CENTRIFUGAL BEVERAGE CHAMBER WITH CLOSURE FASTENER

Abstract

A machine (1) is configured for preparing a beverage (4) from a flavouring ingredient (5a) in a processing cavity (5) by mixing it with water (4) and centrifuging them about a processing axis (30). The machine (1) has an ingredient handling system (10, 20) with at least one beverage outlet (25) and at least one water inlet (24). The system (10, 20) has a first ingredient handler (10) and a second ingredient handler (20) that are movable one relative to the other from an ingredient transfer configuration to an ingredient processing configuration. The machine has: a handler actuator (41) configured to relatively move the first and second capsule handlers (10, 20) between the transfer and the processing configurations; and at least one fastener (41) movable selectively into a fastening position to fasten together the first and second capsule handlers (10, 20) in the processing configuration and into an unfastening position. The fastener (41) is actuated by the handler actuator (41) into the fastening position and/or into the unfastening position.

Claims

1. A machine for preparing a beverage from a flavouring ingredient in a processing cavity by mixing said ingredient with water and centrifugally driving such ingredient and said water about a processing axis to form said beverage, such machine comprising: a rotatable ingredient handling system for holding and rotating said flavouring ingredient and water during centrifugation about the processing axis, the ingredient handling system having at least one beverage outlet and at least one water inlet for supplying said water to said ingredient, the system having a first ingredient handler and a second ingredient handler that are movable one relative to the other from: an ingredient transfer configuration for receiving said ingredient by the first and second capsule handlers and/or releasing said ingredient from the first and second ingredient handlers; to an ingredient processing configuration for centrifuging said ingredient and water by rotation about the processing axis; and vice versa; a handler actuator configured to relatively move the first and second capsule handlers between the transfer and the processing configurations; at least one fastener movable selectively into a fastening position to fasten together the first and second capsule handlers in the processing configuration and into an unfastening position in which the first and second capsule handlers are movable from the processing configuration to the transfer configuration and/or vice versa; and a machine frame and/or housing which is stationary when the ingredient handling system is rotated for centrifugation and which supports the ingredient handling system the fastener is actuated by the handler actuator into the fastening position and/or into the unfastening position.

2. The machine of claim 1, which comprises a fastener lock configured to lock the fastener in the fastening position and to unlock the fastener.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the handler actuator is configured to drive the fastener lock from: a fastener unlocking position into a fastener locking position once the first and second capsule handlers have been relatively moved by the handler actuator into the processing configuration; and a fastener locking position into a fastener unlocking position before the first and second capsule handlers are relatively moved by the handler actuator out of the processing configuration towards the transfer configuration.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the handler actuator is configured to drive the fastener lock via a transmission that is angularly stationary relative to the frame and/or housing about the processing axis when the ingredient handling system is rotated for centrifugation.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the fastener is integral with or mounted on one of the first and second capsule handlers and cooperates with a fastener receiver that is integral with or mounted on the other of the first and second capsule handlers, the fastener having a substantial hook shape and the fastener receiver having a substantial hook cooperation shape.

6. The machine of claim 1, which comprises a plurality of fasteners distributed around the processing axis.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the handler actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second capsule handlers and/or actuate the fastener, when present via said transmission, via a connection comprising at least one of: a gear connection, a lever connection, a cam follower and cam connection, and a magnetic connection.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the machine frame and/or housing delimits an ingredient supply passage configured to allow supply by gravity of said ingredient towards the rotatable ingredient handling system and a waste evacuation passage configured to allow an evacuation by gravity of waste.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the supply passage is provided with a guide for guiding said capsule when supplied, such as a guide forming a recess and/or a rail, the guide being configured to cooperate with a complementary capsule shape such as a capsule flange, the guide being associated with a stop configured to immobilize said capsule guided by the guide at a level between the first and second ingredient handlers.

10. The machine of claim 1, which comprises a beverage passage, the passage being configured to guide said beverage from the outlet towards a beverage dispensing outlet.

11. The machine of claim 10, which comprises a beverage conditioner delimiting a conditioning cavity, the conditioning cavity being fluidically connected with the beverage passage, the conditioning cavity being configured to refine said beverage supplied from the beverage outlet via the beverage passage, the valve being for instance fluidically located between the beverage outlet and the conditioning cavity.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein: the frame and/or housing comprises or is fixed to a bottom configured to rest on a support surface external to such machine when the ingredient handling system is rotated about the processing axis for centrifugation; and the frame and/or housing supporting a motor that is connected to the ingredient handling system; and one or more of the beverage outlet(s) and the water inlet(s) being associated with one or more capsule openers.

