Beverage preparation machines

• US 8,567,304 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc. (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saxton, Paul Adrian, Tanner, Roger Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US12/600,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20100147872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 992/89.R, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/289.R
• 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 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices

Abstract

A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a clamping member and a base, wherein the clamping member is movable relative to the base, the clamping member being sequentially movable from an open position, through a clamping position to an ejection position, the clamping position being intermediate the open position and the ejection position, in the open position the clamping member being positioned to enable loading of a cartridge into the delivery head, the clamping member being clampable against said cartridge in the clamping position, the clamping member being movable relative to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable transportation and ejection of said cartridge.

Claims

1. A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a clamping member and a base, wherein the clamping member is movable relative to the base,

the clamping member being movable from an open position, to a clamping position to an ejection position, in the open position the clamping member being positioned to enable loading of a cartridge into the delivery head,

the clamping member being pivotable relative to the base from the open position to the clamping position,

the clamping member being clampable against said cartridge in the clamping position,

the clamping member being movable in a direction substantially parallel to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable ejection of said cartridge.

2. A delivery head as claimed in claim 1 wherein in the clamping position the clamping member applies a clamping force to said cartridge, the clamping member being movable relative to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable ejection of said cartridge whilst maintaining at least a portion of said clamping force.

3. A delivery head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamping member is slidable across the base from the clamping position to the ejection position and draws said cartridge across the base from the clamping position to the ejection position.

4. A delivery head as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an ejection chute comprising a passageway in the base enabling said cartridge to drop under gravity into the ejection chute when the clamping member is in the ejection position.

5. A beverage preparation machine comprising the delivery head as claimed in claim 1.

6. A beverage preparation system comprising the beverage preparation machine of claim 5 and one or more cartridges, wherein the one or more cartridges contain one or more beverage ingredients.

7. A beverage preparation machine including the delivery head as claimed in claim 1, the beverage preparation machine further comprising a heater configured to produce a steam purge, and

the delivery head comprises an inlet piercer configured to direct the steam purge for cleaning the clamping member.

8. A beverage preparation machine including the delivery head as claimed in claim 1, the beverage preparation machine further comprising:

a heater configured to produce a steam purge;

a support surface configured to support the cartridge; and

an inlet piercer configured to direct the steam purge for cleaning at least one of the clamping member and the support surface.

9. A beverage preparation machine including the delivery head as claimed in claim 1, the beverage preparation machine further comprising:

a heater configured to produce a steam purge;

inlet and outlet piercers;

a piercer body on which the inlet and outlet piercers are mounted; and

a piercer unity cavity in which the piercer body is disposed, the inlet piercer being configured to direct the steam purge for cleaning the piercer unit cavity.

10. A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a clamping member and a base, wherein the clamping member is movable relative to the base,

the clamping member being movable from an open position, to a clamping position to an ejection position, in the open position the clamping member being positioned to enable loading of a cartridge into the delivery head,

the clamping member being pivotable relative to the base from the open position to the clamping position,

the clamping member being clampable against said cartridge in the clamping position,

the clamping member being movable in a direction substantially parallel to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable ejection of said cartridge, and

a motorised transport system for moving the clamping member between the clamping position and the ejection position.

11. A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a clamping member and a base, wherein the clamping member is movable relative to the base,

the clamping member being movable from an open position, to a clamping position to an ejection position, in the open position the clamping member being positioned to enable loading of a cartridge into the delivery head,

the clamping member being pivotable relative to the base from the open position to the clamping position,

the clamping member being clampable against said cartridge in the clamping position,

the clamping member being movable in a direction substantially parallel to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable ejection of said cartridge, and

wherein the delivery head comprises inlet and outlet piercers which are movable relative to the base between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the extended position both the inlet and outlet piercers extend upwardly of the base so as to sealingly engage said cartridge when located in the dispensing position and are positioned to increase the clamping force on said cartridge.

12. A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a clamping member and a base, wherein the clamping member is movable relative to the base,

the clamping member being movable from an open position, to a clamping position to an ejection position, in the open position the clamping member being positioned to enable loading of a cartridge into the delivery head,

the clamping member being pivotable relative to the base from the open position to the clamping position,

the clamping member being clampable against said cartridge in the clamping position,

the clamping member being movable in a direction substantially parallel to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable ejection of said cartridge,

wherein the delivery head comprises an upper housing movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the clamping member being coupled to the upper housing, wherein the clamping member is in its open position when the upper housing is in its open configuration and the clamping member is in its dispensing position when the upper housing is in its closed configuration, wherein the clamping member is movable between its dispensing position and its ejection position with the upper housing in its closed configuration.

13. A method of use of a beverage preparation machine having a delivery head of the type having a clamping member and a base, comprising the steps of:

moving the clamping member into an open position;

loading a cartridge into the delivery head;

moving the clamping member into a clamped position so as to clamp the cartridge in a dispensing position with a clamping force;

dispensing a beverage from the cartridge;

moving the cartridge to an ejection position by virtue of movement of the clamping member relative to the base;

ejecting the cartridge,

wherein the clamping position being intermediate the open position and the ejection position and the clamping member is moved in a direction substantially parallel to the base from the clamping position to the ejection position to enable ejection of said cartridge.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the clamping member pivots between the open position and the clamping position.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein moving the cartridge to the ejection position includes moving the clamping member from the clamping position to the ejection position whilst maintaining at least a portion of the clamping force on said cartridge.

16. The method of claim 13 comprising the additional steps of piercing said cartridge using inlet and outlet piercers after moving the clamping member into the clamping position and before dispensing the beverage.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein on piercing of the cartridge the inlet and outlet piercers increase the clamping force on said cartridge.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising the additional steps of retracting the inlet and outlet piercers from said cartridge before moving the cartridge to the ejection position.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

producing steam; and

cleaning at least one of the clamping member, a piercer unit cavity of the delivery head, and a cartridge support surface using the steam.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising producing steam;

and

the dispensing a beverage from the cartridge comprises driving out liquid from the cartridge using the steam.