is associated with a mechanical means arranged to redistribute an accumulated heap of capsules or pods in the receptacle to improve occupation of the storage space with capsules or pods. Such means may include a vibration or shaking means of the receptacle or other means that lowers the level of such a heap. Other means arranged to lower the level of fill of collected capsules or pods in the receptacle for removal thereof are discussed below. 
         [0016]    The jamming inhibiting means may be arranged to: displace the receptacle with its level of fill of collected capsules or pods. In one embodiment, the receptacle is associated with an elevator means that raises the receptacle in the seat into its operative position to collect capsules or pods and that lowers the receptacle in the seat for removal thereof through the opening of the housing so that capsules or pods that could accumulate to a level above the receptacle&#39;s mouth in the operative position of the receptacle would be lowered relative to an upper part of the housing opening in a removal step of the receptacle. In another embodiment, the jamming inhibiting means are arranged to reorient, in particular within the seat, the receptacle so that the level of fill is lowered relative to an upper par of the opening of the housing. Examples of such reorientations of the receptacle are disclosed in application EP 08155753.0 of which priority is claimed for the present application and the content of which is hereby incorporated by way of reference. 
         [0017]    In a particular aspect of the invention, the preparation machine comprises: a liquid food or beverage preparation unit arranged to receive capsules or pods for use and evacuate capsules or pods upon use; a seat to which capsules or pods are evacuated from the preparation unit; and a receptacle having a cavity forming a storage space for collecting capsules or pods evacuated to the seat. The receptacle is insertable into the seat for collecting capsules or pods and is removable from the seat for emptying the collected capsules or pods. In accordance with the invention, the preparation machine further comprises a means for reducing the storage space of the receptacle at insertion into the seat and for increasing the storage space of the receptacle at removal from the seat. 
         [0018]    As mentioned above, used capsules or pods that drop into the collection receptacle via the receptacle&#39;s mouth tend to accumulate in the form of a heap in the receptacle. This heap of capsules or pods may rise up to a level that exceeds to level of the receptacle&#39;s mouth. 
         [0019]    If a state of the art capsule or pod collection arrangement is used, typically a drawer-type receptacle, pulling the receptacle out from the cavity will be inhibited by the top of the heap of capsules extending above the receptacle&#39;s opening, which top will collide with the fixed outer wall of the device&#39;s housing that more or less matches the upper edge of the front wall of the movable capsule receptacle. In such a situation, the receptacle will be jammed by the capsules in the cavity and the user will be faced with the problem of unjamming the receptacle. 
         [0020]    The present invention provides a solution to this problem by reducing the capsule or pod storage space in the receptacle during collection of capsules or pods, and by increasing the available storage space when the receptacle is removed from the preparation machine for emptying the collected capsules or pods. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the seat comprises or is assembled to a body that is arranged to:
       enter the cavity at insertion of the receptacle into the seat, whereby the storage space is reduced; and   exit the cavity at removal of the receptacle from the seat, whereby the storage space is increased.       
 
         [0024]    Typically, this body will be moulded or cast with the seat or will be mounted on an anchorage part integral with the seat. 
         [0025]    For instance, the receptacle has a wall delimiting the cavity, the wall having a through-opening for allowing the passage of the body into the cavity. The body can be associated with: a rear face or rear end of the seat and may be arranged to extend via the through-opening of a rear wall of the receptacle; and/or a side face or side of the seat and is arranged to extend via the through-opening of a sidewall of the receptacle. 
