Shallow machine

Abstract

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (84) from a capsule (2) has: an external housing (10, 30, 30, 40, 50, 60) having an external front face (10), two external spaced-apart lateral side faces (30,30) that extend rearwards behind the external front face (10) and that face each other; a beverage outlet (11) located on the external front face (10) and above a front area (20) for placing a user-receptacle (3,4) for collecting beverage (84) from the outlet (11); and a capsule handling device (70) that has a first part (71) and a second part (72) that are relatively movable between a capsule transfer position and a capsule extraction position. At least one part (72) of the first and second parts (71,72) is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces (30,30) so that the first and second parts (71,72) relatively move between the transfer and the extraction positions.

Claims

1. A machine for dispensing a beverage from a capsule containing a beverage ingredient, the machine comprising: an external housing having an external front face, an external top face, and an external bottom face, the external housing further comprising two external spaced-apart lateral side faces that extend rearwards behind the external front face, the two external spaced-apart lateral side faces extend between the external top face and the external bottom face, the two external lateral side faces face each other; a beverage outlet located on the external front face and above a front area for placing a user-receptacle for collecting beverage dispensed from the beverage outlet; and a capsule handling device that is located behind the external front face, the capsule handling device is fluidically connected to the beverage outlet, the capsule handling device having a first part and a second part that are relatively movable between a transfer position for receiving and/or evacuating the capsule and an extraction position for extracting the capsule between the first and second parts; and at least one of the first and second parts of the capsule handling device is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces so that the first and second parts relatively move between the transfer position and the extraction position.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first and second parts that is arranged to translate towards and away from the at least one of the two external lateral side faces is configured to move generally in parallel to at least one of: the external front face; an external rear face; the external top face; and the external bottom face.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second parts are relatively movable between the transfer position for receiving and/or evacuating the capsule and the extraction position for extracting the capsule between the first and second parts along a translation axis that intercepts at least one of the two external lateral side faces.

4. The machine of claim 1, comprising a fluid circuit for circulating the beverage ingredient from the capsule when extracted between the first and second parts, the fluid circuit being fluidically connected to a source of liquid, and the fluid circuit comprising a liquid driver configured to drive the liquid from the source into the capsule handling device for feeding the liquid to the capsule and via an inlet of the first part or the second part.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the first and second parts arranged to translate towards and away from the at least one of the two external lateral side faces is arranged to move generally in parallel to an overall direction of extraction of the beverage ingredient in said capsule when the capsule is extracted between the first and second parts.

6. The machine of claim 5, comprising a fluid guide configured to fluidically connect the capsule handling device to the beverage outlet along a guide direction, and the overall direction of extraction and a direction of dispensing of the beverage out of the beverage outlet extend along skew lines.

7. The machine of claim 1, comprising a foot projecting in front of the external front face and extending along the external front face to form and/or support the front area.

8. The machine of claim 1, comprising a movable user-receptacle support body that has an upper placement surface and that is movable along the external front face: from a first position at the front area under the beverage outlet for supporting on the upper placement surface a short user-receptacle under the beverage outlet; and to a second position away from under the beverage outlet so that a large user-receptacle is placeable on a lower placement surface under the beverage outlet.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the movable user-receptacle support body is secured to the external front face and/or to a foot projecting in front of the external front face.

10. The machine of claim 8, comprising a connection member for connecting the user-receptacle support body to the external front face, the movable user-receptacle support body having a connector that is connected or connectable to the connection member to maintain the user-receptacle body in the first and second positions.

11. The machine of claim 4, comprising a liquid reservoir, the liquid reservoir being in fluid connection with the fluid circuit.

12. The machine of claim 1, comprising a seat for receiving a removable service unit via an opening in the external front face.

13. The machine of claim 2, wherein the external top face has a capsule insertion opening leading into a passage for guiding the capsule to the capsule handling device and to a position between the first and second parts of the capsule handling device in the transfer position, the first and second parts are then relatively movable to the extraction position for extracting the capsule.

