BEVERAGE MACHINE WITH A CONTROLLED OUTFLOW APERTURE

Abstract

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage from an ingredient has: an extraction seat (20), an inlet arrangement (21) for guiding water into the seat (20) and a dispensing arrangement (22) for guiding beverage out of the seat (20). The dispensing arrangement (22) has a face (220) delimiting a downstream part of the seat (20), the face (220) being formed by a beverage guide structure (223) having a beverage guide (224) for guiding a total flow of beverage from the seat (20) via a total guide entry (224a), through the wall (223), out of a total guide exit (224b). The guide structure is associated with a flow control device (23, 23) configured to control the flow of beverage. The control device (23, 23) has: an obstruction portion (230a,230b) extending adjacent the beverage guide structure (223) so as to obstruct at least a portion (224) of the total guide entry and/or exit (224a, 224b), and one or more control sides (231a, 232a, 231b, 232b) suitable to delimit from the obstruction portion (230a, 230b) a passage (233) through which is passed the total flow of beverage. The obstruction portion (230a, 230b) and the control side(s) (231a, 232a, 231b, 232b) are operable over the beverage guide structure (223) so as to change a relative position and/or a relative size and/or a shape of the obstructed portion (224) and the unobstructed portion (224) of the total guide entry and/or exit (224a, 224b)

Claims

1. A machine for preparing a beverage from an ingredient, comprising an extraction unit that has an extraction seat, an inlet arrangement for guiding water into the seat and a dispensing arrangement for guiding beverage out of the seat, the dispensing arrangement comprising a face delimiting a downstream part of the seat, the face being formed by a beverage guide structure having a beverage guide for guiding a total flow of beverage from the seat via a total guide entry, through the wall, out of a total guide exit towards a dispensing area via a beverage outlet, the guide structure being associated with a flow control device configured to control the flow of beverage guided along the beverage guide, the flow control device has: an obstruction portion, extending adjacent the beverage guide structure so as to obstruct at least a portion of the total guide entry and/or exit to prevent or inhibit the passage of beverage through such obstructed guide portion; and one or more control sides suitable to delimit from the obstruction portion a passage through which is passed the total flow of beverage passing through a non-obstructed portion of the total guide entry and/or exit, the non-obstructed portion being adjacent the obstructed portion, the obstruction portion and the control side(s) being operable over the beverage guide structure so as to change a relative position and/or a relative size and/or a shape of the obstructed portion and the unobstructed portion of the total guide entry and/or exit, such as operable over the beverage structure to be selectively brought into a number of different configurations in terms of relative size and/or relative position and/or shape.

2. The machine of claim 1, which is configured to operate the obstruction portion and the control side(s) so as to: maintain the obstruction portion and the control side(s) stationary relatively to the total guide entry and/or the total guide exit from a beginning to an end of an extraction of the ingredient, and/or move at least one of the obstruction portion and the control side(s) relatively to the total guide entry and/or the total guide exit during an extraction of the ingredient.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the obstruction portion comprises a first sub-portion delimited by one or more first control sides and a second sub-portion delimited by one or more second control sides.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein: the one or more first control sides delimit a first sub-passage and the one or more second control sides delimit a second sub-passage, the passage of the flow control device being formed by an intersection of the first and second sub-passages; and/or the obstruction portion comprises a first sub-portion delimited by one or more first control sides and a second sub-portion delimited by one or more second control sides.

5. The machine of claim 3, wherein at least one of the sub-portions obstructs a fraction of the total guide entry and/or exit of the beverage guide, the fraction being in the range of 20 to 80%, of the total guide entry and/or exit.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the obstruction portion obstructs a fraction of the total guide entry and/or exit, the fraction being in the range of 20 to 90%, of the total guide entry and/or exit.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage guide delimits a plurality of side-by-side beverage passages, such as flow-through holes, each passage having a passage entry and a passage exit, the total guide entry being formed by the passage entries and the total guide exit being formed by the passage exits.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the extraction seat is configured to receive the capsule containing the ingredient, the face bearing one or more raised elements that project upstream and that are configured for forming one or more beverage outlet openings in the outlet membrane of the capsule in the seat, the raised element(s) being fixed relative to and/or integral with the face.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the extraction seat is configured to receive the capsule containing the ingredient, the face being free of any raised element forming an outlet opening in the capsule's outlet membrane, the seat, being configured to receive the capsule with an outlet membrane that is opened prior to reaching the seat and/or that opens in the seat without the aid of a raised element.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the extraction seat is configured to receive the capsule containing the ingredient, the extraction seat being delimited by a first part and a second part that are relatively movable between: an open position for inserting the ingredient capsule into the extraction seat and/or for removing such capsule from the seat; and a closed position for extracting in the seat the ingredient capsule.