         [0026]    It is also contemplated to provide an elevator-type system to increase and reduce the storage space of the receptacle. For example, the seat may include an elevator platform that is arranged to raise the receptacle within the seat against a counter-body of the seat or lower it therefrom. In other words, the counter-body may be arranged to: enter the receptacle&#39;s mouth to reduce the receptacle&#39;s storage space when the receptacle is in its operative position to collect capsules or pods; and exit the receptacle&#39;s mouth to increase the receptacle&#39;s storage space when the receptacle is lowered from its operative position and removed from the seat. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a counter-body that is lowered and raised into the receptacle&#39;s mouth to reduce and increase the receptacle&#39;s storage space. The elevator-type movements of the platform or of the counter-body can be manually or motor-driven. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the receptacle comprises a plurality of walls delimiting the cavity, at least one of which being relatively movable in the receptacle to increase and reduce the storage space at removal and insertion of the receptacle, respectively. For instance, the cavity is delimited by two cooperating shells that are movable relatively to one another. The cooperating shells as well as the receptacle and the seat can be relatively and respectively movable to one another along substantially parallel directions. For example, at least one relatively movable wall, in particular a shell, of the receptacle is movable in a sliding or telescopic movement in the receptacle. 
         [0028]    More generally, the receptacle can have a bottom with at least one arrangement, such as one or more through-openings or drain-holes, for the evacuation of liquid. The receptacle can be located on a reservoir for collecting liquid from the receptacle. The receptacle and the reservoir may be insertable into and removable from the seat en bloc. 
         [0029]    Another aspect of the invention concerns a receptacle having a cavity forming a storage space for collecting capsules or pods. Such a receptacle can be insertable and removable from a seat of a machine for preparing liquid food or beverage that is arranged to evacuate ingredient capsules or pods to such a seat upon use, as described above. This receptacle comprises means associated with its cavity for reducing the storage space at insertion into such a seat and for increasing the storage space at removal from such a seat. 
         [0030]    Such a receptacle may include any feature or combination of features disclosed in the relation with the receptacle of the liquid food or beverage preparation machine described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates a liquid food or beverage preparation machine according to the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a similar machine with an exploded view of the its capsule or pod collection receptacle, cup or mug support and drip tray arrangement; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 3   a  to  5   a  show a perspective view of a capsule or pod receptacle in various positions relatively to a corresponding seat of a liquid food or beverage preparation machine according to the invention; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 3   b  to  5   b  show corresponding cross-sectional views of the receptacle and seat of  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view from above of a front part of a receptacle of a preparation machine according to the invention; 
           [0037]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  illustrate two positions of another capsule or pod receptacle in a corresponding seat of a liquid food or beverage preparation machine according to the invention; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  illustrate two positions of another capsule or pod receptacle in a corresponding seat of a liquid food or beverage preparation machine according to the invention; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  illustrate a variation of the receptacle and corresponding seat of  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b ; 
           [0040]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrate a variation of the receptacle and corresponding seat of  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b ; and 
           [0041]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  illustrate a further variation of the receptacle and corresponding seat of  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a liquid food or beverage machine according to the invention. The machine has a liquid food or beverage unit  2  in a housing  9 . Unit  2  is arranged for receiving an ingredient capsule or pod and feeding a liquid to the capsule or pod. Unit  2  is mounted on a platform  1  and extends along a lateral side  1 ′ thereof. A beverage outlet  95  for dispensing beverage from unit  2  extends through a front face  94  of housing  9 . 
         [0043]    Unit  2  includes a brewing module (not shown) that comprises an opening and closure handle  11  and means for holding a substance-containing capsule or pod, e.g., a coffee capsule, and liquid food or beverage delivery means such as a liquid food or beverage duct  95 . The holding means typically comprises a capsule holder and a brewing cage, a fluid injection system for injecting water in the capsule and a closure device such as a lever and a knee joint mechanism. Suitable extraction modules are described in EP 1 859 713. Further possible features of unit  2  are discussed in greater details in co-pending application EP07123009, the content of which is hereby incorporated by way of reference. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, housing  9  houses within a receptacle seat a used capsule or pod receptacle  30  that has a front face  31  and that is removably inserted under the brewing unit and outlet  95 , in accordance with the invention. Receptacle  30  and its seat in housing  9  will be discussed in greater details in relation with  FIGS. 2 to 8   b . 
