WO2011051867A1

WO2011051867A1 - A separating device for machines for preparing beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2011051867A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/054795
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Pineschi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-26
Filing date: 2010-10-22
Publication date: 2011-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-26
Also published as: ITMO20090263A1

Abstract

The separating device (15) is designed to separate used capsules (5, 5A) from spent portions of substances contained in said used capsules (5, 5A), and comprises: devices (14, 18) for positioning the used capsules (5, 5A) in a predetermined orientation; first means (16) for collecting the spent portions, these means having a first filling aperture (16') and being placed next to said positioning devices (14, 18); pushing means (20, 22, 24, 25, 26) designed to expel said spent portions from the used capsules (5, 5A), thus leaving the used capsules free of the spent substances; and second means (28) for collecting the emptied used capsules (5A).

Description

A separating device for machines for preparing beverages

The present invention relates to a separating device adapted to be fitted to machines for preparing and dispensing beverages, particularly machines for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as coffee, tea, milk and drinking chocolate, made from soluble substances contained in prepackaged capsules.

There are known machines which instantly produce and dispense beverages made from substances which are packaged and stored before use in a dry powdered state in suitable containing capsules, and which are introduced into infusion or dissolving apparatus provided in these machines at the moment when consumers request the beverages. The infusion or solution apparatus injects a dissolving liquid, normally hot water, into the capsules. The liquid passes through the portion of powdered substance contained in the capsule and mixes with it, thus dissolving it and producing the beverage which, on flowing out of the capsule, is dispensed through a suitable dispensing pipe.

These machines are mainly used for producing hot beverages such as coffee, tea, milk and drinking chocolate. The infusion or dissolving apparatus comprises, briefly, an injector element which is connected to a hot water feed tube running from a storage tank having an appropriate heating device and a feed pump. The injector element has an end comprising one or more perforators for perforating the capsules into which the hot water is to be injected, or more precisely for perforating a membrane which forms a sealed closure of the capsules and which is made, for example, from aluminium foil or thin plastic film. The capsules are normally formed, for example, from a plastic container for food use which is shaped in the form of a bowl or cup and which has an access surface or face which is designed to be perforated and penetrated by the injector apparatus, and which is sealed by means of the membrane described above, and an opposite lower face which has a weakened area designed to open when the pressure of the injected water exceeds a predetermined threshold level. As stated above, the forced passage of the water through the portion of powdered substance causes the mixing and consequent instant production of the beverage in liquid form.

In some machines there is an additional perforator which acts on the lower face of the capsule to facilitate the opening of this face and promote the outflow of the beverage which is produced.

In known machines, there is a suitable housing for the placing of the capsules to be used, and manual or automatic controls are also provided to activate the injector apparatus and keep the injection of infusion or dissolving liquid active for a period of time determined by the consumer, according to whether the consumer wishes to obtain beverages with a greater or lesser degree of concentration, in other words beverages in which the portions of powder are more or less diluted. When the beverage has been fully dispensed, the injector apparatus is moved away from the used capsule, which still contains the residual portion of powder moistened by the water that has passed through it, and which is discharged into a used capsule container which is provided in each machine of this type.

This prior art is subject to a disadvantage in respect of the disposal of the used capsules, because a series of operations have to be performed on these used capsules in order to dispose of them correctly without risk of soiling, since they contain portions of substance which are generally still moist and which in any case are already used. Before disposal, the used capsules must be fully opened to remove their content of used powder, by opening the perforated sealing foils as far as possible, and must then be placed in different containers outside the machine, with the empty plastic capsules in one container and the used powder in another. This makes it possible to recycle the plastic material from which the capsules are made, once it is free of impurities, in order to produce other articles, while the powders can also be disposed of together with other organic refuse and can be recycled when free of contaminating plastic, for the production of by-products such as fertilizers.