11. The machine of claim 10, wherein: the first and second parts being relatively movable by an actuator such as by a user-handle or by an electric motor; and/or the first part bearing the face and the second part bearing the inlet arrangement; and/or one of the first and second parts being stationary relative to an outside machine housing and the other of the first and second parts being movable relative to the outside machine housing.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein the extraction seat is configured to receive the capsule containing the ingredient, the inlet arrangement is: associated with a piercing or cutting arrangement configured to pierce or cut water inlet opening(s) into the ingredient capsule in the ingredient extraction seat so that water circulating along the inlet arrangement is passed into the capsule via the water inlet opening; and/or fluidically connected to a water supply arrangement via a water guide.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the water supply arrangement: comprises at least one of: a water source for supplying water to the inlet arrangement; a water driver for driving water to the inlet arrangement, and a thermal conditioner, and/or is associated with a or the control unit for controlling the water supply arrangement.

14. The machine of claim 1, wherein the capsule extraction seat is associated with an un-extracted ingredient capsule insertion passage.

15. A method for extracting from an ingredient capsule a machine for preparing a beverage from an ingredient, comprising an extraction unit that has an extraction seat, an inlet arrangement for guiding water into the seat and a dispensing arrangement for guiding beverage out of the seat, the dispensing arrangement comprising a face delimiting a downstream part of the seat, the face being formed by a beverage guide structure, having a beverage guide for guiding a total flow of beverage from the seat via a total guide entry, through the wall, out of a total guide exit towards a dispensing area via a beverage outlet, the guide structure being associated with a flow control device configured to control the flow of beverage guided along the beverage guide, the flow control device has: an obstruction portion, extending adjacent the beverage guide structure so as to obstruct at least a portion of the total guide entry and/or exit to prevent or inhibit the passage of beverage through such obstructed guide portion; and one or more control sides suitable to delimit from the obstruction portion a passage through which is passed the total flow of beverage passing through a non-obstructed portion of the total guide entry and/or exit, the non-obstructed portion being adjacent the obstructed portion, the obstruction portion and the control side(s) being operable over the beverage guide structure so as to change a relative position and/or a relative size and/or a shape of the obstructed portion and the unobstructed portion of the total guide entry and/or exit, such as operable over the beverage structure to be selectively brought into a number of different configurations in terms of relative size and/or relative position and/or shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0085] FIG. 1 shows an example of part of a beverage machine according to the invention, part of which being schematically illustrated;

[0086] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an extraction unit of the machine of FIG. 1, an ingredient being in the process of being introduced into the unit's seat that is associated with a flow control device, in accordance with the invention;

[0087] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the extraction unit of FIG. 2 with a variation, the ingredient being housed in the seat, ready for extraction; and

[0088] FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate an example of a flow control device and parts thereof for a machine according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089] FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate an exemplary embodiment and variations and parts thereof of a beverage machine 1 for preparing a beverage from an ingredient, such as an ingredient supplied within a capsule 100 that is provided with an outlet membrane 101, according to the invention.

[0090] Machine 1 includes an extraction unit 2 that has an extraction seat 20 such as a capsule extraction seat 20, an inlet arrangement 21 for guiding water into seat 20 and a dispensing arrangement 22 for guiding beverage out of seat 20. Dispensing arrangement 22 includes a face 220 delimiting a downstream part of seat 20. Face 220 is formed by a beverage guide structure 223, such as plate-like or sheet-like wall 223 e.g. a disk-like member, having a beverage guide 224 for guiding a total flow of beverage from seat 20 via a total guide entry 224a, through wall 223, out of a total guide exit 224b towards a dispensing area 1 via a beverage outlet 220. The dispensing area may be delimited by a support for supporting a user-recipient. Guide structure 223 is associated with a flow control device 23,23 configured to control the flow of beverage guided along beverage guide 224. Beverage guide 224 may be formed of at least one of: flow-through passages formed by a reticulated and/or foraminate and/or porous structure; and one or more flow-through holes. See FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0091] Flow control device 23,23 has an obstruction portion 230a,230b, such as a portion that is at least substantially beverage impervious, extending adjacent beverage guide structure 223 so as to obstruct at least a portion 224 (FIG. 5) of total guide entry 224a (FIG. 2) and/or total guide exit 224b (FIG. 3) to prevent or inhibit the passage of beverage through such obstructed guide portion 224.

[0092] Flow control device 23,23 has one or more control sides 231a,232a,231b,232b suitable to delimit from obstruction portion 230a,230b a passage 233 through which is passed the total flow of beverage passing through a non-obstructed portion 224 of total guide entry and/or exit 224a,224b, non-obstructed portion 224 being adjacent obstructed portion 224. See FIGS. 4 to 5a.

