HK1138489B - Capsule extraction device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system incorporating a device for extracting a capsule.

Capsule extraction devices already exist on the market and there is a need for an extraction device that facilitates the insertion and positioning of the capsule in the device but is simple and inexpensive.

One problem encountered is positioning the capsule in the device and closing it around the capsule to perform extraction. The capsule must usually be positioned by the user on a capsule holder or in a housing, and then the device is manually or automatically closed around the capsule. It is important to position the capsule correctly so that the device closes properly around it and a good seal is thus achieved to ensure good extraction conditions. Poor positioning can damage the capsule; thus affecting extraction conditions.

The advantages of such systems are that they allow loading from the top in the manner of a cash register, and make loading fast. The positioning of the capsule is then supported by moving a moving part that pushes the capsule against another part such as a water heater. However, these devices are complex to make and therefore do not fit in low-cost and entry-level coffee machines for the public market.They are therefore generally intended for the professional market such as restaurants, bars or communities. For example, patent application WO 98/47418 concerns a device for extracting pre-filled pellets, in which the pellets are inserted vertically and extracted horizontally. The disadvantage of this device is that it includes two moving parts for extraction, which makes the mechanical principle more complicated. US Patent 5,776,527 relates to a device for the infusion of lenticular filter capsules comprising guiding and holding devices in the form of movable plugs which are pushed back by a horizontally moving piston to a water heater.The capsules are moved back into position by a spring to lift the capsule, which then falls under the effect of gravity when the capsules are operated in rotation to open downwards. The patent application EP 1 219 217 A1 relates to a coffee machine with a capsule seat which oscillates between a capsule reception position and a capsule release position.The oscillating configuration of the seat and the three reference positions of the seat, as well as the number of parts required, make such a device complex and expensive to produce.

The purpose of the present invention is to make available to the consumer an extraction system which is simpler in design, less expensive and mechanically reliable. One of the purposes is to facilitate the insertion of a capsule into a device for the extraction of this capsule; in particular, to enable the insertion and positioning of a capsule into an extraction device without tampering, excessive manipulation and without risk of misposition of the capsule in the said device. Another purpose is to limit the number of parts required, in particular the number of moving parts of the device in order to reduce its complexity and production cost.

The present invention relates to an extraction system according to claim 1.

The capsules which can be extracted with the device of the invention are of all types, e.g. open capsules, such as filter paper capsules, or also the rigid or semi-rigid capsules of cylindrical shape or cone trunk which are the subject of the patents on behalf of the applicant, namely EP 512'148 and EP 602'203. In a preferential mode, the capsule is asymmetrical and includes a guiding edge which is supported by the guiding means of the device. Thus, an asymmetric capsule with a guiding edge allows the capsule to tilt slightly with respect to the axis of extraction. Such a tilt has the advantage of being able to act on the capsule during its recovery in the axis of extraction as will be explained below, however, it can also function with the symmetrical devices of the invention.

Capsules may contain any type of soluble or extractable food product, e.g. roasted and ground coffee, soluble coffee, soluble cocoa, milk, tea, dehydrated substances for broths and other products and any combination of these products.

In fact, the device according to the invention allows the capsule to be moved from an intermediate position to an extraction position: it is held in its intermediate position, it goes into its extraction position and when the second movable part is opened after extraction, the capsule is released naturally by the simple effect of gravity.

The device includes capsule stoppers, which are configured to hold the capsule in an intermediate position when the capsule is introduced into the insertion and positioning portion, and which hold the capsule in an axis that is offset or inclined from the capsule axis in the extraction position in the housing.

It should be noted that the dwelling can be shared in the mobile or fixed part or shared in both the fixed and the mobile part.

To move from the intermediate position to the extraction position, there are at least two solutions.

A first solution is to hold the capsule in an intermediate position in a way that is offset from the capsule's axis in the extraction position; for example, so that the moving part in its movement acts on the capsule to bring it down and push it along the axis of the said moving part in its extraction position. The capsule can be offset along its recentering axis (or extraction axis), for example parallel to it, or be tilted relative to its recentering position at a certain angle, preferably a low angle of less than 30 degrees. Such a solution avoids any mechanical load and uses a minimum of moving parts.

