HK1031364B - Refill cartridge for a beverage dispensing apparatus and apparatus adapted to such a cartridge - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to automatic dispensers of beverages, sauces or other products prepared on demand. In particular, the invention relates to dispensers that use powdery substances such as soluble powders such as coffee, tea, chocolate or other, and that need to be refilled regularly. Advantageously, the invention relates to beverage dispensers used to service passengers in airplanes, trains or other means of transportation with a catering service. The invention also finds application to automatic dispensers of beverages installed in public places equipped with a money machine.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 352 (char 351)

There are dispensers which are designed to receive cartridges or containers filled with soluble powdery substances which are opened before they are introduced into the dispensing device. GB 1 325 478 teaches, for example, such a principle. In this particular case, the container includes an adhesive tape which is delaminated before the container is assembled into the device. The disadvantage is that the assembly operation is done while the container is fully opened, thus leading to the same disadvantages as those mentioned above.

There are also automatic dispensing devices such as those disclosed in US-A-5,237,910 where the bag is opened by cutting the bottom of the bag by means of a cutting system housed inside the device.

There is therefore a real need for a principle for the refilling of dispensers with powder-type substances or equivalent that is simple, quick to use, without loss of material and, if necessary, can be implemented in a limited available space.

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to meet these expectations by proposing a charging element which is designed to release its substance into the device without the need to open the element beforehand and without providing for cutting systems integrated into the distribution device.

Cartridges which prevent the cartridge from being opened have already been developed for photocopiers (see document EP-A-0 419 290 or EP A-0 387 986).

The invention relates to a food filling unit for a device for automatically dispensing beverages, sauces or other products on demand. The filling unit comprises a container containing a predetermined amount of the substance to be filled into the device and a closing device which cooperates with the container to form a closed enclosure. The closing device comprises means which allow at least partial detachment of the closing device by the introduction of the filling unit into the automatically dispensing device or after the filling unit has been placed in the device.

The means of detachment shall consist of a free, folding, detachable part of the closing device extending at least partly beyond the boundary of the container on which the means of detachment of the closing device are provided.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 43 (char 42)

The opening of the element is thus simplified by the possibility of directly acting on the locking device on the charging element at the time of introduction or after the introduction of the element into the device.

In the first possible mode, the free part of the closing device comprises at least one mechanical means of attachment designed to bind to a part of the device which is to hold the device, complementary to the mechanical means of attachment in such a way as to hold the free part in place and thus ensure at least partial detachment of the closing device from the container when the loading element is introduced into the distribution device.

In an alternative solution, the means of closure shall comprise a portion of the container which is properly closed and a free portion which can be reached manually after the charging device has been installed.

According to the invention, the closing medium is preferably a flexible film assembled by adhesion or sealing on the guide edges of the container so that the closing medium is detached by delamination of at least one portion of the film along the edges of the container.

The invention also relates to the actual distribution device suitable for the reception of the predefined charging element. In particular, such a device comprises a substance supply sub-assembly which itself comprises at least one reception area for the charging element with a housing arranged for the sliding of the charging element according to a configuration of the container inverted only, the closing medium forming at least partly the bottom of the element. In addition, the device comprises at least one food reception medium located below the charging medium in such a way as to allow the food substance falling by gravity to be collected when the closing medium is opened.

In a particular case, the distribution system includes a mechanical means of restraint in which the means of mechanical attachment of the means of closing the charging element is engaged; this means of mechanical restraint being located at the entrance of the housing, the operation of opening the charging element in order to release its substance into the system is thus facilitated by means conveniently placed at the entrance of the system to take advantage of the movement of the introduction of the charging element to effect the opening.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be shown by the detailed description and drawings given as non-limiting examples in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view from the perspective of a distribution device of the invention comprising two partially inserted charging elements;Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the principle of insertion of the charging element of the invention into the distribution device according to a first embodiment;Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the principle of insertion of the charging element of the invention into the distribution device according to a second embodiment;Figure 4 is a side view of a charging element according to the mode of Figure 2;Figure 5 is a front view of the device according to Figure 4;Figure 6 is an upper view of the device according to Figure 7;Figure 10 is a front view of the device according to the second embodiment;Figure 3 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 10;Figure 8 shows a longitudinal view of a charging element from the front of the device;Figure 10 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 10;Figure 10 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 10;Figure 3 shows a front view of the device according to the second embodiment;Figure 8 shows a front view of the device;Figure 10 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 10;Figure 11 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 8;Figure 8 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 10;Figure 8 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 10;The correspondinging element is a front view of the second embodiment;Figure 8A is a front view of the device;Figure 10 is a front view of the reverse of the device;Figure 8 is a front view of the reverse of the device is a reverse of the reverse of the rearward;Figure 10 is a rearward;Figure 8 is a rearward;The corresponding element is a rearward;The third rearward of the rearward of the rearward of the rearward of the rearward of the rearward of the rearward of the rear of the rear of the rear of the rear of the

The invention is now described in detail by means of examples in reference to drawings.

