Patent EA-002717-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and device for extracting the contents of a capsule
Inventor: MARILLER ALAIN
IPC: A47J31/36
Filed: 1999-11-09
Abstract: 1. Method for extracting the contents of a capsule that has a plane of symmetry, in which the said capsule is placed in the housing (5, 6) of an extraction system (2) consisting of two clamping elements (3, 4) that enclose between themselves, each for approximately one half, the said housing, in such a way that it is positioned in the system in a plane away from the vertical plane, the said capsule is moved into a vertical plane, in such a way that it is imprisoned leaktightly in the said system, and in such a way that a liquid inlet (22) arrives over the top of the said capsule, and the contents of the said capsule are extracted and the coffee flows out from the bottom of the said capsule. 2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the extraction is carried out on open capsules. 3. Method of extraction according to Claim 1, characterized in that the extraction is carried out on a sealed capsule at a pressure of between 0.2 and 1.0 MPar on raised and hollow portions situated on at least one of the faces of the clamping elements. 4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the extraction is carried out at a rate of between 250 and 300 cm<3> per minute. 5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angular distance from the vertical plane is between 15 and 45 degree . 6. Device for implementing the method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, comprising  - an extraction system (2) consisting of two independent and identical clamping elements (3, 4), enclosing between themselves, each for approximately one half, a housing (5, 6) for the capsule, - clamping means (7) connected to the extraction system (2) and on either side of the said extraction system and allowing the said extraction system (2) to be pivoted from the position away from the vertical plane to the vertical position and closed and opened, and - a lever system (8) connected to the said clamping means (7) mentioned above and enabling the user to work the said means, the extraction system (2), the clamping means (7) and the lever system (8) working together on a machine supporting frame (1) and the device also comprising a mobile water inlet system (22) above the system for the extraction (2) of the contents of the capsule between the two clamping elements (3, 4). 7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the housing (5, 6) for the capsule can accommodate capsules of different sizes, the mobile water inlet system (22) adapting itself accordingly. 8. Device according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that one or both clamping means (3, 4) comprise hollow and convex portions for extracting the contents of a sealed capsule. 9. Device according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the clamping means (7) consist of - a clamping rod (9) connected at one end (12) to one of the two clamping elements (4), halfway along the length of the said element, - an L-shaped clamping lever (10) that is connected at its mid-point (11) to the other end (13) of the clamping rod (9), is connected to the second clamping element (3) also halfway along the said element and is connected to a master rod (16), and - a master rod (16), one end of which slides in a guide (18) at the bottom of the supporting frame (1) on a positioning pin (17), the other end being connected to the lever system (8). 10. Device for implementing the method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, comprising  - an extraction system consisting of two independent clamping elements (31, 32), enclosing between themselves, each for approximately one half, a housing (5, 6) for the capsule, the first clamping element (31) comprising on either side perpendicularly and in the middle of the said element an arm (41) with a translational guide (42) and at the end of the said arm a guide pin (43) and the second element (32) comprising on either side and in the middle of the said element a clamping pin (44), - clamping means (33) connected to the extraction system and on either side of the said extraction system and allowing the said extraction system to be pivoted from the position away from the vertical plane to the vertical position and closed and opened, and - a lever (34) with two sides (35,36) extending from the operating bar (37) of the said lever, the latter being connected to the said clamping means (33) mentioned above and enabling the user to work the said means, the extraction system, the clamping means (33) and the lever (34) working together on a machine supporting frame (30) and the device also comprising a fixed water inlet system above the system for the extraction of the contents of the capsule between the two clamping elements (31, 32). 11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the clamping means (33) consist of a master rod, on either side of the lever system (34) and connected at one end to the end of the arm (51) of the said lever and at the other end to a translational and clamping pin (40) of the first clamping element which is situated approximately in the middle of the said first clamping element (31), the supporting frame (30) of the machine comprising on either side - a translational and clamping guide (45) for the said translational and clamping pin (40), - a guide (48) for the guide pin (43) of the first clamping element (31) and - a clamping guide (49) for the clamping pin (44) of the second element (32). 12. Device according to either of Claims 10 and 11, characterized in that each side (35, 36) of the lever (34) forms an elbow with a first and second arm (50, 51) with an angle of between 100 and 140 degree  between the first and second arms, the axis of rotation of the said lever being at the intersection of the first and second arms and situated above the supporting frame of the machine. 13. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the guide (48) for the guide pin (43) of the first clamping element forms an angle of between 0 and 50 degree  with the horizontal plane. 14. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the second arm (51) of the lever (34) is between 20 and 40 mm long. 15. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the translational and clamping guide (45) forms an elbow with an angle of between 100 and 150 degree .