14. The machine of claim 13, comprising a user-interface which is operable by a user to extract the capsule between the first and second parts in the extraction position, the user-interface is: covered by a cover when the cover is in an open position so that the user-interface is inoperable by said user when the capsule handling device is accessible from outside via the capsule insertion opening and the passage; and uncovered by the cover when the cover is in a closed position so that the user-interface is operable by said user when the capsule handling device is inaccessible from outside via the capsule insertion opening and the passage.

15. The machine of claim 8, wherein when the movable user-receptacle support body is in the second position, the movable user-receptacle support body is adjacent to one of the external lateral side faces.

16. The machine of claim 10, wherein the connection member extends generally along a bottom part of the external front face.

17. The machine of claim 11, wherein the liquid reservoir extends over at least one of the two external lateral side faces and/or over the external rear face.

18. The machine of claim 1, wherein the external top face further comprises a capsule insertion opening, the capsule insertion opening leading into a passage configured for guiding the capsule to a position between the first part and the second part of the capsule handling device in the transfer position.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the capsule insertion opening further comprises a cover that is relatively movable adjacent to the external housing between an open position and a closed position, the open position for allowing for insertion of the capsule into the passage through the capsule insertion opening, and the closed position covering the capsule insertion opening prevent insertion of the capsule into the passage through the capsule insertion opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are front views of a beverage machine according to the invention having a beverage outlet and a cup support that is movable under the outlet for placing a small cup under the outlet and movable away from under the outlet for placing a large cup under the outlet as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively;

(3) FIGS. 3a to 3d illustrate schematically the operation and the fluid line of a capsule handling device of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2;

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 are side view of the beverage machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a service unit inserted into and removed from its machine as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively; and

(5) FIGS. 6 and 7 are top views of the beverage machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a cover for covering a capsule insertion opening, the cover being in the closed position over and across the opening and in the open position away from the opening, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, an exemplary embodiment of a machine 1 according to the invention is configured for dispensing a beverage 84 from a capsule 2 containing a beverage ingredient.

(7) Machine 1 has an external housing 10,30,30,40,50,60 with an external front face 10 and two external spaced-apart lateral side faces 30,30 that extend rearwards behind external front face 10 and that face each other. External housing 10,30,30,40,50,60 may include at least one of an external rear face 40, an external top face 50 and an external bottom face 60.

(8) Machine 1 comprises a beverage outlet 11 located on external front face 10 and above a front area 20 for placing a user-receptacle 3,4 for collecting beverage 84 dispensed from the outlet 11. Front area 20 may include a movable user-receptacle support body 65, such as a support body 65 that is movable between a first position for placing a short user-receptacle 3 under outlet 11 and a second position for placing a large user-receptacle 4 under the outlet 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

(9) Machine 1 has a capsule handling device 70 that is located behind external front face 10 and that is fluidically connected to outlet 11 (FIGS. 3a-3d and FIGS. 6-7). Device 70 includes a first part 71 and a second part 72 (FIG. 3a) that are relatively movable between a transfer position (FIGS. 3a-3b) for receiving and/or evacuating capsule 2 and an extraction position (FIGS. 3c-2d) for extracting capsule 2 between first and second parts 71,72.

(10) For instance, first and second parts 71,72 are movable manually, such as by a user-handle (e.g. as disclosed in WO 2005/004683 or WO 2007/135136), and/or movable automatically, such as by a motor (e.g. as disclosed in EP1767129 or WO 2012/025258), between the transfer and the extraction positions.

(11) First and second parts 71,72 may be arranged to form in the extraction position a mixing chamber 73 for housing capsule 2 (FIG. 3c-3d), e.g. a brewing chamber 73. For instance, chamber 73 is delimited by at least a cavity 71 in one part 71 of first and second parts 71,72 and by a cooperating cavity or lid 72 formed by the other part 72 of first and second parts 71,72 (FIG. 3a).

(12) At least one part 72 of first and second parts 71,72 of capsule handling device 70 is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces 30,30 so that first and second parts 71,72 relatively move between the transfer and the extraction positions (FIGS. 3a-3d and 6-7).