In a first preferential embodiment, the moving part is configured to force the capsule past the means of stopping when the capsule moves from its intermediate position to its extraction position. Thus, when the moving part drives the capsule; the latter being positioned along a shifted or inclined axis, the capsule is forcibly re-established in the axis of movement of the moving part corresponding to the axis of the capsule in the extraction position; which forces the capsule to move beyond the means of stopping. One is the means of stopping passed through the capsule; the other is configured to pull the capsule into the extraction position by referring at least one of the parts to the other and applying the capsule twice.

A second possibility is that the moving part simply pushes the capsule in its axis of movement into its extraction position. The device thus comprises means of restraint configured to hold the capsule in an intermediate position along an axis which is substantially coaxial with the axis of the housing.

The fixed part has a guide body for translational movement from the moving part to the fixed part. The guide body may, for example, be oriented significantly horizontally to guide the moving part according to a horizontal motion. This guide body is made up of, for example, at least two rails, preferably 4 guide rails. The device according to the invention allows for extraction by horizontal water injection. The moving part is preferably significantly cylindrical.

In the system of the invention, the capsule insertion and positioning part is placed in front of and perpendicular to the guide body and includes at least one means of guidance. Preferably, it includes two means of guidance. These means can be of any kind, e.g. in the case of the extraction of a capsule according to EP 512'148, these are insertion slides allowing the capsule collar to be engaged.

To hold the capsule in an intermediate position, in a first embodiment, the guiding means include at least one stop device arranged at the same level to hold the capsule in the said intermediate position. Preferably, the guiding means include two stop devices. These means can be of any kind, for example stop pads, just high enough to lock the capsule. The pads cooperate with one edge of the capsule, such as a collar, for example. The pads thus hold the capsule by supporting the collar on these pads.

In another embodiment of the system according to the invention, the guides are pivoting and form or include stopping means arranged to lock the capsule in an intermediate position when the moving part is in the opening position and to unlock the capsule when the moving part is in the closing position.

In a final embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system includes a retractable cap in front of the guide body, placed under the moving part.

The device also includes an extraction plate to which the movable part moves the capsule in the extraction position, the capsule usually includes an extraction face which is brought into contact with, or at least is close enough to, the extraction plate when the device is closed. If a filter paper capsule is extracted, this plate is a simple plate with holes to allow the extraction liquid to pass. If the capsule is a capsule according to the two patents mentioned above, such as a capsule with a face intended to tear under the rise in pressure in the capsule, this is a plate comprising either pyramids or points as mentioned in the patents 5121461 and 6014615.

The moving part is moved by means which ensure movement in the opening and closing positions. These means can take various forms. Mechanicalally simple means are preferred, such as bead transmission systems combined with a knee-lock system. Any other solution giving a fairly linear movement is also possible, for example hydraulic, electrical or mechanical systems, for example screws.

As already mentioned above, at the end of extraction, opening the movable part allows the capsule to fall by gravity.

The device in the first embodiment works as follows: the consumer introduces a capsule through the input slide, the capsule is guided, for example, by a peripheral edge forming a collar which fits into the said slide. The stopping devices lock the capsule in an intermediate position; in particular, its peripheral edge is held by the stopping devices. The consumer acts on the means enabling the movable part to be closed, so that the movable part takes the capsule into its housing and lowers the axis of the capsule to bring it into the axis of movement of the movable body, which has the effect of opening the capsule collar on the stopping means and moving it into position when the means of extraction and stopping are no longer available, because the movable part is not moved by the means of extraction.

Figures 7 to 13 below show the operation in the other modes.

The system of the invention is integrated into a coffee machine or other extraction system, which also includes a water tank, water pipe, water displacement pump, water heating and water supply to the moving part and any other element normally present in a coffee machine or other extraction system.

The machine also includes a water tank, a water pipe, a pump for moving water, water heating devices and a water supply to the movable part of the device.

