Standalone drink dispensing machine

• US 7,966,927 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Ozanne, Matthieu, Yoakim, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/864,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 992/79, 992/84, 992/85, 992/95, 993/00, 993/02.R, 993/06, 993/07
• US Class Current: 99/284
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/005 Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means

Abstract

A machine for preparing and dispensing drinks by extraction under pressure of a food substance contained in a capsule which can function in a standalone mode in order to deliver several drinks successively. The machine includes an extraction module for receiving a capsule, a heat insulated water reservoir for supplying the extraction module, a pump and an electrical power supply that includes a low voltage electrical accumulator configured to supply the pump. The reservoir has a heating device that includes an electrical element powered by the accumulator.

Claims

1. A standalone drink dispensing machine for delivering a drink by extraction under pressure from a capsule comprising:

an extraction module which is intended to receive a capsule and which comprises means of injecting water under pressure into the capsule and means of receiving the capsule,

a water reservoir for supplying the said module with water;

the said reservoir being of sufficient capacity for successively supplying the said module for extraction from several capsules,

a pump for drawing water from the reservoir and supplying the capsule with water under pressure from the water injecting means of the extraction module,

electrical power supply means for normally providing electrical power for heating the water in the reservoir up to a reserve temperature higher than or equal to the extraction temperature, and for supplying the pump electrically, and

a low voltage electrical accumulator is configured to supply electrical current for heating the water in the reservoir when the electric power supply means is disconnected,

wherein the reservoir comprises heating means, wherein the heating means comprises a first electrical element powered by the accumulator, and a second electrical element, independent of the first element, that is capable of initially being powered by current from the electrical power supply means and configured to be supplied with electrical power from the electrical power supply means in order to normally heat the water up to the reserve temperature, and the first electrical element is to be supplied with electrical power from the electrical accumulator when the electric power supply means is disconnected in order to compensate for the heat losses after heating up the water to the reserve temperature.

2. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is surrounded by heat insulating walls in order to reduce the heat losses.

3. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises:

a temperature control device associated with a temperature sensor in the water reservoir;

with the device being configured to act on the powering of the element in order to maintain the reserve temperature within a substantially constant range of values.

4. The dispensing machine according to claim 3, wherein the pump and the first electrical element can be powered while functioning at the same time by the accumulator.

5. The dispensing machine according to claim 4, wherein the instantaneous power consumption of the pump and of the first element when functioning in conjunction is less than or equal to 100 Watts.

6. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, which further comprises an electrical charging device that can be coupled electrically to the accumulator in order to recharge the latter electrically.

7. The dispensing machine according to claim 6, wherein the charging device comprises a power supply base and a power supply unit connected to the accumulator;

with the unit being able to be coupled electrically when the machine is put into the position of rest on the base.

8. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a piston pump or a gear pump.

9. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is a sealed capsule capable of receiving the water under pressure and including beverage forming ingredients therein such that the water combines with the beverage forming ingredients to form a beverage.

10. A standalone drink dispensing machine for delivering a drink by extraction under pressure from a capsule comprising:

an extraction module which is intended to receive a capsule and which comprises means of injecting water under pressure into the capsule and means of receiving the capsule,

a water reservoir for supplying the said module with water;

the said reservoir being of sufficient capacity for successively supplying the said module for extraction from several capsules,

a pump for drawing water from the reservoir and supplying the capsule with water under pressure in the extraction module,

electrical power supply means for normally providing electrical power for heating the water in the reservoir up to a reserve temperature higher than or equal to the extraction temperature, and for supplying the pump electrically,

a low voltage electrical accumulator that is configured to supply electrical current for heating the water in the reservoir when the electric power supply means is disconnected, and

a converter for converting low voltage direct current into medium voltage alternating current and for supplying the pump with the medium voltage alternating current,

wherein the reservoir comprises heating means comprising at least one electrical element;

with the heating means configured to be supplied with electrical power from the electrical power supply means in order to normally heat the water up to the reserve temperature and to be supplied with electrical power from the electrical accumulator when the electric power supply means is disconnected in order to compensate for the heat losses after heating up the water to the reserve temperature.

11. The dispensing machine according to claim 10, wherein the capsule is a sealed capsule capable of receiving the water under pressure and including beverage forming ingredients therein such that the water combines with the beverage forming ingredients to form a beverage.

12. The dispensing machine according to claim 11, wherein the water injecting means comprises an injection pipe, the receiving means includes a lower part and an upper part which are assembled by closing together in order to form an enclosure in which the capsule is housed, and the extraction module includes means for opening a face of the capsule to allow the formed beverage to exit.

13. A standalone drink dispensing machine for delivering a drink by extraction under pressure from a capsule comprising:

an extraction module which is intended to receive a capsule and which comprises means of injecting water under pressure into the capsule and means of receiving the capsule, wherein the water injecting means comprises an injection pipe, the receiving means includes a lower part and an upper part which are assembled by closing together in order to form an enclosure in which the capsule is housed, and the extraction module includes means for opening a face of the capsule to allow a formed beverage to exit;

a water reservoir for supplying the said module with water;

the said reservoir being of sufficient capacity for successively supplying the said module for extraction from several capsules and including heating means comprising at least one electrical element;

a pump for drawing water from the reservoir and supplying the capsule with water under pressure from the water injecting means of the extraction module;

electrical power supply means for initially providing electrical power to the heating means for heating the water in the reservoir up to a reserve temperature higher than or equal to the extraction temperature, and for supplying the pump electrically; and

a low voltage electrical accumulator that is configured to supply electrical current to the heating means for heating the water in the reservoir when the electric power supply means is disconnected,

wherein the heating means is initially supplied with electrical power from the electrical power supply means in order to heat the water up to the reserve temperature and is later supplied with electrical power from the electrical accumulator when the electric power supply means is disconnected in order to compensate for the heat losses after heating up the water to the reserve temperature so that the device can be used as a standalone device after the water is heated to the reserve temperature.

14. The dispensing machine according to claim 13, wherein the capsule is a sealed capsule capable of receiving the water under pressure and including beverage forming ingredients therein such that the water combines with the beverage forming ingredients to form the beverage.

15. A standalone drink dispensing machine for delivering a drink by extraction under pressure from a capsule comprising:

an extraction module which is intended to receive a capsule and which comprises means of injecting water under pressure into the capsule and means of receiving the capsule, wherein the water injecting means comprises an injection pipe, the receiving means includes a lower part and an upper part which are assembled by closing together in order to form an enclosure in which the capsule is housed, and the extraction module includes means for opening a face of the capsule to allow a formed beverage to exit;

a water reservoir for supplying the said module with water;

the said reservoir being of sufficient capacity for successively supplying the said module for extraction from several capsules;

a pump for drawing water from the reservoir and supplying the capsule with water under pressure from the water injecting means of the extraction module;

electrical power supply means for normally providing electrical power for heating the water in the reservoir up to a reserve temperature higher than or equal to the extraction temperature, and for supplying the pump electrically; and

a low voltage electrical accumulator is configured to supply electrical current for heating the water in the reservoir when the electric power supply means is disconnected,

wherein the reservoir comprises heating means comprising at least one electrical element;

with the heating means configured to be supplied with electrical power from the electrical power supply means in order to normally heat the water up to the reserve temperature and to be supplied with electrical power from the electrical accumulator when the electric power supply means is disconnected in order to compensate for the heat losses after heating up the water to the reserve temperature.

16. The dispensing machine according to claim 15, wherein the capsule is a sealed capsule capable of receiving the water under pressure and including beverage forming ingredients therein such that the water combines with the beverage forming ingredients to form the beverage.