DEVICE FOR PREPARING A DRINK FROM A CAPSULE BY INJECTION OF A PRESSURIZED FLUID AND CAPSULE-HOLDER ADAPTED THEREFORE

• US 20070272084A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: DENISART, Jean-Luc, DENISART, Jean-Paul, PLEISCH, Hans, YOAKIM, Alfred, MANDRALIS, Zenon
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement

Abstract

Device for preparation of a drink from a food substance contained in a capsule (6) comprising a fluid supply unit (5) comprising fluid supply means (50); a capsule holder (4) configured to receive a capsule (6). The capsule holder is removable from the fluid supply unit and can comprise a fluid injector (70) for inserting fluid into the capsule.

Claims

1. A device for preparation of a drink from a food substance contained in a capsule comprising:

a fluid supply unit comprising fluid supply means and closing means;

a capsule holder removably associated with the fluid supply unit and configured to receive a capsule; and

complementary engaging means of the fluid supply unit and capsule-holder configured to enable insertion of the capsule-holder into the fluid supply unit along a first direction of insertion in which the capsule-holder is prepositioned in the fluid supply unit in a reference position in which the fluid supply means are relatively distant from the capsule holder;

wherein the closing means is configured to move the fluid supply means relatively closer to the capsule holder in a manner such that the fluid supply means becomes positioned in a fluid distribution position for distributing fluid into the capsule.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supply means comprises a fluid injector;

the closing means comprises a base member that is operatively associated with the fluid injector; and

the complementary engaging means comprises one or more guiding members for directing the base member into position above the capsule holder.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the closing means of the fluid supply unit is configured to bring the fluid supply means closer to the capsule holder in a direction that is distinct from a linear direction of insertion of the capsule holder in the reference position.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the closing means of the fluid supply unit is configured to bring the fluid supply means relatively closer to the capsule holder in the fluid distributing position by effect of a force carried out on the capsule holder.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the closing means of the fluid supply unit is configured to bring the fluid supply means relatively closer to the capsule holder in the fluid distributing position by effect of a force that is directed downwardly.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the complementary means of engagement of the capsule holder and fluid supply unit comprises a complementary set of guiding edges and guiding ribs enabling the insertion of the capsule-holder by sliding it in the fluid supply unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the fluid supply unit comprises:

a guide base in which the capsule holder is inserted in by sliding movement along the guiding edges; and

a fluid supply base supporting the fluid supply means and comprising a fluid outlet, with the fluid supply base being articulated to and mobile relative to the guide base from the distant position to the fluid distribution position of the fluid supply means in the capsule.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the fluid supply base is articulated to the guide base by a toggle joint system so that a pressure on the capsule holder in a preferred direction distinct from the insertion direction causes the supply base to close relative to the guide base in the fluid distribution position.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the toggle joint system comprises two wings mounted on two side articulation shafts of the guide base and the wings being also mounted by two articulations on the supply base through two arced oblong guide openings made in the wings;

thereby the guide base is pivotable relative to the wings about the shafts when the capsule-holder is brought manually downwards and brings the supply base downwards which then closes on the guide base.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supply means comprises a fluid injector for inserting fluid within the capsule and the closing means of the fluid supply unit is configured to bring the fluid injector into sealing engagement relatively with the capsule holder in the fluid distribution position.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the injector comprises a fluid inlet orifice, an injection duct and at least one injection orifice for injecting at least one pressurized jet of fluid into the capsule, wherein the injector comprises a nozzle which perforates, cuts away or inserts itself through a wall of the capsule.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the injector comprises a sealing element located at the base of the nozzle or of the connector and made of an elastic material to provide a seal between the nozzle or connector and the wall of the capsule or contribute to provide sealing effect at the surface of the capsule.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the sealing member includes a rigid stepped portion around the base of that part of the injector that inserts itself into the capsule, with the portion being effective to provide an impression on the surface of the capsule.

14. A capsule-holder for connection to a fluid supply unit of a drink preparation device to prepare a drink from a food substance contained in a capsule by inserting a fluid into the capsule, the capsule-holder comprising:

holding means to hold the capsule, and

an injection device comprising an injector for connection to the fluid supply unit and configured for transferring fluid from the supply unit into the capsule in the form of at least one jet of fluid.

15. The capsule-holder according to claim 14, wherein the injector comprises a fluid inlet orifice, an injection duct and at least one injection orifice for injecting at least one pressurized jet of fluid into the capsule.

16. The capsule-holder according to claim 14, wherein the fluid supply unit includes a fluid supply duct and the injector comprises a connection portion forming at least one seal bearing surface intended to come to bear against the fluid supply duct, with the seal bearing surface occupying a limited surface area directly above the housing but that is smaller than the surface area of the housing.

17. The capsule-holder according to claim 16, wherein the seal bearing surface surrounds a fluid inlet orifice and both the seal bearing surface and the fluid inlet orifice are placed substantially off-centered above the housing.

18. The capsule-holder according to claim 16, wherein the seal bearing surface has an external diameter of less than 2 cm and the orifice has a diameter of less than 3 mm, and the at least one bearing surface is substantially frustoconical.

19. The capsule-holder according to claim 14, wherein the injector comprises either a nozzle which perforates, cuts away or inserts itself through a wall of the capsule or a connector which is arranged against an orifice of a wall of the capsule in order to send fluid through the orifice under pressure into the capsule.

20. The capsule-holder according to claim 19, wherein the injector comprises a sealing element of an elastic material to provide a seal between the nozzle or connector and the wall of the capsule.

21. The capsule-holder according to claim 20, wherein the sealing element includes a rigid stepped portion around the base of the part of the injector that inserts itself in the capsule, with the portion being effective to provide an impression on the surface of the capsule.

22. The capsule-holder according to claim 14, wherein the injector comprises an injection wall or cover entirely covering the cup and the wall or cover is furnished with a fluid delivery manifold having a multitude of injection orifices and being operatively associated with a central needle furnished in the wall or cover which delivers fluid to the orifices.

23. The capsule-holder according to claim 14, wherein the injector is associated with a fluid duct and means for blocking the duct, wherein the blocking means is a valve or a portion of duct of smaller cross section that causes retention of liquid in the duct by capillary attraction.

24. The capsule-holder according to claim 23, wherein the injection duct has a rectilinear axis and is oriented vertically toward the bottom of the cup.

25. The capsule-holder according to claim 14, which further comprises guidance means in the form of lateral ribs for the insertion of the capsule-holder into the fluid supply unit.

26. A combination comprising a capsule holder according to claim 14 and a capsule containing a food substance for the preparation of a drink with the capsule comprising walls defining an external volume matching the housing of the capsule-holder and a lateral edge with dimensions suitable for bearing against a bearing rim of the capsule-holder.

27. A device for preparation of different drinks from food substances contained in capsules by injection of a fluid under pressure into the capsules, comprising a fluid supply unit and a fluid injector, the device comprising a series of capsule-holders which are interchangeable and removable with respect to the fluid supply unit, with each capsule-holder comprising specific features of shape, size or fluid injection arrangement that distinguish each other capsule holder.