[0093] Obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b are operable over beverage guide structure 223 so as to change a relative position and/or a relative size and/or a shape of obstructed portion 224 and unobstructed portion 224 of total guide entry and/or exit 224a,224b. See FIGS. 2 to 5a. Obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b may be operable over the beverage structure 223 to be selectively brought into a number of different configurations in terms of relative size and/or relative position and/or shape, for instance a number of at least two, such as in the range of 3 to 30, e.g. 4 to 20 or 5 to 10.

[0094] Control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b may comprise at least one of a circular side 232a,232b, a radial or diametral side 231a,231b, a polygonal side 321a,321. See FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0095] Control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b may delimit passage 233 with a cross-section having a shape that is at least one of polygonal, curved e.g. circular, convex or concave, e.g. the shape being a curved or circular sector. See FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0096] Machine 1 may be configured to operate obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b so as to maintain obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b stationary relatively to total guide entry 224a and/or total guide exit 224b from a beginning to an end of an extraction of an ingredient, e.g. within capsule 100, in extraction seat 20.

[0097] Machine 1 may be configured to operate obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b so as to move at least one of obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b,232b relatively to total guide entry 224a and/or total guide exit 224b during an extraction of an ingredient, e.g. within capsule 100, in extraction seat 20. Obstruction portion 230a,230b and control side(s) 231a,232a,231b, 232b may be arranged to at least substantially prevent any flow of beverage via beverage guide 224 during an initial period of extraction of ingredient, e.g. within capsule 100, and then to be moved to enable a flow of beverage via beverage guide 224.

[0098] Obstruction portion 230a,230b may include a first sub-portion 230a delimited by one or more first control sides 231a,232a (FIG. 6) and a second sub-portion 230b delimited by one or more second control sides 231b,232b (FIG. 7). First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b may overlap each other. See FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0099] First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b can be relatively movable, e.g. pivotally and/or linearly movable, to change in size obstructed portion 224 and unobstructed portion 224. See FIGS. 4 to 5a.

[0100] First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b may be movable, e.g. pivotally and/or linearly movable, over beverage guide structure 223 to change in position obstructed portion 224 and unobstructed portion 224. See FIGS. 4 to 5a.

[0101] First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b can be relatively movable, e.g. pivotally and/or linearly movable, to change in shape obstructed portion 224 and unobstructed portion 224. See FIGS. 4 to 5a.

[0102] First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b may be actuated, manually or automatically e.g. by a motor, independently of each other or being cinematically coupled to one another. First and second sub-portions 230a,230b can be driven respectively by a first and second actuatable connector 235a,235b, such as connectors directly or indirectly connected to a handle or a motor. See FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0103] First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b can be mounted via an axle 234a and a bearing 234b in which axle 234a is received. See FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0104] Obstruction portion may include more than two such sub-portions 230a,230b, for instance a number of sub-portions in the range of 3 to 10, such as 4 to 8, e.g. 5 to 7.

[0105] One or more first control sides 231a,232a may delimit a first sub-passage 233a and one or more second control sides 231b,232b may delimit a second sub-passage 233b. Passage 233 of flow control device 23,23 can be formed by an intersection of first and second sub-passages 233a,233b.

[0106] Obstruction portion 230a,230b may include a first sub-portion 230a delimited by one or more first control sides 231a,232a and a second sub-portion 230b delimited by one or more second control sides 231b,232b. For instance, first sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b form together obstruction portion 230a,230b. First sub-portion 230a and second sub-portion 230b may overlap each other.

[0107] At least one of sub-portions 230a,230b may obstruct a fraction of total guide entry and/or exit 224a,224b of beverage guide 224, the fraction being in the range of 20 to 80%, such as 30 to 70%, for instance 40 to 60%, e.g. 45 to 65% of the total guide entry and/or exit 224a,224b.

[0108] Obstruction portion 230a,230b can obstruct a fraction of total guide entry and/or exit 224a,224b, the fraction being in the range of 20 to 90%, such as 30 to 80%, for instance 40 to 70%, e.g. 45 to 60% of total guide entry and/or exit 224a,224b.

[0109] Beverage guide 224 may delimit a plurality of side-by-side beverage passages, such as flow-through holes, each passage having a passage entry and a passage exit, total guide entry 224a being formed by the passage entries and total guide exit 224b being formed by passage exits.

[0110] Beverage guide 224 can have a number of flow-through holes 224: in the range of 5 to 15, such as 7 to 13, e.g. 9 to 12; and/or each flow-through hole 224 having a minimum diameter transverse to a beverage outflow direction along the hole, in the range of about 0.1 to 1 mm, such as 0.3 to 0.8 mm, e.g. 0.4 to 0.6 mm.

