BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE WITH SIMPLE ERGONOMIC OPENING-CLOSURE

Abstract

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) a beverage processing unit (10,20) having a first and a second parts (10, 20) that are movable one relative to the other from a distant to a proximate relative position to form an ingredient mixing seat (11); and a dampening device being: operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts (10, 20) moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts (10, 20) are at a relative position that is close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions; and inoperative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts (10, 20) moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts (10, 20) are at a relative position that is remote from the first and second relative positions.

Claims

1. A machine for preparing a beverage from a flavouring ingredient by mixing water with the flavouring ingredient, such machine comprising: a beverage processing unit having a first part and a second part that are movable one relative to the other from a distant relative position to a proximate relative position, the first and second parts forming in the proximate position an ingredient mixing seat for mixing said ingredient with water and in the distant relative position a passage for insertion of said ingredient into the mixing seat and/or removal of said ingredient from the mixing seat; and a dampening device associated with the processing unit and configured for dampening a relative movement of the first and second parts when moving one relative to the other, the dampening device is: operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts are at a relative position that is close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions; and inoperative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts moving one relative to the other when the first and second parts are at a relative position that is remote from the first and second relative positions.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second parts moving one relative to the other are close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is closer to said at least one distant and proximate relative positions than 10% of a spacing, e.g. a distance spacing and/or an angular spacing, extending from the distant relative position to the proximate relative position, such as closer than 5% of said spacing.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second parts moving one relative to the other are remote from at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is different to their relative close position.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the dampening device is operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts when the first and second parts are at a relative position that is close to either the distant relative position or the proximate relative position or to any of the distant and proximate relative positions.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises an automatic or semi-automatic actuator configured to move by urging one part relative to the other part into at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions, in which relative position the dampening device is operative to dampen the relative movement of the first and second parts.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the automatic or semi-automatic actuator comprises an electric actuator.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the dampening device forms an end-of-movement bumper that is stressed when the first and second parts reach at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the dampening device comprises a resilient member.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the dampening device is stationary or mobile relative to one part of the first and second parts, the other part of the first and second parts comprising a member that contacts and stresses the dampening device when the dampening device is operative to dampen.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the dampening device comprises a recess and at least one of the first and second parts comprises a member having a protruding part, and or vice-versa, the protruding part entering the recess and contacting the dampening device so as to stress the dampening device when the dampening device is operative to dampen.

11. The machine of claim 1, which has a foot configured to rest and be stationary on an external support surface during beverage preparation, the processing unit and the dampening device being directly or indirectly mounted to the foot.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein one part of the first and second parts is stationary or movable relative to the foot and the other part of the first and second parts is movable relative to the foot when moving one part relative to the other part.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the dampening device is movable or stationary relative to one or more of the foot.

14. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first part has a cavity and the second part has a cover, the cavity and the cover defining the seat in the proximate relative position, the processing unit comprising a water feed conduit for feeding said water into the seat and a beverage outlet passage for passing said beverage out of the seat.

15. The machine of claim 1, which comprises: a fluid line extending from a source of water to a beverage outlet; and a removable ingredient container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elongated view of a machine according to the invention with its first and second parts of the processing unit in their proximate position;

[0057] FIG. 1a is an enlarged view of a detail 100 of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 2 is a perspective view an automatic actuator for actuating the first and second parts of the machine of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dampening device of the machine of FIG. 1;

[0060] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1 with its first and second parts of the processing unit in their distant position;

[0061] FIG. 4a is an enlarged view of a detail 200 of FIG. 1; and

[0062] FIG. 5 is a front view of the machine shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the same numeric references generally designate the same elements, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a machine 1 and elements thereof in accordance with the invention.

[0064] Machine 1 is configured for preparing a beverage 3 from a flavouring ingredient 2, e.g. coffee or tea or chocolate or cacao or milk or soup, by mixing water 4 with ingredient 2, for example by centrifugally driving such ingredient 2 with water 4.

[0065] Machine 1 includes a beverage processing unit 10,20 having a first part 10 and a second part 20 that are movable one relative to the other from a distant relative position (FIGS. 4, 4a and 5) to a proximate relative position (FIGS. 1 and 1a). First and second parts 10,20 form in the proximate position an ingredient mixing seat 11 for mixing ingredient 2 with water 4 and in the distant relative position a passage 5 for insertion of ingredient 2 into mixing seat 11 and/or removal of ingredient 2 from mixing seat 11.

[0066] Machine 1 has a dampening device 30 (FIG. 3) associated with processing unit 10,20 and configured for dampening a relative movement of first and second parts 10,20 when moving one relative to the other.

[0067] First part 10 and second part 20 may be movable one relative to the other in translation and/or in rotation, e.g. about a rotation axis 20, from a distant relative position to a proximate relative position.

[0068] Dampening device 30 is operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts 10,20 moving one relative to the other when first and second parts 10,20 are at a relative position that is close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions.

[0069] Dampening device 30 is inoperative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts 10,20 moving one relative to the other when first and second parts 10,20 are at a relative position that is remote from the first and second relative positions.

[0070] For instance, first and second parts 10,20 each have a weight that is a fraction of a total weight of such machine 1, the fraction being in the range of 5 to 95%, for example 10 to 90%, such as 15 to 85%, e.g. 20 to 80%.

[0071] First and second parts 10,20 moving one relative to the other may be considered to be close to at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is closer to such at least one distant and proximate relative positions than 10% of a spacing, e.g. a distance spacing and/or an angular spacing, extending from the distant relative position to the proximate relative position, such as closer than 5% of the spacing, for instance closer than 2.5% of the spacing, e.g. closer than 1% of the spacing.

