Percolating machine for making beverages

• US 20050172820A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SGL Italia, S.r.l. (Evoca SpA)
• Original Assignee: SGL Italia, S.r.l. (Evoca SpA)
• Inventors: Cortese, Virginio
• Application Number:
  US11/040,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement

Abstract

In a percolating machine for making beverages from a closed container containing a powder, a drawer, having a percolating member for supporting the container, is mounted to move, along a first horizontal axis and through a vertical beverage extraction device, between a loading position to load the container, and an infusion position in which the percolating member cooperates with the extraction device to define an infusion chamber communicating with a beverage dispensing device; the percolating member being mounted to turn over about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis, and over a box for collecting the used containers, during and by movement of the drawer into the loading position.

Claims

1. ) A percolating machine for making beverages from a closed container (2) containing a powder, the machine (1) comprising a frame (3);

a dispensing device (17) for dispensing said beverage;

an infusion chamber (16) housing a said container (2) and communicating with said dispensing device (17);

an extraction device (15) located on the frame (3) along a vertical axis (6) and at least partly movable along said vertical axis (6) to define said infusion chamber (16);

a drawer (35) comprising a percolating member (26) for supporting said container (2), the drawer (35) being fitted to said frame (3) and being movable, along a first horizontal axis (8) and through said extraction device (15), between a loading position in which said container (2) is loaded onto said percolating member (26), and an infusion position in which said percolating member (26) is located inside said extraction device (15); and

a collecting box (72) for collecting the used containers (2) and located on said frame (3), beneath said drawer (35);

the infusion chamber (16) comprising a top half-chamber (25) along said vertical axis (6), and a bottom half-chamber (31) defined by said percolating member (26); and

the machine (1) being characterized by comprising turnover means (48) for rotating said percolating member (26) on said drawer (35) by an angle of, or equal to a multiple of, 180°

about a second horizontal axis (30), perpendicular to said first horizontal axis (8), and over said collecting box (72), during and by movement of said drawer (35) into said loading position.

2. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said percolating member (26) comprises two opposite percolating cups (27);

and an intermediate body (28) interposed between the two percolating cups (27);

said angle being an angle of 180°

.

3. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispensing device (17) comprises a drain channel (34) fitted to said frame (3) and communicating with said percolating member (26) when the percolating member (26) is in said infusion position.

4. ) A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said percolating cup (27) has a respective drain conduit (32) formed through said intermediate body (28) and having a respective outlet (33);

said drain channel (34), when said percolating member (26) is in said infusion position, communicating with the outlet (33) of the percolating cup (27) facing said top half-chamber (25).

5. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (3) comprises a guide (36) extending parallel to said first horizontal axis (8) to guide said drawer (35) between said loading position and said infusion position;

said percolating member (26) comprising a pin (40) coaxial with said second horizontal axis (30) and connected in sliding and rotary manner to said guide (36); and

actuating means (42) being connected to said pin (40) to move said drawer (35) along said guide (36).

6. ) A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said turnover means (48) comprise a pinion (49) fitted to said pin (40);

and a rack (50) located along said guide (36) and engaged by said pinion (49) to rotate the percolating member (26) by said angle as said drawer (35) moves parallel to said first horizontal axis (8) into said loading position.

7. ) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rack (50) is fitted to said guide (36) to move, with respect to the guide (36) and transversely with respect to said second horizontal axis (30), between an engaged position along a path of said pinion (49) parallel to said first horizontal axis (8), and a release position disengaging said pinion (49);

control means (59) being provided to move said rack (50) into said release position as said drawer (35) moves into said infusion position.

8. ) A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein elastic means (57) are provided to push said rack (50) into said engaged position;

said control means (59) locking said rack (50) in said engaged position as said drawer (35) moves into said loading position.

9. ) A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control means (59) comprise a horizontal shoe (60) integral with said drawer (35) and movable with the drawer (35) along a path parallel to said first horizontal axis (8);

and a plate (56) fitted to said rack (50) and sloping upwards and towards said infusion position across said path of said shoe (60).

10. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, and comprising locking means (43, 44) for locking said percolating member (26) angularly about said second horizontal axis (30) when said drawer (35) is in said loading position.

11. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in addition to said percolating member (26), said drawer (35) also comprises two side by side lateral plates (38) parallel to said first horizontal axis (8), located on opposite sides of said percolating member (26), and each having a first and a second end;

a pin (40) connecting said first ends, said pin (40) being coaxial with said second horizontal axis (30), extending through said percolating member (26), and being connected in angularly fixed manner to the percolating member (26), and in rotary manner to said lateral plates (38); and

a cross member (39), which has a third horizontal axis (46) parallel to said second horizontal axis (30), and connects said second ends.

12. ) A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said frame (3) comprises a first guide (36) parallel to said first horizontal axis (8) and engaged in sliding manner by said pin (40) and by said cross member (39) to guide said drawer (35) between said loading position and said infusion position, and in rotary manner by said cross member (39) when said drawer (35) is in said infusion position;

and a second guide (47) parallel to said vertical axis (6) and engageable in transversely sliding manner by said pin (40) when the drawer (35) is in said infusion position.

13. ) A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said top half-chamber (25) is defined by a fixed sprinkler (24), and said extraction device (15) comprises piston means (18) located along said vertical axis (6), beneath said drawer (35), and which, when the drawer (35) is in said infusion position, engage said percolating member (26) to move said pin (40) along said second guide (47), so as to rotate said drawer (35) about said third horizontal axis (46), and said percolating member (26) into fluidtight engagement with said sprinkler (24).