Brewing Apparatus for Preparing A Beverage from A Single-Serve Capsule

• US 20190313835A1
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gruppo Ciccolella Srl (Ciccolella Family)
• Original Assignee: Gruppo Gimoka Srl (Kofinvest SA)
• Inventors: Valsecchi, Massimiliano
• Granted Patent: US 11,439,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3695 Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means

Abstract

A beverage brewing apparatus for preparing a beverage from a single-serve capsule, the beverage brewing apparatus comprises a capsule holder to receive a capsule in a brewing position, and an injection unit to perforate a capsule in the brewing position and to feed a brewing fluid into the capsule; the injection unit comprises a pair of hollow needles designed to supply respective flow rates different from each other, and an actuator to bring, during a beverage production cycle, only one of the two needles to an operating position, in which the needle perforates the capsule and injects a certain amount of brewing fluid into the capsule.

Claims

1. A beverage brewing apparatus (1) for preparing a beverage from a single-serve capsule (2) containing a dose of infusible or soluble material;

the beverage brewing apparatus (1) comprises a capsule holder (11) having a seat (12) to receive a capsule (2) in a brewing position, and an brewing fluid injection unit (14) configured to perforate a capsule (2) in the brewing position and to feed a brewing fluid into the capsule (2);

wherein the brewing fluid injection unit (14) comprises means for supplying a brewing fluid, a pair of needles (26, 27), and an actuator (25) configured to move the needles (26, 27) from and to a perforation and injection position;

the beverage brewing apparatus (1) is characterized in that the brewing fluid injection unit (14) is designed to cause the needles (26, 27) to deliver a same brewing fluid with different flow rates, and to cause the actuator (25), during a beverage production cycle, to bring only one of the two needles (26, 27) to said perforation and injection position, in which the needle (26;

27) perforates the capsule (2) and injects brewing fluid into the capsule (2).

2. The brewing apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the actuator (25) comprises a motor (29) and a transmission (28) between the motor (29) and the needles (26, 27) to selectively move the needles (26, 27) from a rest position, in which they fail to interfere with the capsule (2), to said perforation and injection position to perforate the capsule (2) and inject brewing fluid in the capsule (2).

3. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) of claim 2, wherein the transmission (28) is configured to cause the needles (26, 27), during a beverage production cycle, to perform equal displacements in opposite directions starting from their respective rest positions.

4. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) of claim 3, wherein the transmission (28) comprises two sliding blocks (31), each of which carries a respective needle (26;

27), is slidingly mounted in a respective guide channel (32), and is provided with a rack (34);

the transmission (28) further comprises a pinion (35) provided on an outlet shaft (30) of the motor (29) to mesh with the racks (34).

5. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) of claim 4, further comprising a sensor (39, 40) to detect the axial position of the sliding blocks (31) along the respective channels (32);

and an electronic control unit connected to the sensor (39, 40) to control operation of the motor (29) based on the axial position of the sliding blocks (31) detected by the sensor (39, 40).

6. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the capsule (2) has a cup-shaped body and a perforable cover (4);

the beverage brewing apparatus (1) further comprises a frame (10) having a first portion (15) to support the capsule holder (11), and a second portion (13) to support the needles (26, 27) and having an end wall (19) facing the capsule holder (11) and configured to be passed through by the needles (26, 27);

the end wall (19) and the capsule holder (11) are mutually movable to press the end wall and the cover (4) of the capsule (2) one against the other.

7. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein the end wall (19) comprises sealing means (23, 36) arranged to couple with the cover (4), when the latter is pressed against the end wall (19), to perform a radial seal around the area of the cover (4) to be perforated.

8. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) of claim 7, wherein the sealing means (23, 36) comprise a cup-shaped gasket (23) with an annular lip designed to couple with a periphery of the cover (4), and two tubular portions (36), each of which is configured to be engaged slidingly by a respective needle (26;

27) and perform a radial seal around a hole made by the needle (26;

27) through the cover (4).

9. The beverage brewing apparatus (1) of claim 6, wherein the end wall (19) comprises an abutment element (38) configured to engage a central portion of the cover (4), when the latter is pressed against the end wall (19), so as to push the capsule cover (4) inwardly to such an extent as to stretch it.