AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BEVERAGES

• US 20110154993A1
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SGL Italia SRL Con Unico Socio
• Original Assignee: SGL Italia SRL Con Unico Socio
• Inventors: Bertolina, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US12/993,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20110154993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4407 Lids, covers or knobs

Abstract

An automatic machine for producing beverages by percolating powdered material, the machine having a front wall; a window formed through the front wall to allow a user to load a measure of material; and a door fitted to the front wall to slide to and from a closed position closing the window.

Claims

1. ) An automatic machine for producing beverages by percolating powdered material, the machine (1) comprising a front wall (3);

a window (7) formed through the front wall (3) to allow a user to load a measure (12) of material; and

a door (15) closing the window (7);

the machine (1) being characterized by the door (15) being fitted to the front wall (3) to slide, in a given slide direction on the front wall (3), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the window (7) respectively.

2. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide direction is a substantially vertical direction.

3. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the door (15) slides between a lowered closed position closing the window (7), and a raised open position opening the window (7).

4. ) A machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the door (15) comprises a first position (17) located outside with respect to the front wall (3) and defining the actual door (15);

and a second portion (18) located inside with respect to the front wall (3) and defining a guide device (28) of the door (15).

5. ) A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the door (15) comprises a third portion (21) connecting the first and second portion (17, 18);

slot means (27) being formed through the front wall (3) to allow the third portion (21) to move with the first and second portion (17, 18) in the slide direction.

6. ) A machine as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the first portion (17) comprises a handle (37) for operating the door (15).

7. ) A machine as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, and comprising at least one guide (28) integral with the front wall (3) and parallel to the slide direction;

the second portion (18) comprising a skid (19, 20) that engages the guide (28) in sliding manner.

8. ) A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide (28) extends along an inner surface (10) of the front wall (3).

9. ) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, and comprising catch means (32) for clicking and locking the door (15) releasably into the open and closed positions.

10. ) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, and comprising feeler means (23) for preventing the door (15) from reaching the closed position in the event the measure (12) of material is not loaded properly.

11. ) A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the feeler means (23) are carried by the door (15) and extend through the window (7).

12. ) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, and comprising control means (35, 36) for determining the position of the door (15) and for only allowing startup of an operating cycle of the machine (1) when the door (15) is in the closed position.

13. ) A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said control means comprise contrasting means (35) integral with the door (15);

and a fixed switch (36) activated by the contrasting means when the door (15) is in the closed position.

14. ) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, and comprising catch means (34a) for locking the door (15) in the closed position during an operating cycle of the machine (1).