This selective disposal requires, as stated above, the manual or automatic performance of a series of operations, which significantly increases the cost of the process and has an adverse effect on the final purchase cost of the capsules. Furthermore, it is frequently the case that the used capsules are disposed of without the removal of their contents, or are thrown into the general waste and are subsequently burnt in incinerators or heat recovery units together with other non-recyclable refuse, generating fumes which require costly special filtration processes before they can be emitted to the atmosphere. This results in a loss of materials which cannot be reused for the manufacture of other products.

One object of the present invention is to improve the prior art. Another object is to provide a separating device which, when fitted on machines for the instant preparation and dispensing of beverages, can separate the used substances for producing the beverages from the plastic capsules containing them after they have been used.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a separating device which enables the spent substances and the capsules containing them to be disposed of separately without the need for further operations to empty the capsules and provide for their separate disposal.

According to one aspect of the invention, what is provided is a separating device designed to separate used capsules from used portions of substances contained in said used capsules, characterized in that it comprises:

means of positioning used capsules in a predetermined orientation,

first means for collecting said spent portions, these means having a first aperture for filling in a first direction and being placed next to said positioning means;

pushing means designed to expel said spent portions from said used capsules, thus leaving the used capsules free of said spent portions; and

second means of collecting said emptied used capsules, these means having a second aperture for filling in a second direction.

The invention therefore provides the following benefits:

the capsule containers and the portions of used substances contained therein are separated automatically, before the user empties the used capsule collection tubs which are normally provided in the machines;

the plastic containers and the substances, which may still be moist, are collected in different ways;

the plastic materials used for producing the capsules are recycled to manufacture other products; and

the costs of disposal of the used capsules and consequently the costs of the new capsules are significantly reduced. Further features and advantages of the invention will be made clear by the detailed description of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the separating device, illustrated by way of non-limiting example by the appended sheets of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a highly schematic side view in partial section of an improved machine for producing and dispensing instant beverages which is provided with a separating device according to the invention, in a step of introduction of a capsule containing a portion of powdered substance for a beverage to be dispensed;

Figure 2 is a highly schematic side view in partial section of the improved machine of Figure 1, in a step of commencement of the dispensing of an instant beverage and a simultaneous step of separation of a previously used capsule from its used contents;

Figure 3 is a highly schematic side view in partial section and in longitudinal section of the improved machine of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a highly enlarged partial schematic view of a separating device according to the invention, in a step of separation of a previously used capsule from its used contents;

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of first means of collecting the portions of used substances, indicating possible embodiments of a cutting blade positioned at the filling aperture of the first collecting means;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the separating device according to the invention, in a step of positioning of a new capsule;

Figure 7 shows the separating device of Figure 6 in a step of separation of a capsule from its contents; Figure 8 is an open side view in perspective of a preferred version of a machine for producing and dispensing beverages, provided with the separating device according to the invention. With reference to the aforesaid drawings, the number 1 indicates the whole of an improved machine for producing and dispensing instant beverages, in other words beverages which are prepared from substances which may be in a powdered state, for example, and which can be mixed with an infusing or dissolving liquid such as hot water, this machine being referred to hereafter as "the machine 1".

The machine 1 comprises a containing enclosure 2 to contain the functional members which are provided to carry out the operations of preparing and dispensing the beverages. In the machine 1 there is a conventional injection unit 3, known to those skilled in the art, which is designed to inject a hot dissolving liquid into capsules 5, which are packaged in advance by placing corresponding measured portions of substances, such as powdered substances, in them, to enable beverages to be prepared in a substantially instantaneous way.

Each capsule 5 comprises a containing body 6 which is generally, but not exclusively, made from plastic material for food use and which takes the form of a small beaker or cup. Each capsule 5 has a filling aperture 5' designed for the introduction of the portion of substance for preparing the beverage, this aperture being sealed on completion of filling with a foil 5" made of sealing material such as aluminium foil or plastic film, which is thin enough to be perforated. Each capsule also has a portion 6' of the containing body 6, normally opposite the filling aperture 5', which is, for example, designed to give way and open when the pressure in the capsule 5 increases beyond a predetermined level as a result of the injection of water into the portion of substance activated by the injection unit 3. When the portion 6' of the containing body 6 gives way, the liquid beverage, which has been formed in the meantime in the capsule 6, flows out and is carried by means of conveyance 7, such as a pipe 8 which extends from a first connecting element 9 which communicates with the bottom of a compartment 10 formed in a portion 1 1 of the injection unit 3, in which are placed the capsules 5 to be used to produce the beverage.