13. A system comprising a machine for preparing a beverage from a flavouring ingredient in a processing cavity by mixing said ingredient with water and centrifugally driving such ingredient and said water about a processing axis to form said beverage, such machine comprising: a rotatable ingredient handling system for holding and rotating said flavouring ingredient and water during centrifugation about the processing axis, the ingredient handling system having at least one beverage outlet and at least one water inlet for supplying said water to said ingredient, the system having a first ingredient handler and a second ingredient handler that are movable one relative to the other from: an ingredient transfer configuration for receiving said ingredient by the first and second capsule handlers and/or releasing said ingredient from the first and second ingredient handlers; to an ingredient processing configuration for centrifuging said ingredient and water by rotation about the processing axis; and vice versa; a handler actuator configured to relatively move the first and second capsule handlers between the transfer and the processing configurations; at least one fastener movable selectively into a fastening position to fasten together the first and second capsule handlers in the processing configuration and into an unfastening position in which the first and second capsule handlers are movable from the processing configuration to the transfer configuration and/or vice versa; and a machine frame and/or housing which is stationary when the ingredient handling system is rotated for centrifugation and which supports the ingredient handling system, the fastener is actuated by the handler actuator into the fastening position and/or into the unfastening position and said capsule containing said flavouring ingredient.

14. A method of preparing in a machine a beverage from a flavouring ingredient in a processing cavity by mixing said ingredient with water and centrifugally driving such ingredient and said water about a processing axis to form said beverage, such machine comprising: a rotatable ingredient handling system for holding and rotating said flavouring ingredient and water during centrifugation about the processing axis, the ingredient handling system having at least one beverage outlet and at least one water inlet for supplying said water to said ingredient, the system having a first ingredient handler and a second ingredient handler that are movable one relative to the other from: an ingredient transfer configuration for receiving said ingredient by the first and second capsule handlers and/or releasing said ingredient from the first and second ingredient handlers; to an ingredient processing configuration for centrifuging said ingredient and water by rotation about the processing axis; and vice versa; a handler actuator configured to relatively move the first and second capsule handlers between the transfer and the processing configurations; at least one fastener movable selectively into a fastening position to fasten together the first and second capsule handlers in the processing configuration and into an unfastening position in which the first and second capsule handlers are movable from the processing configuration to the transfer configuration and/or vice versa; and a machine frame and/or housing which is stationary when the ingredient handling system is rotated for centrifugation and which supports the ingredient handling system, the fastener is actuated by the handler actuator into the fastening position and/or into the unfastening position, said beverage from said flavouring ingredient supplied within said capsule into the machine, the method comprising: holding said capsule between the first and second ingredient handlers in the transfer configuration; relatively moving the first and second ingredient handlers with said capsule into the ingredient processing configuration by actuation by the handler actuator; moving said at least one fastener into the fastening position to fasten together the first and second capsule handlers with said capsule in the processing configuration by actuation by the handler actuator; feeding said water via the water inlet into said capsule in the processing cavity and centrifuging the flavouring ingredient with the water and forming said beverage; releasing the beverage from said capsule via the beverage passage; moving said at least one fastener into the unfastening position by actuation by the handler actuator; and relatively moving by actuation by the handler actuator the first and second ingredient handlers with said capsule from the ingredient processing configuration to the ingredient transfer configuration and releasing said capsule from the first and second handlers.

15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0092] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of part of a machine that has a rotatable ingredient handling system and at least one fastener according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0093] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of part of the handling system of the machine of FIG. 1, the handling system being in the ingredient transfer configuration;

[0094] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of part of the handling system of the machine of FIG. 1, the handling system being in the ingredient processing configuration without any ingredient capsule;

[0095] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the handling system of the machine of FIG. 1, the handling system being in the ingredient processing configuration with an ingredient capsule;

[0096] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fasteners of the machine of FIG. 1;

[0097] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view from above of the handling system of the machine of FIG. 1, the handling system being in the ingredient transfer configuration;

[0098] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view from above of the handling system of the machine of FIG. 1, the handling system being in the ingredient processing configuration without any ingredient capsule;

[0099] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the of part of the machine of FIG. 1, the handling system being in the ingredient processing configuration and holding a capsule, the machine having a beverage conditioner and a thermal conditioner;

[0100] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an ingredient handler fitted with beverage outlets and corresponding capsule openers as well as a water inlet with corresponding capsule openers, the capsule openers of the beverage outlets being bent towards the processing axis to provide openings increased in size in the capsule at the level of the openers;

[0101] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of several capsule openers (alternative to the ones shown in FIG. 9) to be associated with one or more beverage outlets, the capsule openers being bent tangentially about the processing axis to provide openings increased in size in the capsule at the level of the openers;

[0102] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of several capsule openers (alternative to the ones shown in FIG. 9) associated with a water inlet, the capsule openers having a radially narrowed cross-section at a level of a capsule upon opening of the capsule to provide openings increased in size in the capsule at the level of the openers; and

[0103] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of several capsule openers (alternative to the ones shown in FIGS. 9 and 11) associated with a water inlet, the capsule openers having a tangentially narrowed cross-section at a level of a capsule upon opening of the capsule to provide openings increased in size in the capsule at the level of the openers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0104] FIGS. 1 to 12 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of part of a machine 1 in accordance with the invention as well as components and variations thereof.