(13) As illustrated in FIGS. 3a-3d, downstream part 72 is movable towards and away from side face 30,30. This corresponds to a configuration of a capsule handling device as for instance disclosed in WO 2012/025258. Obviously, it is possible to move the upstream part of the capsule handling device towards and away from side face 30,30, e.g. with a capsule handling device configuration as for instance disclosed in WO2007/135136. In a yet further alternative, it is also possible to have both the upstream and the downstream part moving towards and away from side faces 30,30.

(14) The at least one part 72 of first and second parts 71,72 that is arranged to translate towards and away from the at least one of the two external lateral side faces 30,30 can be configured to move generally in parallel to at least one of: external front face 10; external rear face 40; external top face 50; and external bottom face 60 (when present). See FIGS. 3a-3d and 6-7.

(15) First and second parts 71,72 can be relatively movable between a transfer position for receiving and/or evacuating capsule 2 and an extraction position for extracting capsule 2 between first and second parts 71,72 along a translation axis 70 that intercepts at least one of first and second external lateral side faces 30,30 (FIGS. 3b and 3d). Translation axis 70 may extend generally in parallel to at least one of: external front face 10; external rear face 40; external top face 50; and external bottom face 60 (when present). See FIGS. 3b and 3d.

(16) Machine 1 may include a fluid circuit for circulating beverage ingredient from capsule 2 when extracted between first and second parts 71,72. Fluid circuit can be fluidically connected to a source of liquid 80,80, such as a tank, and comprise a liquid driver 81, such as a pump, for driving liquid from source 80,80 into capsule handling device 70 for feeding the liquid to capsule 2, e.g. via a temperature conditioner (82), such as a heater and/or a cooler, and via an inlet of first or second part 71,72. See FIG. 3d.

(17) Machine 1 can have a user-interface 90 configured to control liquid driver 81 to drive the liquid from source of liquid 80,80 into capsule handling device 70. See FIGS. 6-7.

(18) Machine 1 may have one or more further user-interfaces 91,92 such as further user-interfaces 91,92 for setting at least one parameter relating to beverage preparation, power management and machine servicing. See FIGS. 1-2. Such beverage preparation parameters may relate to the beverage volumes, beverage temperatures as well as preparation sequences, such as beverages made of different phases such as more or less separate coffee and milk phases, e.g. cappuccinos and latte machiattos.

(19) The at least one part 72 of first and second parts 71,72 that is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces 30,30 may be arranged to move generally in parallel to an overall direction of extraction 70 of the beverage ingredient in capsule 2 when extracted between first and second parts 71,72. See FIGS. 3b and 3d.

(20) Machine 1 may include a fluid guide 83 for fluidically connecting capsule handling device 70 to outlet 11 along a guide direction 83, an overall direction of extraction 70 of the beverage ingredient in capsule 2 and a direction 12 of dispensing of beverage 84 out of outlet 11 extending along skew lines. For instance, dispensing direction 12 and guide direction 83 are in a plane that is generally orthogonal to the overall direction of extraction 70. See FIG. 3d.

(21) Machine 1 may include a foot 61,61 projecting in front of external front face 10 and extending along external front face 10 to form and/or support front area 20. See FIGS. 1-7.

(22) Machine 1 may include a movable user-receptacle support body 65 that has an upper placement surface 66 and that is movable along external front face 10: from a first position at front area 20 under outlet 11 for supporting on upper placement surface 66 a short user-receptacle 3 under the outlet 11 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7); to a second position away from under outlet 11 so that a large user-receptacle 4 is placeable on a lower placement surface 67 under outlet 11 (FIG. 2).

(23) For instance foot 61,61 forms lower placement surface 67 and/or supports movable user-receptacle support body 65 in at least one of the first and second positions.

(24) Movable user-receptacle support body 65 can be secured to external front face 10 and/or to foot 61,61.

(25) Machine 1 may include a connection means 68,69,69a for connecting user-receptacle support body 65 to external front face 10. User-receptacle support body 65 having a connector 66a,66b that is connected or connectable to connection means 68,69,69a to maintain user-receptacle body 65 in the first and second positions. For instance, connection means 68,69,69a guides user-receptacle body 65 from the first position into the second position and vice versa. See FIGS. 1, 6 and 7.