As shown in the drawings, the injection unit is provided with a perforator element 12 which is movable and is given a forward and backward alternating motion by a known drive apparatus, such as a hydraulic actuating cylinder or a mechanical linkage, indicated schematically by a first block 13, and which is designed to perforate the foil 5" of each capsule when the capsule is placed in the compartment 10.

As shown in the drawings, the perforator element 12 is designed to be coupled, in a perforation configuration, to the portion 11 of the injection unit 3 and to be uncoupled therefrom on completion of the perforation, as shown in Figures 1, 6, 8.

When the perforator element 12 is uncoupled from the portion 1 1, the latter can rotate slightly in the direction indicated by the arrow "R" if required, thus facilitating the falling of the used capsule 5 into a housing 14 formed in a separating device 15 which is designed to separate each used containing body 6 from its portion of used powder which remains inside it after the production of the beverage.

As shown schematically in Figure 6, when the capsule 5 falls from the open compartment 10 it rotates about its own axis, so as to be positioned in the housing 14 with its filling aperture 5' facing towards and adjacent to a first filling aperture 16' of a first container 16 which is designed to contain the portions of substances used for preparing the beverages, indicated by

"p" The first filling aperture 16' is provided with a collar 17 extending from the aperture perimetrically, and a sleeve-like support 18, in which the housing 14 is formed, is fitted on the collar 17 and is substantially coaxial therewith.

An opposing helical spring 19, which is compressible and whose function is described more fully below, is interposed between one end of the sleeve 18 and the collar 17. The separating device 15 also comprises a crushing element 20, which crushes the used capsules 5 when they are positioned in the second housing 14.

This crushing element 20 can be embodied in numerous ways, but in all cases it can crush the capsules 5 in such a way as to expel their contents, in other words the portions of spent substance, which are made to fall into the first collecting container 16, this process resulting in empty crushed capsules 5 which are indicated hereafter by 5A to distinguish them from the new capsules. In a possible embodiment shown in the drawings, it will be noted that the crushing element 20 comprises a body in the form of an elongated plate 22 and that it can be moved between two positions, in a direction indicated by the arrow "A" which is substantially parallel to the second housing 14, in other words between a first position in which it is placed above a capsule 5 positioned in the housing 14 and a second position in which it is withdrawn therefrom, and in a direction perpendicular to the preceding direction, as indicated by the arrow "B" in Figure 7.

The plate-like body 22 is moved by activating means which are indicated in a general and schematic way by a block which has the numeral reference 23 and which can also be embodied in many different ways without departure from the principle of the invention.

In a simple example, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the activating means 23 can comprise a linear actuator, which comprises a handle 24 which can be operated manually by a user and which pushes or pulls simultaneously two links 25 and 26 which are pivoted sequentially on each other and on one end of a slider 32 mounted in such a way that it can slide forwards and backwards in a suitable sliding guide 33 provided in the enclosure 2, and also on a portion of the perforator 12.

As can be seen in Figure 7, when the slider 32 is pushed by the handle 24 towards the portion 1 1 the link 25 pushes the perforator element 12 towards the compartment 10, thus perforating the foil 5" of a capsule 5 contained therein, while the other link 26 simultaneously pushes the plate-like body 22 into the position in which it crushes a previously used capsule 5 which has been placed in the housing 14, thus forcing the contents, in other words the portion of spent substance, to fall into the first container 16.

When the plate-like body 22 presses on the capsule 5, the sleeve 18 slides on the collar 17 and compresses the spring 19 until the sleeve 18 bears on the first container 16 (see, for example, Figure 2 in which this configuration is visible). After the plate-like body 22 has crushed the capsule 5, the user rotates the handle 24 in a direction opposite to the preceding direction, and the handle pulls the links 25 and 26 which in turn pull in the same direction, opposite to the preceding direction, both the perforator element 12 and the plate-like body 22, which is raised from the crushed capsule 5 A. The sleeve 18 is released from the pressure of the plate-like body 22 and the capsule 5 A which is now crushed, and is pushed by the spring 19 which causes it to move away from the first container 16.