The following description is given in relation to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the system according to the invention in the open position,Fig. 2 is the same view as in Fig. 1, without the guide body to better understand the movement of the moving part,Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the system according to the invention in the closed position,Fig. 4 is a side view in the closed position,Fig. 5 is a view in the A-axis of positioning the capsule in the intermediate position andFig. 6 is the same view as in Fig. 5 with the capsule in the extraction position,Fig. 7 is a perspective view according to a second embodiment, with the moving part in the closed position,Fig. 8 is a perspective view according to the previous one , with the moving part in the open position,Fig. 9 and 10 are views in the axis of positioning the capsule in the intermediate position,Fig. 11 are schematic views in the last embodiment of the invention,Fig. 13 are a schematic view.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the extraction device 1 has a fixed part 2 and a movable part 3. Part 3 has a housing 4 for the extracted capsule. The introduction and positioning part of the capsule 16 has two guidance devices 6,7 into which the capsule slides to position it. The capsule can thus be fitted with a collar which slides through the guidance devices. The capsule is held in a position offset from the axis 25 of movement of the movable part.

The capsule is asymmetrical to its collar, and therefore tilts slightly due to its center of gravity being shifted from the collar. This shift allows the capsule to be supported by the housing of the moving part when it moves. The moving part 3 is moved by means 8 to ensure its closure and opening. These means consist of a knee-high system comprising a lever arm 9 in conjunction with a drive shaft 10.The 12 pins are held together by a screw system 18 of the moving body 3. The moving body 3 mu by the knee system slides into a guide body 14 consisting of four rails 15. When the knee system is closed, the axis 13 of the pins is stopped in its movement by the stopper 24. The capsule 16 is designed to go against an extraction plate 17 at the time of extraction of the said capsule. The drink flows through the flow system 19 into an unrepresented cup. The device according to the invention finally includes in the means of guidance 6,7 two identical stopping devices 20 to hold the capsule in the intermediate position. Screws 21.22 to consolidate the drainage system of the extraction plate.

The system according to the invention works as follows: The consumer introduces the capsule 16 by means of the introductory slides 6.7. The capsule slides until it reaches the stopping means 20 . The capsule collar presses against these means and the capsule is in an intermediate position, as can also be seen in Figure 5 . The capsule axis is materialized by reference 26 and the axis of the moving body by reference 25.The consumer then acts on the lever 9 which moves the movable body 3 through the bearing system: this movable body moves along its axis 25: during this movement it brings the capsule 16 into its housing 4 which has the effect of descending the capsule 26 axis to the movable body 25 axis.When the coffee is brought to the end of the extraction, the consumer lifts the lever 9, which moves the body moving backwards, releases the capsule which is no longer held and falls into a used capsule recovery system. The device is then ready for the next extraction.

In Figures 7 to 10, the system of the invention is more represented in relation to the means of guiding and locking the capsule than to the moving part and the means of moving the said moving part. The extraction plate 30 comprises as a means of guiding 31 the capsule 32 two pivoting elements around an axis 33. Each pivoting element comprises two positioning butts, one inside 39, the other outside 40, better represented in Figures 9 and 10. The moving part 34 comprises a housing 35 for the capsule and a workpiece 41 on each side. The means of moving the moving part are not represented. On both sides of the moving part, a lever 36 actuator has been fitted, rotating according to the axis 37 and a guide finger 38 has two forward and rear action 31 and the moving part 43 42 has two action zones 36.

Here 's how it works .

In the open position, as shown in Figure 8, the movement finger 38 of the actuator lever 36 holds the pivoting guide 31 in the capsule 32 restraint position (Figure 10), because the said finger acts on the inside capsule 39 of the pivoting element 31. When the moving part 34 moves towards the extraction plate 30, the workpiece 41 releases the action area before 42 and moves towards the rear action area 43, so that the movement finger 38 pushes the outer positioning capsule 40 outwards. This results in the pivoting guide moving away, which means that at the time of opening the moving part, the capsule will have no restraint.