         [0045]    Platform  1  has at least the minimal functions as to the fluid and power management, which is supplying the liquid food or beverage unit  2  with electrical power and with water from water tank  7  attached to the base platform externally to housing  9  and adjacent to the rear wall of housing  9 . 
         [0046]    A master switch  3  is mounted on platform  1  for shutting on and off the machine. Two user-buttons  12 , typically for selecting a small or large quantity of liquid food or beverage to be prepared, are located above unit  2 . 
         [0047]    Upper face  34  of platform  1  has means in the form of a STRIX™ connector (not shown) for connecting a milk frothing device  8 . Such disconnectable connectors for the beverage or liquid food machine and frothing device  8  are for example disclosed in greater detail in WO 03/075629, WO 2008/046837 and in PCT/EP08/056349 which are hereby incorporated by way of reference. 
         [0048]    Upper face  34  is adjacent neighbouring front face  35  that can be associated with a heating system, in particular integrated in platform  1 , and that may be arranged to support one or more cups or mugs for pre-heating thereof prior to use. 
         [0049]    As mentioned above, liquid food or beverage unit  2  generally extends upwards within housing  9  adjacent a first lateral edge  1 ′ of platform  1 . Frothing device  8  is generally located adjacent a second lateral edge of platform  1  opposite the first edge  1 ″, so that housing  9  and platform  1  generally form in cross-section an L-shape that supports frothing device  8 . 
         [0050]    The liquid food or beverage machine also includes a support device  6  for supporting mugs that is located under beverage outlet  95  and that is in the shape of a perforated plate for evacuating liquid. A collector  6   a  in the form of a shallow reservoir is located underneath support device  6  for collecting the evacuated liquid. Collector  6   a  does not require a high capacity for collecting liquid. Most of the time, collector  6   a  will only have to collect drips and spills. 
         [0051]    Support device  6  and collector  6   a  are separable en bloc from platform  1 , for instance for emptying collector  6   a  and/or for cleaning. 
         [0052]    Furthermore, the liquid food or beverage machine has, above support device  6 , a second support plate  21  for supporting recipients, such as cups, of smaller size underneath the outlet  95 . Like main support device  6 , second support plate  21  comprises a perforated plate for the evacuation of liquid, in particular to collector  6   a , optionally via support device  6 . Second support plate  21  is movable into a generally horizontal operative position between the outlet  95  and support device  6 , as illustrated, and is movable into a generally upright or vertical rest position away therefrom so that a larger recipient is placeable on support device  6  under outlet  95 . Second support plate  21  is in particular rotatable and/or slidable from its operative position into its rest position. Further details of possible features of such second support device are for example disclosed in EP 1 867 260. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2 , in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, shows another embodiment of the invention. 
         [0054]    The preparation machine shown in  FIG. 2  has the same features as the machine of  FIG. 1  except for the absence of the lateral platform extension supporting a milk frothing device. 
         [0055]    The preparation machine of  FIG. 2  has a seat  5  for receiving a receptacle  30  having a cavity  30 ′ that forms a storage space for collecting used capsules or pods. 
         [0056]    Receptacle  30  may be assembled to a cup support device  20  which includes cup support member  21  that is pivotally mounted onto a reservoir  22  supporting receptacle  30 . Support member  21  is assembled to or integral with a stop member  24  that is rotatable with support member against a front face of reservoir  24  to stop the downward rotation of support member  21  and secure member  21  in a horizontal position. 
         [0057]    Receptacle  30  may have bottom part with a drain-hole so that reservoir  22  can collect liquid drained from this bottom part into reservoir  22  via the drain-hole. Cup support device  20  and receptacle  30  resting thereon may be inserted and removed en bloc from seat  5 . Further details of receptacle  30  and seat  5  are discussed in relation with  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b.    