(26) Connection means 68,69,69a can be located on external front face 10 and/or on foot 61,61 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7).

(27) Connection means 68,69,69a may have a direction 68 that extends generally along a bottom part 10a of external front face 10 so that user-receptacle support body 65 is movable with its connector 66a,66b in connection with connection means 68,69,69a from the first position into the second position and vice versa along direction 68 extending along bottom part 10a. For instance, direction 68 of connection means 68,69,69a extends on: the bottom part 10a of the external front face 10; and/or a front area 20 formed by a machine foot 61,61 projecting in front of bottom part 10a of external front face 10 and extending along external front face 10.

(28) Machine 1 can have a machine bottom face 60, direction 68 of connection means 68,69,69a being generally parallel to bottom face 60 (FIG. 1).

(29) Machine 1 may have two external spaced-apart lateral side faces 30,30, user-receptacle support body 65 being movable with its connector 66a,66b in connection with connection means 68,69,69a from the first position into the second position and vice versa along direction 68 from adjacent or close to one external lateral side face 30 to adjacent or close to the other external lateral side face 30 (FIGS. 1 and 7).

(30) Connection means 68,69,69a may be provided with a mechanical arrangement comprising at least one of: a rail cooperating with a rail connector of the support body 65 and/or a groove 68 cooperating with a groove connector 66a of the support body 65, such as a rail slider and/or groove slider 66a of support body 65 having a single degree of freedom along the rail and/or the groove when connected thereto (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7), the rail and/or groove and the rail and/or groove slider having optionally a generally dovetail shape for cooperating together along a single degree of freedom; a belt or chain secured to the support body and movable along the external front face, such as a belt or chain in an open or closed loop; and a local releasable positioner for guiding the support body 65 into the first position or second position, such as a plug-and-socket positioner or a hook positioner or a snap positioner.

(31) Connection means 69,69a can be provided with a magnetic arrangement so that connection means 69,69a and connector 66b are magnetically constrained (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7).

(32) Connector 66b may include a magnetic field-generating element that is arranged to be magnetically constrained against a corresponding ferromagnetic element of the connection means 68,69a.

(33) Connection means 68,69a can have a magnetic field-generating element that is arranged to be magnetically constrained against a corresponding ferromagnetic element of the connector 66b.

(34) Connection means 68,69a may have a magnetic field-generating element that is arranged to be magnetically constrained against a corresponding magnetic field-generating element of the connector 66b.

(35) Such magnetic field-generating element may include an electromagnet element or a permanent magnet element, e.g. made of at least one of iron, nickel, cobalt, rare earth metals, e.g. lanthanide, and alloys and oxides containing such metals as well as polymers (e.g. plastics) carrying such elements and components.

(36) Such ferromagnetic element can be made of at least one of of Co, Fe, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, FeOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, NiOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2Fe.sub.14B, Mn, Bi, Ni, MnSb, MnOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, Y.sub.3Fe.sub.5O.sub.12, CrO.sub.2, MnAs, Gd, Dy, EuO, Cu.sub.2MnAl, Cu.sub.2MnIn, Cu.sub.2MnSn, Ni.sub.2MnAl, Ni.sub.2MnIn, Ni.sub.2MnSn, Ni.sub.2MnSb, Ni.sub.2MnGa, Co.sub.2MnAl, Co.sub.2MnSi, Co.sub.2MnGa, Co.sub.2MnGe, SmCo.sub.5, Sm.sub.2Co.sub.17, Pd.sub.2MnAl, Pd.sub.2MnIn, Pd.sub.2MnSn, Pd.sub.2MnSb, Co.sub.2FeSi, Fe.sub.3Si, Fe.sub.2VAl, Mn.sub.2VGa and Co.sub.2FeGe.

(37) Such magnetic field-generative element and/or such ferromagnetic element can be made of sub-elements dispersed in a polymer matrix or agglomerated with binder.