[0111] Extraction seat 20 can be configured to receive the abovementioned capsule 100 containing the ingredient. Face 220 may bear one or more raised elements 225 that project upstream and that are configured for forming one or more beverage outlet openings in outlet membrane 101 of capsule 100 in seat 20. Raised element(s) 225 may be fixed relative to and/or integral with face 220. Beverage guide 224 may extend from adjacent raised element(s) 225. Face 220 may bear a number of the raised element(s) in the range of in the range of 2 to 30, for instance 3 to 20, for example 4 to 15, e.g. 5 to 10.

[0112] Inlet arrangement 21 can be associated with a pressurizer, such as a liquid driver e.g. a pump 7, configured for driving a carrier liquid, such as water, along the inlet arrangement 21 so as to raise a pressure, e.g. in the range of 5 to 20 bar such as 8 to 15 bar, inside capsule 100 when in seat 20 and urge outlet membrane 101 towards raised element(s) 225 so as to form beverage outlet opening(s) in outlet membrane 101.

[0113] Seat 20 may be associated with an actuator for mechanically urging capsule 100 against face 220 whereby outlet membrane 101 is urged towards raised element(s) 225 so as to form beverage outlet opening(s) in outlet membrane 101.

[0114] In a variation (slightly diverging from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as to reference 225), face 220 can be free of any raised element forming an outlet opening in capsule's outlet membrane 101, seat 20, being configured to receive capsule 100 with an outlet membrane 101 that is opened prior to reaching seat 20 and/or that opens in seat 20 without the aid of a raised element, e.g. by having a capsule internal membrane mechanical opener and/or by having weakened areas in membrane 101 that are torn and/or broken open under a pressure rise in capsule 100.

[0115] Extraction seat 20 can be configured to receive capsule 100 containing the ingredient. Extraction seat 20 can be delimited by a first part 24 and a second part 25 that are relatively movable between: an open position for inserting capsule 100 into extraction seat 20 and/or for removing such capsule 100 from seat 20; and a closed position for extracting in seat 20 ingredient capsule 100. See FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0116] First and second parts 24,25 can be relatively movable by an actuator such as by a user-handle or by an electric motor 3, e.g. an actuator connected to at least one of first and second parts 24,25 by a transmission 4 such as one or more of gears 41, belts, cams 42 and cam-followers, levers and/or hydraulic transmissions. For instance such electric motor 3 (when present) is controlled by a control unit 10 for controlling water supply arrangement 5, such as a control unit 10 having a processing device e.g. a controller 11 and/or a user interface 12. See FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0117] First part 24 may bear face 220 and second part 25 may bear inlet arrangement 21. See FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0118] One of first and second parts 24,25 can be stationary relative to an outside machine housing 1 and the other of first and second parts 24,25 can be movable relative to outside machine housing 1.

[0119] Extraction seat 20 can be configured to receive capsule 100 containing the ingredient. Inlet arrangement can be associated with a piercing or cutting arrangement 21a configured to pierce or cut water inlet opening(s) into ingredient capsule 100 in the ingredient extraction seat 20 so that water circulating along inlet arrangement 21 is passed into capsule 100 via the water inlet opening. See FIGS. 2 and 3. Inlet arrangement 21 can be fluidically connected to a water supply arrangement 5 via a water guide 9.

[0120] Water supply arrangement 5 may include at least one of: a water source 6 for supplying water to inlet arrangement 21, such as a water tank and/or a connector to an external water supply line; a water driver 7 for driving water to inlet arrangement 21, such as a pump; and a thermal conditioner 8, e.g. a heater and/or a cooler, for thermally conditioning water supplied or to be supplied to inlet arrangement 21, such as a water flow thermal conditioner or a water accumulator thermal conditioner. See FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0121] Water supply arrangement 5 may be associated with a or the above mentioned control unit 10 for controlling water supply arrangement 5, such as a control unit 10 having a processing device e.g. a controller 11 and/or a user interface 12.

[0122] Capsule extraction seat 20 may be associated with an un-extracted ingredient capsule insertion passage 20a, e.g. extending from outside such machine 1 and leading to seat 20, and/or an extracted ingredient capsule evacuation passage 20b, e.g. leading from seat 20 towards a waste capsule collector. For instance, at least one of passages 20a,20b is/are associated with guides 20c such as rails or grooves, for cooperating with and guiding capsule 100 along passage to and/or from seat 20 and/or with a stop 20d for immobilizing capsule 100 at about a level of seat 20. See FIGS. 2 and 3.