         [0058]    Also shown in  FIG. 2 , collector  6   a  supporting support device  6  may be removably assembled via a mechanical connector  4  to platform  1 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 3   a  to  5   a  and  3   b  to  5   b  show in perspective view and cross-sectional view, respectively, different positions of receptacle  30  relative to seat  5 : an inserted position ( FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ); an intermediate position ( FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ) at insertion or removal; and a removed position ( FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b ). 
         [0060]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b , the capsule or pod collection arrangement of a machine according to this embodiment of the invention includes three units, namely: a capsule or pod receptacle  30 ; a cup support device  20  on which receptacle  30  is mounted; and a seat  5  for housing receptacle  30  on cup support device  20 . 
         [0061]    Seat  5  is located within housing  9  underneath the brewing unit (with handle  11 ) of liquid food or beverage unit  2 . Seat  5  has a bottom  53 , a rear face  51 , facing side faces  51 ′ and a front opening  5 ′ (see  FIG. 5   a ) for allowing the insertion and the removal of receptacle  30  and reservoir  22 . 
         [0062]    Cup support device  20  comprises a perforated support plate  21  that is hingedly assembled to liquid collection reservoir  22  via axis  23 . Collection reservoir  22  has a rim that supports and holds capsule or pod receptacle  30 , so that reservoir  22  and receptacle  30  can be inserted and removed from seat  5  en bloc. 
         [0063]    Receptacle  30  has a generally funnel-shaped bottom with a through-hole  35 ′ for evacuating liquid, in particular from capsules or pods upon use or from a cleaning or rinsing process of the preparation machine, to reservoir  22  located underneath. Cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30  is generally delimited by bottom  35 , front wall  31 , facing sidewalls  32  and rear wall  33 . 
         [0064]    Receptacle  30  is so dimensioned that front wall  31  comes generally flush with front face  94  of housing  9  when receptacle  30  is in its operative position inserted in seat  5 . Front wall  31  can be transparent or translucent to permit visual examination by a user of the level of fill of receptacle  30  with capsules or pods. 
         [0065]    Moreover, as shown in greater details in  FIG. 6 , front wall  31  may have one or more through-openings  317  for the evacuation of steam from cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30 , in particular a series of side-by-side elongated through-openings, such as through-openings  317  extending over substantially an entire height of front wall  31 . In one embodiment, wall  31  may include two adjacent parallel lines  312 , 314  of generally vertically extending parallel and spaced apart side-by-side members  311 , 313 . These two lines  312 , 314  of parallel upright members  311 , 313  can be offset so that the parallel members  311 , 313  of the two lines  312 , 314  are in a staggered arrangement, in a zig-zag order, or in positions alternating on either side of a median line  316  extending between the two lines  312 , 314 . The two lines  312 , 314  of parallel upright members  311 , 313  may extend between end portions  315  of sidewalls  32  of receptacle  30 . 
         [0066]    In this configuration, the spaced apart upright parallel members  311 , 313  may delimit therebetween through-openings  317 . In such an arrangement, through-openings  317  have a flow-through orientation that is parallel to the general direction  316  of front wall  31 . Hence, steam or fluid will not be able to project in direct line from cavity  30 ′ outside but will be diverted the staggered arrangement  311 , 313 . 
         [0067]    In accordance with the invention, the liquid food or beverage preparation machine further comprises a means for reducing the storage space of receptacle  30  at insertion into seat  5  and for increasing the storage space of receptacle  30  at removal from the seat  5 . 
         [0068]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b , such means are provided, on the one hand, in the form of a through-opening  34  delimited by rear wall  33  or receptacle  30  and, on the other hand, by a body  52  protruding out from rear wall  51  or seat  5 . Through-opening  34  and body  52  cooperate so that: when receptacle  30  is inserted in seat  5 , body  52  extends via through-opening  34  into cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30  whereby the storage space of cavity  30 ′ is reduced by the corresponding intruding volume of body  52 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ; when receptacle  30  is removed from seat  5 , the volume previously occupied by body  52  in cavity  30 ′ is freed, whereby the storage space of cavity  30 ′ is increased in the absence of body  52  in cavity  30 ′, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . During removal or insertion of receptacle  30 , body  52  retracts from or penetrates into cavity  30 ′ via through-opening  34  of rear wall  33 , as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b.    