A catch device 27, which in the case shown in the drawings is formed as part of the body of the plate 22, catches each crushed capsule 5A during the return movement towards the lever 24, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 7, and pulls it towards a second container 28, releasing it into this container through a second filling aperture 29 with which it is provided.

As shown in the drawings, the fall of a used capsule 5 from the compartment 10 into the housing 14 and the pulling and fall of a crushed capsule 5 A are facilitated by corresponding slides 34 and 35 which are formed, or fitted, in the enclosure 2 of the machine 1.

With particular reference to Figure 5, it will be noted that the first container 16 is provided, at its first filling aperture 16', with a blade 30 which is designed to penetrate the capsule 5 when the capsule is crushed, in order to cut the foil 5" in a substantially complete way and facilitate the outflow of the spent portion of beverage.

More specifically, the blade 30, which is, for example, substantially circular and has an eccentric point 31, penetrates into the capsule 5 when the sleeve 18 slides on the collar 17 under the pressure of the plate-like body 22 and cuts through the perimeter of the foil 5", and the blade 30 moves out of the capsule 5 when the plate-like body 22 withdraws from the capsule 5 after crushing it and the sleeve 18 returns to the normal position for receiving and positioning another capsule. As shown in Figure 5, the blade 30 can be made in other shapes, such as a cross shape, indicated by 130, or a lattice shape, indicated by 230.

The catch device 27 comprises a fiat strip 36 which is pivoted by a hinge 21 in a substantially free way on the elongated plate-like body 22.

Thus the strip 36 can pass above a capsule 5 placed in the housing 14 for crushing, and can ride over it before crushing takes place, when the elongated plate-like body 22 is pushed towards the crushing position, as shown in Figures 1, 6, 8, whereas, when the elongated platelike body is returned to the waiting position, the strip 36 rotates towards the first container 16, in other words towards the base of the enclosure 2, and during the return movement it pulls the crushed capsule 5A towards the second container 28, causing it to fall into this container with the aid of the slide 35.

The operation of the separating device 15 is as follows: when a user wishes to obtain a beverage, he inserts a new capsule 5 into the injection unit 3, as shown schematically in Figure 1.

The capsule 5 follows a known path provided in the machine 1 which leads it into the compartment 10. At this point, the perforator element 12 is in an open position, in other words a position remote from the portion 1 1 in which the compartment 10 is formed.

At the same time, as a result of a preceding operating step of the machine 1, a used capsule 5 is present in the housing 14, with its filling aperture 5' facing the filling aperture 16' of the first container 16 and with its foil 5" already perforated.

In order to produce and dispense the beverage, the user grasps the actuating handle 24, which at this point is in the raised position as shown in Figure 6, and lowers it on to the enclosure 2 of the machine 1 , as shown schematically in Figure 7.

The handle 24 pushes the slider 32 along the sliding guide 33 towards the compartment 10, and the pressure of the first link 25 causes the portion 1 1 in which the compartment is formed to be coupled to the perforator element 12, through which the hot water is fed from a tank 37 of the machine 1 provided for this purpose. The coupling between the perforator element 12 and the portion 1 1 causes the perforation of the foil 5" of the capsule 5, and the injection of water increases the pressure in the capsule until the weakened portion 6' opens, allowing the beverage produced by the mixing of the water and the portion of substance contained in the capsule 5 to flow out through the pipe 8. At the same time, the pressure of the second link 26 advances the elongated plate-like body 22 and lowers it on to the used capsule lying in the housing 14, thus crushing the capsule towards the first container 16. As a result of the crushing, the sleeve 18 is lowered on the collar 17 and the foil 5" is cut by the blade 30 which penetrates into the filling aperture 5' of the used capsule 5. When the sleeve 18 comes to bear on the first container 16 and is thereby stopped, the elongated plate-like body 22 crushes the containing body 6 of the used capsule 5, thus forcing the contents, in other words the spent portion of substance, to fall into the first container 16. When the user rotates the handle 24 in the opposite direction to interrupt the dispensing of the beverage, the handle pulls the links 25 and 26 in the opposite direction: the first link 25 withdraws the perforator element 12 from the portion 11 and reopens the access to the compartment 10, from which the used capsule falls towards the housing 14, with the assistance of the slide 34. At the same time, the second link 26 withdraws the elongated plate-like body 22, and the strip 36, being rotated downwards, pulls the crushed capsule 5A towards the second container 28, thus freeing the housing 14 to receive the capsule 5 which has just been used, and moves with the used capsule 5 A towards the slide 35 from which it falls into the second container 28.