The dispensing device 1 shown in Figure 1 as an illustration of the preferred mode is a coffee or other hot drink dispensing machine which may be installed in a small space intended for this purpose, such as the reserved space of an aircraft, for example.

Figures 2 and 4 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The filling element 2 is intended to fit into a housing 14 of substantially complementary shape in the reception area 13 of the device. The filling element 2 has a container 20 containing a certain amount of a substance to be filled in powdered form, such as coffee, tea, milk or other. Depending on the size of the container and the specific weight of the product, the amount of substance in the container may vary. The amount may be determined by the number of individual doses of product to be supplied after dosing by a dosing device of the device. For example, a number of 1 to 200 individual doses may be envisaged. The bottom of the filling element 25 is a form of filling device which is designed to be placed in a sealed container and assembled directly on the container by means of a hermetically sealed form.

The closing medium 25 is preferably a flexible film assembled by adhesion or sealing on the edges 21 of the container. The folded side edges 21 extend preferably all around the container forming the tray to support, stabilize and guide the tray in the device.

As shown in particular in Figure 2, the closing medium 25 extends to the front of the filler by a free portion 26 which extends at least partly beyond the container. By free portion is meant a portion with a free end when the container is not yet in engagement with the device. This portion is flexible in the sense that it is foldable against the surface of the closing medium or film 25. In practice, the portion is simply an extension of the film.The protruding section 28 forms a buttress to support itself on a complementary edge 140 delimiting the entrance to housing 14 of the distribution system. Housing 14 has an upper wall 142 which defines with the lower edge 140 a height H which, taking into account dimensional tolerances, allows the sliding engagement of the charging element 2 except for the hook 27. Thus, the height H corresponds to the height h of the charging element including the height of the container with its edges.The anchorage means 27 consists of two buttons 28 spaced laterally from each other, as shown in Figure 4. In an unrepresented variant, it could be a continuous protruding edge extending over the entire width of the free portion 26 or any other equivalent means.

The installation of the charging element 2 is particularly simple, since it consists in placing the front of the charging element at the entrance of the housing in such a way as to cause the free portion 26 to fold along the flexible zone 29 and thus to allow the projection portion 28 to be applied downwards, facing the edge 140 of the container and then to exert a force sufficient to push the charging element into its housing; the detachment of the closing device 25 results in the delamination of the film along the sealed edges 21 of the container. Delamination can be achieved on only a portion of the length of the container. In this case, the delamination can be completed externally. Delamination can be carried out manually alternately along the entire length of the container. It is therefore noted that the delamination is not possible as long as the internal boundary of the container.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the container is in the form of an elongated tray with a transverse section of a substantially trapezoidal shape, the largest base extending in a substantially identical plane by side edges on which the closing device 25 is connected in a detachable manner.

Figures 3 and 7 show another embodiment of the invention in which the mechanical coupling comprises at least one hole 22 in the free portion 26 of the coupling intended to engage a section of additional rod 141 of the distribution device.

According to a feature of the invention, the flexible film is preferably made of a material resistant to moisture and tear, preferably a laminate comprising an aluminium film lined internally with a film of a hot melt material so as to promote its assembly at the edges of the vessel.

Container 20 is preferably formed from plastic material using a process chosen from the following: thermoforming, injection, extrusion-blowing and injection-blowing.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate an example of a distribution device covered by the invention.

The device comprises a subset 7 of a powder supply. The subset includes a receiving area 13 forming the upper part of the body of the device in which the housing 14 is arranged to receive the charging element 2. The element 2 is slid into the housing in the upside-down position; meaning that the container has its opening facing downwards when its closing means is removed. The housing has a configuration of shape and/or dimension such that the element cannot be introduced in the other direction; that is, with the closing means facing upwards.

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The receiving medium leads the powdered substance directly onto a dosing medium 5 whose role is to dose the desired amount of substance in a mixing chamber 6. The dosing medium is preferably a known state-of-the-art dosing screw at the bottom of the hopper. The screw may be of the spiral type; i.e. comprising a wire in the shape of a helical spiral. It may also be a screw comprising a core structured externally by a fully helical nerve of predetermined step.

According to an advantage of the invention, the dosing screw is arranged horizontally and is oriented significantly in the vertical plane in which the filler extends longitudinally. 2 Such a relative arrangement of the screw and filler contributes to a good distribution of the powdered substance in the device at the time of its release and therefore improves the accuracy of the dosing.