[0072] First and second parts 10,20 moving one relative to the other may be considered remote from at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions when their relative position is different to their relative close position.

[0073] Dampening device 30 can be operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts 10,20 when first and second parts 10,20 are at a relative position that is close to either the distant relative position or the proximate relative position or to any of the distant and proximate relative positions.

[0074] Processing unit 10,20 may include an automatic or semi-automatic actuator 35 (FIGS. 2 and 4) configured to move by urging one part 20 relative to the other part 10 into at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions, in which relative position dampening device 30 is operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts 10,20. Automatic or semi-automatic actuator 35 can be configured to urge first and second parts 10,20 into the distant relative position in which dampening device 30 is operative to dampen the relative movement of first and second parts 10,20.

[0075] Automatic or semi-automatic actuator 35 can include at least one of: an electric actuator, e.g. a motor; a pneumatic actuator, e.g. a pneumatic semi-automatic return actuator; and a spring actuator 35, for instance a return spring actuator 35. Such spring actuator 35 may have a blade, torsion, spiral and/or helicoidal spring 35, such as a spring 35 having a first end 36 associated with first part 10 and a second end 37 associated with second part 20.

[0076] Dampening device 30 may form an end-of-movement bumper that is stressed, e.g. compressed or stretched or flexed, when first and second parts 10,20 reach at least one of the distant and proximate relative positions.

[0077] Dampening device 30 can include at least one of: a resilient member, such as a spring or rubber or rubber-like member; a magnetic device; a hydraulic device; and a friction device.

[0078] Dampening device 30 may be stationary or mobile relative to one part 10 of first and second parts 10,20, such as directly or indirectly fixed thereto, the other part 20 of first and second parts 10,20 having a member 21, e.g. a rigid member, that contacts and stresses, e.g. compresses or stretches or flexes, dampening device 30 when dampening device 30 is operative to dampen.

[0079] Dampening device 30 may include a recess 31 and at least one of first and second parts 10,20 may include a member 21 having a protruding part 21, and or vice-versa. Protruding part 21 may enter the recess 31 and contact dampening device 30 so as to stress, e.g. compress or stretch or flex, dampening device 30 when dampening device 30 is operative to dampen.

[0080] Machine can have a foot 1 configured to rest and be stationary on an external support surface, such as a table top or shelf top surface or cabinet top, during beverage preparation, processing unit 10,20 and dampening device 30 being directly or indirectly mounted to foot 1, such as a foot 1 fixed to or integral with an outside machine housing 1 and/or with a machine frame 1.

[0081] One part 10 of the first and second parts 10,20 can be stationary or movable relative to foot 1 and the other part 20 of first and second parts 10,20 can be movable relative to the foot 1 when moving one part 20 relative to the other part 10.

[0082] Dampening device may be movable or stationary relative to one or more of foot 1, first and second parts 10,20.

[0083] The first and second parts can be both movable relative to the dampening device, the dampening device being movable or stationary relative to foot, when moving one part of the first and second parts relative to the other part.

[0084] Dampening device 30 may be stationary relative to one part 10 of first and second parts 10,20, dampening device 30 being movable or stationary relative to foot 1, when moving one part 20 of first and second parts 10,20 relative to the other part 10.

[0085] First part 10 can have a cavity 12 and second part 20 can have a cover 22, cavity 12 and cover 22 delimiting seat 11 in the proximate relative position, processing unit 10,20 having a water feed conduit 23 for feeding water 4 into seat 11 and a beverage outlet passage 24 for passing beverage 3 out of seat 11. For example, one part 20 of processing unit 10,20, e.g. second part 20, having both and/or delimiting both water feed conduit 23 and beverage outlet passage 24.

[0086] Seat 11 may be configured to house flavouring ingredient 2 supplied within a capsule 2, e.g. provided with a flange 2.

[0087] Beverage processing unit 10,20 can have at least one capsule inlet piercing element 23, e.g. a central piercing element 23, associated with water feed conduit 23. Conduit 23 may be delimited by piercing element 23, e.g. conduit 23 extending inside piercing element 23;

[0088] Beverage processing unit 10,20 may include one or more capsule outlet piercing elements 24, e.g. a series of spaced apart peripheral piercing elements 24, associated with beverage outlet passage 24. Beverage outlet passage 24 may extend adjacently to outlet piercing element(s) 24

[0089] Beverage processing unit 10,20 can be fitted with a capsule transfer device 25 for inserting a capsule 2 into seat 11 and/or removing a capsule 2 from seat 11. Capsule transfer device 25 may be associated with a guide for guiding capsule 2 to and/or from seat 11, such as a pair of slides configured to guide capsule flange 2.

[0090] Machine 1 may include a fluid line 13,23,24,40 extending from a source of water 40, e.g. a water tank, to a beverage outlet 13. Such outlet 13 can be located above a beverage dispensing area 14 for receiving a user-recipient to be filled with beverage 3. Beverage dispensing area 14 may be delimited by a recipient support 15 and/or an outside machine housing 1.

[0091] Fluid line may incorporate at least one of: a pump 16 for driving water 4 from source of water 40 to seat 11; and a thermal conditioner 25 such as a heater and/or cooler for thermally conditioning water 4 to be supplied into seat 11.

[0092] Machine 1 can have a removable ingredient container 16, such as a waste ingredient collector 16 or a flavouring ingredient supplier.