         [0069]    Hence, when cavity  30 ′ is filled or even overfilled with capsules or pods, a user may still remove receptacle  30  from seat  5  without risk of jamming receptacle  30 , as the removal operation increases the available storage space of receptacle  30 . As explained above, during removal, body  52  withdraws from cavity  30 ′ leaving additional space therein. Conversely, when receptacle  30  is put back into place in seat  5  upon emptying, body  52  may freely enter empty cavity  30 ′ to reduce its storage capacity for the capsule or pod filling process. 
         [0070]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b , in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, show two schematic views from above of a variation of the receptacle and seat shown in  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b .  FIG. 9   a  illustrates receptacle  30  in its operative position for collecting capsules or pods.  FIG. 9   b  illustrates receptacle  30  in an intermediate position at removal (or insertion) into seat  5  of the preparation machine. 
         [0071]    Instead of having a body of a seat that enters via a through-opening in a middle part of the rear wall of the receptacle like in  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b , in  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  seat  5  has a pair of spaced apart bodies  52 ′, 52 ″ that are located at opposite end corners of seat  5  and that are arranged to enter laterally into cavity  30 ′ via cut-outs or through-openings  34 ′, 34 ″ formed at rear corners between sidewalls  32  and rear wall  33 . 
         [0072]    Likewise, through-opening  34 ′, 34 ″ and bodies  52 ′, 52 ″ cooperate so that: when receptacle  30  is inserted in seat  5 , bodies  52 ′, 52 ″ extend laterally via corresponding through-openings  34 ′, 34 ″ into cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30  whereby the storage space of cavity  30 ′ is reduced by the corresponding intruding volumes of bodies  52 ′, 52 ″, as illustrated in  FIG. 9   a ; when receptacle  30  is removed from seat  5 , the volumes previously occupied by bodies  52 ′, 52 ″ in cavity  30 ′ are freed, whereby the storage space of cavity  30 ′ is increased in the absence of bodies  52 ′, 52 ″ in cavity  30 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 9   b . During removal or insertion of receptacle  30 , bodies  52 ′, 52 ″ retract from or penetrate into cavity  30 ′ via through-openings  34 ′, 34 ″ of sidewalls  32  and rear wall. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, schematically illustrate a further embodiment of receptacle  30  and seat  5  of a liquid food or beverage preparation machine according to the invention.  FIG. 7   a  illustrates receptacle  30  in its operative position in seat  5 .  FIG. 7   b  illustrates receptacle  30  during insertion into or removal from seat  5 . 
         [0074]    In this embodiment, the means for reducing the storage space of receptacle  30  at insertion into seat  5  and for increasing the storage space of receptacle  30  at removal from the seat  5  include a pair of facing shells  36 , 37  delimiting cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30 . Shells  36 , 37  are movable relatively to one another to increase and decrease the storage space of cavity  30 ′. In particular, shells  36 , 37  are in a telescopic arrangement. Peripheral portions  36   a  of walls  32  and bottom  35  of shell  36  may slide in an out from grooves  37 ′ in corresponding peripheral portions  37   a  of walls  38  and bottom  39  of shell  37 . To avoid unwanted full separation of shells  36 , 37 , groove  37 ′ and/or peripheral portions  36   a  may incorporate an abutment or like arrangement (not shown), as known in the art. 
         [0075]    During use, used capsules or pods are evacuated from a brewing unit to passage  55  of seat  5  into cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30 . In this operative configuration, receptacle  30  has its shells  36 , 37  urged together for reducing the storage space of cavity  30 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 7   a.    