The screw is mounted on a portion of shaft 50 supported by a bearing 51. The shaft portion is connected to a tip 52 intended to be coupled with a motorized drive device (not shown). At the opposite end of the screw, a supporting element 53 is provided to hold the screw which includes an opening 53 for the pouring of powder. The element is connected by means of fixing to the front wall 45 of the hopper.

As shown in Figure 9, several supply sub-assemblies 7a, 7b are arranged in parallel, allowing the arrangement of several charging elements 2 which may contain different powdery substances in the device and communicate with a common mixing bowl 6. The charging elements 2 may have different volumes. The charging element 2 is guided in its housing by guiding means 43, 44 in the form of spatial rails laterally providing sliding in a substantially horizontal plane. These means 43, 44 as shown may have horizontal wall portions supporting the plane on the edges 21 of the charging elements and vertical portions providing horizontal guidance of the vertical portions and have a longitudinal shape.

The mixer 6 is supplied with water supply 60. It is possible to provide for separate supply of hot and cold water. The device may also include a water heating system (not shown).

The bowl is extended downwards by a stirring chamber 8 which includes a stirrer. The stirrer is in the form of a rotating organ with a rotor 80 and blades 81. The stirrer is generally closed. It is designed to produce a foam layer on the surface of the distributed beverage. The stirrer can be turned off for some preparations where foam production is not desired.

The prepared product is then distributed through an outlet channel 9 at the bottom of the apparatus.

In a possible variant of the apparatus not shown, several charging elements may be assembled in a vertical stacking configuration; each element being engaged according to the same principle as the one just described. In this case, any element comprising an element covering it will have an opening on its upper surface to allow the passage of the substance from the element above it. The opening of its upper surface may thus be provided according to the same principle as the part forming the means of closure. In this case, the container may have two opposite closing means; one forming the upper surface of the element, the other forming the lower surface of the container.

Figures 10 to 11 show variants in which the closing device 25 comprises a proper closing portion 250 of the container and a free portion 26 superimposed on the closing portion and having a first end 251 on the side of the entry of the element into the device; this end 251 being connected to the closing portion so as to form a folded edge, and an opposite end 252 extending the container, which end can be reached manually after the filling is placed in the device.

Automatic distribution system means any type of distribution system which activates a cycle of reconstitution of ready-to-eat food preparations.

The invention is suitable for the refill of powdered food substances in beverages selected from roasted and ground coffee, soluble coffee, tea, chocolate drinks, milk, flavoured beverages based on fruits, herbs, sugar, legumes and natural or artificial flavourings and mixtures in any proportion of these products.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the methods of implementation described but may concern variants which may be regarded as equivalent and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (24)

1. Element for refilling a foodstuffs substance for an automatic distribution device for a drink, sauce or other product on demand, comprising a container (20) which contains a predetermined quantity of the substance to be refilled in the device and a means (25) for closure which co-operates with the container (20) in order to form a closed enclosure, means (22, 26, 27, 28, 29) permitting at least partial detachment of the means (25) for closure, characterised in that the means for closure comprises a free portion (26) which can be folded and extends at least partially beyond the limit of the container (20) and can be actuated in order to detach the means for closure at least partially under the effect of introduction of the refilling element (2) into the distribution device or after putting the refilling element into place in the device, in that the refilling element comprises means (21) for guiding in order to be engaged by being slid in a receptacle (14) provided in an area of accommodation (13) of the device and is designed to be inserted in the receptacle (14) such as to constitute, once it has been put into place in the receptacle (14), part of a sub-assembly for supply of substance to the device.
2. Element according to claim 1 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the free portion (26) of the means (25) for closure comprises at least one means (27) for mechanical coupling which is designed to be engaged with a retention part (140, 141) of the device, which is complementary to the means for mechanical coupling such as to keep the free portion (26) in place and thus to assure at least partial detachment of the means (25) for closure relative to the container (20) during introduction of the refilling element (2) in the distribution device (1).
3. Element according to claim 2 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the means (27) for mechanical coupling comprises at least one projecting portion (28) which forms a stop designed to be supported on a complementary edge (140) of the distribution device.
4. Element according to claim 2 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the means (27) for mechanical coupling comprises at least one hole (22) provided in the free portion (26) of the means for coupling which hole is designed to be engaged in a complementary portion of rod (141) of the distribution device (1).
5. Element according to claim 1 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the means for closure (25) comprises a so-called closure portion (250) of the container and a free portion which is superimposed relative to the closure portion and has a first end (251) which is situated on the side of introduction of the element into the device; the said end being connected to the closure portion such as to form a folded edge, and an opposite end (252) which extends the container, which end can be reached manually after the refill has been put into place in the device.
6. Element according to any one of the preceding claims for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the means for closure (25) is a flexible film which is assembled by adhesion or sealing on the guiding edges (21) of the container such that the means for closure is detached by delamination of at least one portion of the film along the edges of the container (20).
7. Element according to claim 6 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the flexible film is made of material which is resistant to humidity and tearing.
8. Element according to any one of the preceding claims for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the container (20) is in the form of an elongate tray with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, the largest base being extended on a substantially identical plane by lateral edges (21) to which the means (25) for closure is connected in a detachable manner.
9. Element according to claim 8 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the lateral edges (21) extend around the periphery of the container (20) which forms the tray.
10. Element according to claim 8 or claim 9 for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the means (25) for closure comprises a flexible film which is heat sealed onto the lateral edges (21) of the container.
11. Element according to any one of the preceding claims for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the container (20) is made of plastic according to a method selected from amongst the following techniques:

    thermoforming, injection, extrusion-blow moulding and injection-blow moulding.
12. Element according to any one of the preceding claims for refilling a foodstuffs substance, characterised in that it contains a powdered foodstuffs substance for preparation of drinks selected from amongst roasted ground coffee, soluble coffee, tea, chocolate flavoured drinks, milk, fruit-based flavoured drinks, plants, sugar, leguminous plants and natural and artificial flavourings, as well as mixtures of these products in any proportion.
13. Device for automatic distribution of drinks or sauce or other products on demand, which is specifically designed for receipt of a refill element (2) defined according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the device having at least one sub-assembly (7) to supply the foodstuffs substance, the said sub-assembly comprising:

    at least one area (13) for accommodation of the refill element (2) comprising a receptacle (14) which is arranged for introduction of the refill element by the user, and guiding and sliding of the refill element (2) according to a solely overturned configuration of the container, the means (25) for closure forming at least partially the base of the element;

    at least one means (4) for receipt of the foodstuffs substance being located beneath the refill element such as to make it possible to receive the foodstuffs substance which falls by gravity during opening of the means (25) for closure.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that it comprises in addition:

    a means (5) for apportioning the quantity of substance discharged from the means (4) for receipt;

    a mixing bowl (6) which is supplied with water in which the quantity of substance apportioned is distributed; and

    a distribution output (9) which permits distribution of the mixture.
15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the means (5) for apportioning is a metering screw which is disposed horizontally and is oriented substantially in the vertical plane, in which the refill element (2) extends longitudinally.
16. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the receptacle which is used to accommodate the refill element (2) comprises means (43, 44) for guiding in the form of two rails which are spaced laterally, thus assuring sliding of the refill element in a substantially horizontal plane.
17. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that it comprises a means (140, 141) for mechanical retention in which there is engaged the means (27) for mechanical coupling of the means (25) for closure of the refill element; the said means (27) for mechanical retention being situated at the intake of the receptacle.
18. Device according to claim 17, characterised in that the means for mechanical retention is in the form of at least one portion of transverse edge (140) in which the means (27) for coupling abuts during introduction of the refill element into the receptacle.
19. Device according to claim 17, characterised in that the means for mechanical retention is in the form of at least one portion of rod in relief (141) in which the means for coupling engages during introduction of the refill element into the receptacle (14).
20. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterised in that the means (4) for receipt of the substance is a cone with splayed edges or a funnel.
21. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 20, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of supply sub-assemblies (7a, 7b) which are disposed in parallel and permit fitting of a plurality of refill elements (2) in the device, which contain different substances and communicate with a common mixing bowl (6) supplied with water.
22. Device according to claim 21, characterised in that it comprises in addition a mixing chamber (8) comprising a means for agitation for production of foam; this chamber is located between the mixing bowl (6) and the output (9) for distribution of the product on demand.
23. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterised in that it comprises an arrangement of a plurality of elements disposed according to vertical stacking.
24. Device for distribution of a drink comprising a distribution device (1) and at least one cartridge (2) for refilling with powdered foodstuffs substance, characterised in that the cartridge (2) comprises an elongate container (20) which contains the powdered substance, means (21) for guiding and a film (25) which can be peeled and forms the base of the cartridge, the film previously being assembled by sealing or gluing onto the edges (21) of the container; the film comprising a free front portion (26) which can be folded and is provided with means (27) for mechanical coupling, and in that the distribution device (1) comprises a receptacle (14) for receipt of the cartridge which is arranged for guiding and sliding of the cartridge according to a solely overturned configuration of the container (20), and means (140, 141) for retention which engage at the moment of introduction of the cartridge (2) in the receptacle (14) and retain the free front portion (26) which can be folded, such that the movement of introduction of the cartridge into the receptacle gives rise to delamination of the film (25) and consequently release by gravity of the substance into the distribution device.