Extraction device with built-in capsule loading system

• US 6,941,855 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Denisart, Jean-Luc, Colantonio, Jean-Luc, Scorrano, Lucio
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/676,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20040129145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 992/89.R, 992/95, 993/02.R, 221/199, 221/309, 221/92, 221/113, 221/119, 221/120, 221/121
• US Class Current: 99/289.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3633 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3642 Cartridge magazines therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for feeding capsules containing a substance to be extracted in an extraction system under pressure for the preparation of a drink. The device includes a supply of capsules arranged in several series, and a mechanism for individually unloading one capsule into a reception part of the extraction system. The extraction system injects water into the capsule to form the drink as a liquid extract of the substance. The reception part is arranged beneath the unloading mechanism in such a way as to allow the direct descent of the released capsule into the reception part and includes structure for opening the capsule for releasing the liquid extract therefrom.

Claims

1. A device for feeding capsules containing a substance to be extracted to form a drink, comprising:

storage means that includes a plurality of capsules arranged in several series;

means for individually unloading a capsule selected from one of the series of capsules into a drink-forming position and comprising support means on which the storage means is rotatable and comprising a passage;

means for forming a drink from a liquid extract of the substance by the introduction of a liquid under pressure into the selected capsule; and

a reception part arranged beneath the individual unloading means to receive the selected capsule by direct descent through the passage and from the storage means, the reception part including means for opening the capsule to release the drink.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each series of capsules contains like capsules that are capable of making of a beverage that is different from that made from the other series of capsules.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the storage means includes a plurality of capsule holding tubes each of which contains one series of capsules.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the capsule holding tubes are mounted vertically on a rotatable support so that selection of a series of capsules is made by rotation of the support to position a selected series of capsules above the reception part.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the unloading means comprises a stationery plate having the passage in alignment with the selected capsule holding tube and arranged to allow a capsule to descend into the reception part;

and close-off means able to move with respect to the passage between a closed position in which the passage is closed off by the close-off means in such a way as to allow the capsule to face the passage but remain in the storage means and an open position in which the passage is opened to allow the capsule to descend into the reception part.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the close-off means comprises a movable plate having an aperture that conforms to the passage and that is movable from the closed position, where movement of the capsule through the passage is prevented by the movable plate, to the open position where the aperture of the moveable plate is aligned with the passage of the stationery plate so as to allow the capsule to move through the passage and into the reception part.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the drink forming means comprises a device for injecting water into the capsule.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the reception part of the extraction system comprises a movable housing for housing the capsule and movement means enabling the closing movement of the housing against the injection device in the direction of alignment of the two parts in order to permit the introduction of water into the capsule.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the movement means comprise a piston, a pressure chamber in which the pressure can be raised to move the piston and thus the housing in the direction of the injection device and an elastic return element allowing the return to the open position of the housing by retraction of the piston.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the movable close-off means is mounted coaxially with respect to the support means in such a way as to be movable along a portion of an arc between the two positions.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein the means of for unloading an individual capsule into the reception part of the extraction system comprise a separation element coordinated with the movement of the close-off element in such a way as to introduce itself between the first capsule in the series positioned facing the passage and the second capsule in the series at the moment when the close-off element is moving into the opening position for the descent of the first capsule.

12. The device of claim 5, wherein the close-off means comprises means for expulsion of a spent capsule out of the reception part of the extraction system under the action of the movement of the close-off element into the opening position into such a way as to release the reception part for the descent of a new capsule through the passage.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening means of the reception part is a pressure distribution plate provided with reliefs for opening the capsule and openings for the passage of the liquid extract.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising means for conveying the drink for dispensing.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the conveying means of the reception part of the system comprises a dispensing channel situated beneath the pressure distribution plate.

16. A device for feeding capsules containing a substance to be extracted to form a drink, the device comprising:

a storage that includes a plurality of capsules arranged in several series;

a capsule unloader for individually unloading a capsule selected from one of the series of capsules into a drink-forming position and comprising a support having a passage therein, wherein the storage system is rotatable on the support;

a water injection device for forming a drink from a liquid extract of the substance by the introduction of a liquid under pressure into a selected capsule; and

a reception to receive the selected capsule by direct descent through the passage and from the storage, the reception including a distribution plate for opening the selected capsule to release the drink.