Brewing device for capsule with closure mechanism of variable transmission ratio

• US 8,210,098 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Boussemart, Christophe S., Jarisch, Christian, Etter, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US12/301,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20090308258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 992/89.R, 992/95, 993/02.P
• US Class Current: 99/302.P
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3633 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3638 Means to eject the cartridge after brewing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices

Abstract

A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient, the device including a main frame, a first capsule holding part, a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism that includes knuckle joints; and a manual handle forming lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The closing mechanism includes an additional force transmitting member associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joints that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule.

Claims

1. A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient comprising:

a main frame,

a first capsule holding part,

a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule, with the second capsule holding part being mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism comprising knuckle joint means to move the entire second capsule holding part linearly from an open position at which the two capsule holding parts are distant one another to enable the insertion of the capsule between the two parts and a closed position at which the first and second holding parts are closed about the capsule; and

a manual handle forming a lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa,

wherein the closing mechanism comprises additional force transmission means associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joint means that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule, and

wherein the frame includes an open channel in which the second capsule holding part reciprocates linearly between the open and closed positions.

2. The brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the additional force transmission means is configured to link the handle to the knuckle joint means.

3. The brewing device according to claim 2, wherein the additional force transmission means comprises force levers for applying a demultiplication of the force of the handle to the knuckle joint means during closure.

4. The brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the knuckle joint means comprises a pair of two rods;

one end of each of which being connected to the second holding part, the other end of each of which being connected to the additional force transmission means.

5. The brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the handle is attached to the upper of the frame.

6. The brewing device according to claim 5, wherein the handle is shorter in length than the length of the assembly formed by the second holding part and the knuckle joint means when extended in the closing position.

7. The brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the second holding part is arranged to slide in a substantially linear direction within the frame.

8. The brewing device according to claim 1, which further comprises a passage adapted for the positioning of the capsule between the two holding parts.

9. The brewing device according to claim 8, which further comprises a capsule retaining means provided between the two holding parts to retain the capsule in a predefined position before closure.

10. A brewing for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient comprising:

a main frame,

a first capsule holding part,

a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule, with the second capsule holding part being mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism comprising knuckle joint means to move from an open position at which the two parts are distant one another to enable the insertion of the capsule between the two parts and a closed position at which the first and second holding parts are closed about the capsule; and

a manual handle forming a lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa,

wherein the closing mechanism comprises additional force transmission means associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joint means that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule; and

wherein the additional force transmission means is formed of at least a pair of connecting rods each attached to the handle on one end and to the knuckle joint means on the other end.

11. The brewing device according to claim 10, wherein the force transmission means is configured in relation to the handle and knuckle joint means to increase the ratio of the angular course of the handle to the closure course of the at least second holding part when the handle is actuated in the closure direction.

12. The brewing device according to claim 11, wherein the at least 40 last degrees of the course or the handle is utilized to displace the course of the knuckle joint means by less than about the last 20%.

13. A brewing for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient comprising:

a main frame,

a first capsule holding part,

a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule, with the second capsule holding part being mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism comprising knuckle joint means to move from an open position at which the two parts are distant one another to enable the insertion of the capsule between the two parts and a closed position at which the first and second holding parts are closed about the capsule; and

a manual handle forming a lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa,

wherein the closing mechanism comprises additional force transmission means associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joint means that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule; and

wherein the force transmission means comprises gear means able to transfer the torque provided by the handle into translational closure forces on the first capsule holding part, and

wherein the gear means comprises a pair of spur gears having non-circular transversal sections.

14. The brewing device according to claim 13, wherein each spur gear has a longer transversal radius and wherein the respective transversal radiuses are positioned at about 90 degrees from one another.

15. A brewing unit for the brewing of a capsule containing beverage ingredients comprising:

a frame,

first and second capsule holding members for at least partially enclosing the capsule during brewing, wherein the first holding member is mobile along the frame between open and closed positions with relation to the second holding member; and

a closing mechanism to actuate the first holding member between the two positions comprising an actuation member, wherein the closing mechanism comprises gear means able to transfer the torque provided by the actuation member into translational closure forces on the first holding member;

wherein the gear means includes spur gears arranged so that the transmission rate varies progressively during rotation; and

wherein the actuation member is a handle.

16. The brewing device according to claim 15, wherein the gear means comprises a pair of spur gears having non-circular transversal sections.

17. The brewing device according to claim 16, wherein each spur gear has a longer transversal radius and wherein the respective transversal radiuses are positioned at about 90 degrees from one another.

18. A brewing for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient comprising:

a frame,

first and second capsule holding members for at least partially enclosing the capsule during brewing, wherein the first holding member is mobile along the frame between open and closed positions with relation to the second holding member; and

a closing mechanism to actuate the first holding member between the two positions comprising an actuation member, wherein the closing mechanism comprises gear means able to transfer the torque provided by the actuation member into translational closure forces on the first holding member;

wherein the gear means comprises a pair of spur gears having non-circular transversal sections.

19. The brewing device according to claim 18, wherein each spur gear has a longer transversal radius and wherein the respective transversal radiuses are positioned in intermeshing relationship at about 90 degrees from one another.

20. A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient comprising:

a main frame,

a first capsule holding part,

a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule, with the second capsule holding part being mobile relative to the first capsule holding part; and

water supply means connected to second holding part configured to inject water in the said part, wherein the water supply means comprises a length compensatory tube portion which is fixed relatively to the frame, whereas the second holding part can move with respect to the compensatory tube portion such that the compensatory tube portion extends into the second holding part.

21. The brewing device according to claim 20, wherein the compensatory tube portion is mounted relatively to the second holding part so that it inserts itself at least partly in the holding part as the holding part moves to the open position.

22. The brewing device according to claim 21, wherein the compensatory tube portion slides at least partially in a passage of the capsule holding part as said holding part moves toward its opening position.

23. The brewing device according to claim 20, wherein the second holding part include a passage surrounding at least part of the compensatory tube portion and further comprising sealing means which prevent water injected from the tube from bypassing entry into the second holding part.