[0105] Machine 1 is configured for preparing a beverage 4 from a flavouring ingredient 5a in a processing cavity 5. Cavity 5 may be arranged for holding ingredient 5a supplied within a capsule 5b. Ingredient 5a is mixed with water 4 and centrifugally driven with water 4 about a processing axis 30 to form beverage 4.

[0106] Machine 1 includes a rotatable ingredient handling system 10,20 for holding and rotating flavouring ingredient 5a and water during centrifugation about processing axis 30. Ingredient handling system 10,20 has at least one beverage outlet 25 and at least one water inlet 24 for supplying water 4 to ingredient 5a, e.g. within capsule 5b.

[0107] Water 4 to be supplied into cavity 5 may be heated in a heater 5, e.g. a thick film flow heater and/or a thermoblock flow heater and/or a water batch boiler. Heater 5 may be generally tubular and/or provided with a helicoidal channel for guiding water 4.

[0108] System 10,20 has a first ingredient handler 10 and a second ingredient handler 20 that are movable one relative to the other from: [0109] an ingredient transfer configuration for receiving ingredient 5a by first and second capsule handlers 10,20 and/or releasing ingredient 5a from first and second ingredient handlers 10,20; to [0110] an ingredient processing configuration for centrifuging ingredient 5a and water 4 by rotation about the processing axis 30; [0111] and vice versa.

[0112] One handler may be moved away from or towards the other, or both handlers may be moved together or apart.

[0113] Machine 1 includes a handler actuator 41, such as a motor or a user-handle, configured to relatively move first and second capsule handlers 10,20 between the transfer and the processing configurations.

[0114] Machine 1 has at least one fastener 41 movable selectively into: [0115] a fastening position to fasten together first and second capsule handlers 10,20 in the processing configuration; and [0116] an unfastening position in which first and second capsule handlers 10,20 are movable from the processing configuration to the transfer configuration and/or vice versa.

[0117] Machine 1 includes a machine frame and/or housing 40 which is stationary when ingredient handling system 10,20 is rotated for centrifugation and which supports ingredient handling system 10,20. First and second handlers 10, 20 may be mounted in rotation on frame and/or housing 40 via one or more bearings 19,29, such as ball bearings.

[0118] When first and second handlers 10,20 are moved between the transfer and processing configurations, one handler 20 may be stationary and the other handler 10 may be movable in machine frame and/or housing 40, or both handlers may be movable in the machine frame and/or housing.

[0119] Fastener 41 is actuated by handler actuator 41 into the fastening position and/or into the unfastening position. Fastener 41 can be biased into the fastening position or into the unfastening position, for instance by an elastic member 41 e.g. an elongated arm.

[0120] Handler actuator 41 may be angularly stationary relative to frame and/or housing 40 about processing axis 30 when ingredient handling system 10,20 is rotated for centrifugation.

[0121] Fastener 41 can be angularly stationary relative to first ingredient handler 10 and/or second ingredient handler 20 about processing axis 30, e.g. when ingredient handling system 10,20 is rotated for centrifugation.

[0122] Machine 1 may include a fastener lock 41b configured to lock fastener 41 in the fastening position and to unlock fastener 41 such that fastener 41 moves and/or is movable into the unfastening position. For example, fastener lock 41b is angularly stationary relative to fastener 41 about processing axis 30, e.g. when ingredient handling system 10,20 is rotated for centrifugation.

[0123] Handler actuator 41 may be configured to drive fastener lock 41b from: [0124] a fastener unlocking position into a fastener locking position once first and second capsule handlers 10,20 have been relatively moved by handler actuator 41 into the processing configuration; and/or [0125] a fastener locking position into a fastener unlocking position before first and second capsule handlers 10,20 are relatively moved by handler actuator 41 out of the processing configuration towards the transfer configuration.