When the first container 16 and the second container 28 are full, the user can remove them from the machine 1 and dispose of their contents, with the plastic already separated from the spent substances, into the corresponding collecting bins from which they can be sent for recycling without the need for further processing.

Claims

1. A separating device (15), designed to separate used capsules (5, 5A) from spent portions of substances contained in said used capsules (5, 5A), characterized in that it comprises:

means (14, 18) for positioning the used capsules (5, 5 A) in a predetermined orientation;

first means (16) for collecting said spent portions, these means having a first filling aperture (16') and being placed next to said positioning means (14, 18);

pushing means (20, 22, 24, 25, 26) designed to expel said spent portions from said used capsules (5, 5 A), thus leaving the used capsules free of said spent portions; and

second means (28) of collecting said emptied used capsules (5 A), these means having a second filling aperture.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said predetermined orientation comprises an orientation in which a corresponding filling aperture (5') of each of said used capsules (5, 5 A) which is provided with a perforated sealing element (5") faces said first filling aperture (16').

3. A device according to Claim 1, wherein transfer means (22, 27, 36) for transferring said emptied capsules (5A) to said second collecting means (28) are provided between said positioning means (14, 18) and said second collecting means (28).

4. A device according to Claim 1 , wherein said positioning means comprise:

a sleeve (18) which forms a housing (14) in which at least one used capsule (5) can be accommodated;

a guide collar (17) which extends from said first filling aperture (16¹) towards said sleeve (18) and is slidably coupled to the latter; and

opposing elastic means (19) which can be compressed and interposed between said sleeve (18) and said collar (17).

5. A device according to Claims 2 and 4, wherein said collar (17) comprises cutting means (30, 31, 130, 230) designed to cut said perforated foil element (5") along a predetermined perimeter of the latter.

6. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said pushing means comprise a crushing element (20, 22) which can be actuated alternately by actuating means (23, 24, 26, 32) between a crushing position and a raised position.

7. A device according to Claims 1 and 3, wherein said transfer means comprise a catch device (27, 36) which can be actuated alternately by actuating means (20, 22) between a position in which it catches said emptied capsules (5A) and a position in which it releases said emptied capsules (5 A) into said second collecting means (28).

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first collecting means (16) and second collecting means (28) are separated from each other and can be removed individually.

9. An improved machine (1 ) for producing and dispensing beverages, comprising:

a unit (3) for injecting a dissolving liquid into prepackaged capsules (5), each composed of a containing body (6) which contains a portion of substance for preparing a beverage, the injection unit being connected to a line for supplying said dissolving liquid, and being provided with members (12) for perforating a predetermined surface (5") of said containing body (6);

a second housing (10) for positioning said containing body (6) to be perforated, formed in said injection unit (4); means (8, 9) for conveying the beverages produced by the dissolving of said portions of substance and dispensing them outside the improved machine; and

means (16, 28) of collecting used capsules (5A);

characterized in that a separating device (15) according to any one of the preceding claims is positioned between said injection unit (3) and said collecting means (16, 28).

10. An improved machine according to Claim 9, wherein said collecting means comprise at least a first container (16) and a second container (28) which are separated from each other and are removable individually from said machine.