         [0076]    When receptacle  30  needs to be removed from seat  5 , e.g. for emptying, front shell  36  may first be pulled out, e.g. telescoped out, for instance by means of a handle or grip (not shown), while leaving rear shell  37  in place in seat  5  with rear walls  33 , 51  of receptacle  30  and seat  5  remaining together, as illustrated in  FIG. 7   b . Hence, the size of cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30  is correspondingly increased and capsules or pods collected therein have an increased storage space in receptacle  30 . It follows that capsules or pods that would have been accumulated above the mouth of receptacle  30 , in particular up to and into passage  55 , so as to overfill receptacle  30  in its operating position, are redistributed in the enlarged cavity  30 ′ having a larger storage space. Such an arrangement significantly reduces the risk of clogging or jamming of capsule or pod collection receptacles at removal. When capsules or pods stored in enlarged cavity  30 ′ have freed the way out, receptacle  30  may be further pulled along the same direction to remove receptacle  30  including rear shell  37  entirely from seat  5 . 
         [0077]    As apparent from  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , pivotable support plate  21  should be in its deployed operative horizontal position when receptacle  30  is being removed from or inserted into seat  5 . Furthermore, reservoir  22  holding receptacle  30  may follow rear shell  37  and have a corresponding shape to allow relative movements in seat  5  of front shell  37  on reservoir  22 . 
         [0078]    In a variation, it is of course possible to arrange the receptacle and the reservoir so that the reservoir follows the receptacle&#39;s front shell. In a second variation, it is also possible to arrange the receptacle and the reservoir so that the reservoir follows the receptacle&#39;s front shell at insertion of the receptacle into the seat and so that the reservoir follows the receptacle&#39;s rear shell at removal of the receptacle from the seat, or vice versa. 
         [0079]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, schematically illustrate a further embodiment of receptacle  30  and seat  5  of a liquid food or beverage preparation machine according to the invention.  FIG. 7   a  illustrates receptacle  30  during insertion into or removal from seat  5 .  FIG. 7   b  illustrates receptacle  30  in its operative position in seat  5 . 
         [0080]    In this embodiment, the means for reducing the storage space of receptacle  30  at insertion into seat  5  and for increasing the storage space of receptacle  30  at removal from the seat  5  include an elevator like platform  56  and a counter-body  58  in seat  5 . 
         [0081]    Elevator-like platform  56  is movable up and down by means of drive rod  57 . Platform  56  is arranged to support bottom  35  of receptacle  30  and move receptacle  30  up and down between bottom  53  and top  54  of seat  5 . Furthermore, seat  5  has a counter-body  58  that is arranged to reduce the storage space of cavity  30 ′ when receptacle  30  is in its operative position to collect pods or capsules. 
         [0082]    This operative position of receptacle  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 8   b . In this position, receptacle  30  is lifted by platform  56  against top  54  so that counter-body  58  enters into receptacle  30  via its mouth for reducing the storage space of cavity  30 ′. Capsules or pods may be evacuated from the brewing unit into cavity  30 ′ via passage  55  in counter-body  58 . 
         [0083]    When receptacle  30  is full or overfilled with capsules or pods, in particular accumulated up into passage  55 , platform  56  with receptacle  30  may be lowered as illustrated in  FIG. 8   a . In this lower position, the top surface of platform  56  which contacts bottom  35  of receptacle  30 , comes generally flush with the top surface of support plate  21  when in its deployed horizontal operative position. Hence top surfaces of platform  56  and of support plate  21  provide one substantially continuous guide surface for moving receptacle  30  in and out from seat  5 . Moreover, the upper space or cavity  30 ′ previously occupied by counter-body  58 , is freed and the capsules or pods in excess may occupy this newly freed space so as to reduce or eliminate the risk or clogging or jamming receptacle  30  when pulled out of seat  5  via opening  5 ′. 
