Device for the extraction of cartridges

• US 4,846,052 A
• Filed: 03/27/1987
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA Avenue Nestle 55 Vevey Switzerland A Swiss Confederation
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Favre, Eric, Masek, Petr
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haugland, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US07/032,043
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 99/295, 99/279, 99/300, 99/302 R, 99/307, 99/306, 100/122, 100/123, 100/125, 426/433, 53/371, 53/373
• US Class Current: 99/295
• 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

Abstract

A device for extracting material contained in cartridges has a housing body having a hollow interior, defined by the inside of the housing body which extends to and terminates at an open bottom, in a form which substantially conforms to the form of a cartridge to be extracted for accepting a cartridge for extraction. An upper portion of the housing includes an injection element having a point which protrudes into the hollow interior for opening and penetrating a cartridge for extraction of the material in the cartridge. The outside of the housing body has an upper protruding part and a lower protruding stop beneath and displaced from the upper protruding part. A movable ring circumscribes the housing and the stop and has a lug protruding towards the outside of the housing body which is capable of communicating with the stop, the lug being positioned on the ring such that when the lug and stop are in communication, the ring protrudes below the bottom of the housing. A spring is confined between the lug and upper protruding part and the ring and the housing body for urging the lug into communication with the stop. A cartridge holder has an edge for holding a rim of a cartridge and cooperates with the movable ring for holding the rim of the cartridge during extraction and for releasing the cartridge after extraction.

Claims

1. A device for extracting material contained in a cartridge comprising:

a housing body having a substantially cylindrical hollow interior extending to and terminating at an open bottom of the housing body, the hollow interior being defined by the inside of the housing body and substantially conforming with an outer form of a cartridge containing material to be extracted, for accepting the cartridge for extraction and having an upper portion including a injection element having a point protruding into the hollow interior of the housing body along a central longitudinal axis of the interior of the housing body for opening and penetrating the cartridge for extraction;

at least one hole in the injection element communicating with a bore through the upper portion of the housing body for receiving water and for providing water to the cartridge for extraction;

an upper part protruding from the upper portion of the housing body outside of the housing body;

a lower stop, beneath and displaced from the upper protruding part, on a lower portion of the housing body protruding from the outside of the housing body;

a movable ring circumscribing the housing body and the stop and having a lug protruding towards the outside of the housing body at a position above the stop capable of communicating with the stop, the lug being at a position on the ring such that when the lug and stop are in communication, the ring protrudes below the bottom of the housing body; and

a spring confined between the lug and the upper protruding part and the ring and the housing body for urging the lug into communication with the stop.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the injection element has from between one and six holes.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising a cartridge holder having a housing having an annular edge for holding a rim of a cartridge for positioning the cartridge within the hollow interior for extraction, for holding the cartridge in position during extraction by means of the annular edge in cooperation with the movable ring, and for removing the cartridge from the hollow interior in cooperation with urging of the movable ring on the cartridge rim and having a passage for beverage extracted from the cartridge to flow through.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the cartridge holder has an upper portion extending from about the edge of the holder about the ring.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the holes comprise bores having an angle of from 70°

to 80°

with respect to the axis of the hollow interior.

6. A device according to claim 1 or 5 wherein the pointed injection element has an inclined surface having an angle of from 20°

to 40°

.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the spring is a helical spring.