(38) The connector can have one or more magnetic and/or ferromagnetic elements 66b (FIGS. 1-2), e.g. pin or rod or cylinder or prism or spot element, the connection means comprising: one or more magnetic and/or ferromagnetic local positioner elements 69a, e.g. pin or rod or cylinder or prism or spot element, on a path of connector 66b when user-receptacle support body 65 is moved between the first and second positions along direction 68 generally extending along bottom part 10a, such as at least one of discrete end-of-path positioners and intermediate positioners, e.g. a plurality of spaced apart positioners; and/or one or more path elements along a path of connector 66b when user-receptacle support body 65 is moved between first and second positions along direction 68 generally extending along the bottom part 10a, optionally the connection means 69,69a comprising stripe or bar or wire elements or a plurality of side-by-side local positioner elements 69 along direction 68 to from a spotted path and/or end-of-path positioners 69 defining the first and second positions of user-receptacle support body 65.

(39) Machine 1 may include a liquid reservoir 80,80, such as a water thank, the liquid reservoir being in fluid connection with the fluid circuit (FIGS. 1-2 and 6-7).

(40) Liquid reservoir 80,80 can be removable from such machine 1 for servicing, such as for filling, emptying and/or cleaning.

(41) Liquid reservoir 80,80 may be mounted on a machine foot 61 (FIG. 7 in dashed lines), which machine foot 61 projects beyond: at least one of the external lateral side faces 30, reservoir 80 being located adjacent to at least one of the external side faces 30; the external front face, the reservoir being located adjacent to the external front face; or the external rear face, the reservoir being located adjacent to the external rear face.

(42) Liquid reservoir 80,80 can have a shape that extends over substantially at least one of the entire external lateral side face 30 and and/or over substantially the entire external rear face (FIG. 7).

(43) The shape of liquid reservoir 80 may be generally parallelpipedic (FIG. 7 in dashed lines).

(44) Liquid reservoir 80 may have a shape that is generally cylindrical with a circular or part-circular or crescent or elliptic or semi-elliptic base (FIG. 6-7).

(45) Machine 1 can have a seat 15 for receiving a removable service unit 16 via an opening 15a in external front face 10 (FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5).

(46) Service unit 16 may have a receptacle for collecting waste material, such as capsules 2 upon use, and/or residual liquid.

(47) Service unit 16 can have a feeder for supplying the beverage ingredient capsules and/or another ingredient for forming the beverage to be dispensed and/or a cleaning agent.

(48) Service unit 16 may be prevented from being removed or inserted into seat 15 by user-receptacle support body 65 when support body 65 is adjacent to and in front of the opening 15a (FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5): in the first position of body 15a, service unit 16 being removable or insertable into seat 15 when support body 65 is in the second position; or in the second position of body 15a, service unit 16 being removable or insertable into seat 15 when support body 65 is in the first position.

(49) External top face 50 may have a capsule insertion opening 51 leading into a passage 52 for guiding capsule 2 to capsule handling device 70 and to a position between first and second parts 71,72 of handling device 70 in the transfer position which parts are then relatively movable to their extraction position for extracting capsule 2. For instance, capsule insertion opening 51 is associated with a cover 55 that is movable adjacent to external housing 10,30,30,40,50,60, such as slidable and/or pivotable, between an open position away from opening 51 for allowing insertion of capsule 2 into passage 52 via opening 51 and a closed position over or across opening 51 to prevent insertion of capsule 2 into passage 52 via opening 51. See FIGS. 1-2 and 6-7.

(50) Machine 1 may include a user-interface 90 which is operable by a user to extract capsule 2 between first and second parts 71,72 in their extraction position.

(51) User-interface 90 is covered by the cover 55 when cover 55 is in the open position so that user-interface 90 is inoperable by a user when capsule handling device 70 is accessible from outside via opening 51 and passage 52. See FIG. 7.

(52) User-interface 90 is uncovered by cover 55 when cover 55 is in the closed position so that user-interface 90 is operable by a user when capsule handling device 70 is inaccessible from outside via opening 51 and passage 52. See FIG. 6.

(53) For instance, user-interface 90 is configured to control driver 81, e.g. a pump, to drive liquid from source of liquid 80,80 into capsule handling device 70.