         [0084]    Unlike the previous embodiments, the receptacle and seat schematically shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are not associated with a separated reservoir for collecting liquid and the receptacle is not provide with a drain-hole for evacuating such liquid to the reservoir. In this embodiment, such liquid is directly collected and accumulated on the bottom of the receptacle. Furthermore, the pivotable support plate  21  is directly pivotally mounted via axis  23  on seat  5  (or on the housing of the preparation machine). Support plate  21  is connected to a stop member  24  that is pivotable with support plate  21  against seat  21  (or against the housing of the preparation machine) to hold and secure support plate  21  in a substantially horizontal operative position. Support plate  21  may also be pivoted upwards in an upright rest position to cover opening  5 ′. 
         [0085]    In a variation, it is also possible to move the counter-body up and down in the cavity of the receptacle so as to increase and decrease its storage space, instead or moving the entire receptacle up and down by means of the platform. In a further variation, it is also possible to provide a reservoir for supporting the receptacle like in the previous embodiments. In such a case, the reservoir and the receptacle resting thereon may be lifted or lowered together by the elevator-like platform. Alternatively, the counter-body may be lowered and raised in the receptacle. 
         [0086]    In either case, whether the counter-body is lowered into the receptacle or whether the receptacle is lifted so that the counter-body enters the receptacle&#39;s mouth, the receptacle is safely secured in its operative position within the seat and does not risk to come out or fall out inadvertently. 
         [0087]    A further elevator-type variation is shown in  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, where no counter-body is arranged to enter into the cavity  30 ′ of receptacle  30 . In this embodiment, the jamming inhibiting means do not affect the storage space of receptacle  30 . 
         [0088]    If  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , elevator-like platform  56  is movable up and down by means of drive rod  57 . Platform  56  is arranged to support bottom  35  of receptacle  30  and move receptacle  30  up and down between bottom  53  and top  54  of seat  5 . Platform  56  is arranged to hold receptacle in its operative position against top  54  ( FIG. 10   b ) and lower receptacle  30  for removal ( FIG. 10   a ). 
         [0089]    In the operating position, receptacle  30  capsules or pods may be evacuated from the brewing unit into cavity  30 ′ via passage  55 . 
         [0090]    When receptacle  30  is full or overfilled with capsules or pods, in particular accumulated up into passage  55 , platform  56  with receptacle  30  may be lowered as illustrated in  FIG. 10   a . In this lower position, remaining used capsules or pods may come down from passage  55  to unclog receptacle  30 , whereby receptacle  30  may be pulled out from seat  5  without having capsules or pods interfering with an upper part of opening  5 ′ of the machine&#39;s housing. 
         [0091]    Yet another elevator-type variation is schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b , in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements. 
         [0092]    In this embodiment, bottom  35  of receptacle  30  is movable up and down within a bottom part of receptacle  30  to reduce and increase, respectively the storage space of cavity  30 ′. As illustrated, bottom  35  may be raised and lowered by elevator platform  56  between abutments  33 ′ and bottom flanges  33 ″ protruding from rear wall  33  and front wall  31  of receptacle  30 . 
         [0093]    In a variation, it is also possible to replace the elevator-type raising and lowering mechanism by a cam and follower arrangement or another movement conversion system from a horizontal insertion movement of the receptacle into a vertical elevation movement of the bottom of the receptacle, and from a horizontal removal movement of the receptacle into a vertical lowering movement of the bottom of the receptacle. 
         [0094]    For instance, the movable bottom of the receptacle may include horizontally extending cam followers that protrude beyond the receptacle&#39;s sidewalls in a manner to allow vertical movements of the cam followers. Moreover, the sidewalls of the seat have corresponding cams in which or against which the cam followers engage when the receptacle is moved horizontally into the seat, the cams being arranged so as to guide the cam followers upwards as the receptacle is introduced into the seat and downwards when the receptacle is removed from the seat.