Patent ID: 7051646

Claim:
System for transferring individual coffee packages ( 34 ) from a container to the extraction chamber ( 3 ) of a machine for making espresso coffee, the individual coffee packages being stacked one on the top of the other into a tubular container ( 6 ) and the system comprising means below the container for realizing said transfer, a water source for making the coffee infusion, a heater for bringing the water up to the desired temperature, a pump for pumping the water into the extraction chamber, operating means for activating the machine, controlling the extraction chamber made up of a fixed lower part into which there is received a coffee package and a mobile upper part that can close onto and open from the coffee package, as well as means for controlling the functions of the machine, the said system being characterized in that: the container ( 6 ) is provided with a closure means (S) which seals the mouth thereof and is provided with engagement means ( 9 ) suitable for engaging receiving means ( 7 , 8 ) in the coffee machine as the closure means ( 5 ) is removed from the container, the receiving means being associated with the coffee machine in a loading position adjacent to the extraction chamber ( 3 ), a mobile closure means ( 18 ) is associated with the machine to perform controlled displacements from a position in which the container mouth is closed to a position in which the container mouth is open to let a coffee package ( 34 ) drop out of the container ( 6 ), an opening in the machine at the loading position permits the bottommost coffee package to pass from the container ( 6 ) to transfer means ( 10 , 16 , 20 ) beneath it when the mobile closure means ( 18 ) is in the open position; the transfer means ( 10 , 16 , 20 ) are suitable for displacing the mobile closure means ( 18 ) from the closure position and carrying the coffee package ( 34 ) from the loading position to the extraction chamber ( 3 ); control means activate in sequence the aforesaid mobile closure means ( 18 ), the transfer means and means for performing the phases of closing the extraction chamber after the coffee package has been transferred into it, the return of the said mobile closure means ( 18 ) into a rest position, the pump that pumps the water to the heater and the extraction chamber, the percolation of the coffee, the opening of the extraction chamber ( 3 ), the expulsion of the exhausted coffee package so that the system may be ready to operate, when so commanded by a user, on the next coffee package released by the container, wherein, the receiving means ( 7 , 8 ) is an adapter element independent from the machine and carries means ( 7 c ) suitable for receiving the engagement means ( 9 ) of the container ( 6 ) before the adapter is fixed to the machine in the loading position.