Figures 11 to 13 show another way of securing the capsule. The fixed part 50 includes an extraction plate 55 and a drink drainage system 53. Under the intermediate positioning of the capsule 56 is a folding cap 51 rotating along the axis 54. The finger 57 allows the capsule to be held in place.

Here 's how it works .

Figure 11 shows when the moving part is moving to open. So element 52 tilts the escape capsule downward, which releases the capsule. Figure 12 shows the end of the opening run of the moving part, when the escape capsule returned to the locking position of the capsule 56. Finally, Figure 13 shows the position of the escape capsule at the time of the extraction of said capsule 56.

It is understood that the system according to the invention is part of a coffee machine with all the components for extracting the capsules, namely a water tank, a water supply line, a pump for moving water, water heating devices and a water supply to the moving part.

Claims (14)

1. Extraction system comprising a device for extraction of a capsule and a capsule (16) which can be extracted in the device; the capsule (16) comprising a guiding edge in the form of a flange, the device comprising

   - a first fixed part (2),

   - a second part (3) which is mobile relative to the first part,

   - a housing (4) to receive the capsule and defining when in a position of closure of the mobile part against the fixed part an extraction position of the capsule about an axis (25) in said housing,

   - a part for introduction and positioning of the capsule comprising guiding means (6,7) arranged such as to insert the capsule by gravity and to position said capsule in an intermediate position; the guiding edge being taken charge of in the guiding means (6,7); said guiding means being introduction slides allowing the engagement of said flange;

   - a system of outflow of beverage (19, 53), said mobile second part (3) being configured to displace the capsule (16) from the intermediate position to the extraction position upon closure of the device,

   characterised in that the guiding means (6, 7) comprise stopping means (20) configured to retain the capsule (16) in an intermediate position; the flange pressing against these stopping means in the intermediate position, and in that the second mobile part (3) takes charge of the capsule to displace it from the intermediate position to the extraction position about the axis (25) of the capsule in the extraction position in said housing (4) such that in its movement, the mobile part acts on the capsule to bring it down, the flange of the capsule passing beneath the stopping means (20), and to push it about the axis (25) of the mobile part in its extraction position.
2. Extraction system according to claim 1, characterised in that the capsule is in the form of a truncated cone.
3. Extraction system according to claim 1, characterised in that the capsule is an open capsule, of the filter paper capsule type, a rigid or semi-rigid capsule in cylindrical form or truncated cone form.
4. Extraction system according to claims 1, 2, or 3, characterised in that the capsule contains ground roasted coffee, soluble coffee, soluble cocoa, milk, tea, dehydrated substances for bouillons as well as any combinations thereof.
5. Extraction system according to claims 1, 2, or 3, characterised in that the stopping means retain the capsule in a inclined fashion with respect to the axis (25) of the capsule in an extraction position in said housing; the capsule tipping slightly with respect to the axis of the capsule in the extraction position (25).
6. Extraction system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stopping means retain the capsule in an inclined fashion at a small angle of less than 30 degrees with respect to the centering axis (25).
7. System according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the capsule is asymmetrical with respect to the plane passing through the flange in such a way to be able to be tilted due to its centre of gravity being shifted with respect to the flange.
8. Extraction system according to claim 7, characterised in that the second mobile part (3) is configured to force the capsule's flange (16) to pass beneath the stopping means (20), in particular beneath bosses, during the passage of the capsule from its intermediate position to its extraction position.
9. Extraction system according to claim 7, characterised in that the bosses retain the capsule by support of the capsule's flange on said bosses.
10. Extraction system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guiding means comprise introduction runners.
11. Extraction system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an extraction plate (30) towards which the second mobile part (3) displaces the capsule into an extraction position.
12. Extraction system according to claim 11, characterised in that the capsule has a side intended to be teared under the pressure increase inside the capsule.
13. Extraction system according to claim 12, characterised in that the extraction plate comprises pyramids or spikes.
14. Extraction system according to claim 12, characterised in that the extraction plate is a plate tapped with holes to allow the extraction liquid to pass and the capsule is in filter paper.