[0126] Handler actuator 41 can be configured to drive fastener 41b lock via a transmission 41a that is angularly stationary relative to the frame and/or housing 40 about processing axis 30 when ingredient handling system 10,20 is rotated for centrifugation. Transmission 41a may be movable in translation to drive fastener lock 41b between its fastener unlocking position and its fastener locking position. For example, transmission 41a is movable in parallel to processing axis 30.

[0127] Fastener 41 may be integral with or mounted on one of first and second capsule handlers 10,20 and cooperates with a fastener receiver 21 that is integral with mounted on the other of first and second capsule handlers 10,20. Fastener 41 can have a substantial hook shape and fastener receiver 21 can have a substantial hook cooperation shape.

[0128] Machine 1 may include a plurality of fasteners 41 distributed around processing axis 30, e.g. peripherally about at least one of first and second capsule handlers 10,20. Fasteners 41 may be integral with or fixed to or assembled to a base 41.

[0129] Base 41 may extend peripherally at least partly around one of first and second capsule handlers 10,20.

[0130] Base 41 may be connected to fasteners 41 by at least one corresponding elastic member 41. For example fastener 41 each is connected to base 41 by a corresponding elastic member 41 whereby each elastic member 41 connects to base 41 one, two or at most three fasteners 41 to base 41.

[0131] Handler actuator 41 can be configured to relatively move first and second capsule handlers 10,20 and/or actuate fastener 41, when present via transmission 41a, via a connection comprising at least one of: a gear connection, a lever connection, a cam follower and cam connection, and a magnetic connection.

[0132] Machine frame and/or housing 40 may delimit an ingredient supply passage 60 configured to allow supply by gravity of ingredient 5a towards rotatable ingredient handling system 10,20 and a waste evacuation passage 70 configured to allow an evacuation by gravity of waste, e.g. used ingredient, from rotatable ingredient handling system 10,20. Such passages can be configured to allow a passage of capsule 5b when cavity 5 is configured for holding ingredient 5a supplied within a capsule 5b.

[0133] Supply passage 60 can be provided with a guide 61,61a for guiding capsule 5b when supplied, such as a guide 61,61a forming a recess and/or a rail, guide 61,61a being configured to cooperate with a complementary capsule shape such as a capsule flange 5b, guide 61,61a being associated with a stop 61b configured to immobilize capsule 5b guided by guide 61,61a at a level between first and second ingredient handlers 10,20, e.g. at processing axis 30. For example stop 61b is fixed to or integral with guide 61,61a.

[0134] The guide or a portion 61a thereof may be mounted movably towards and away from processing axis 30, for example movably mounted on an elastic arm between a holding position for immobilizing capsule 5b at a level between first and second ingredient handlers 10,20, e.g. at processing axis 30, and a release position for releasing capsule 5b from such level.

[0135] Machine 1 can have a beverage passage 26, e.g. a beverage conduit, in fluid communication with beverage outlet 25. Passage 26 may be configured to guide beverage 4 from outlet 25 towards a beverage dispensing outlet 54. Passage 26 may be associated with a valve 30, such as a centrifugal and/or electric valve, for controlling the flow and/or the pressure of beverage 4 along passage 26.

[0136] Machine 1 can include a beverage conditioner 50 delimiting a conditioning cavity 51, e.g. between two surfaces 52,53 that are movable relatively to one another e.g. rotatably movable, conditioning cavity 51 being fluidically connected with beverage passage 26. Conditioning cavity 51 can be being configured to refine beverage 4 supplied from beverage outlet 25 via beverage passage 26. Valve 30 can be fluidically located between beverage outlet 25 and conditioning cavity 51.

[0137] Frame and/or housing 40 may include or be fixed to a bottom configured to rest on a support surface external to such machine 1 when ingredient handling system 10,20 is rotated about processing axis 30 for centrifugation. External support surface may be formed by a table top. During centrifugation, processing axis 30 can be at an angle relative to such bottom in the range of 0 to 60, for instance of 0 to 45, such as of 0 to 30, e.g. of 0 to 15, typically of substantially 0.

[0138] Frame and/or housing 40 can support a motor 2 that is connected to ingredient handling system 10,20, for instance connected directly or via a transmission 3 such as at least one of belts e.g. toothed belts, gears e.g. spur gears, and connecting rods.

[0139] One or more of beverage outlet(s) 25 and water inlet(s) 24 may be associated with one or more capsule openers 24,25, such as capsule piercers 24,25.

[0140] Openers 24 may have a narrowed cross-section 24a,24b (e.g. FIGS. 11 and 12) to increase the opening between capsule 5b and openers 24 upon opening.

[0141] Openers 25 may be bent to increase the opening between capsule 5b and openers 25 upon opening.

[0142] For example, an opener 25 may be bent about an axis 25b that is radial relative to processing axis 30 (e.g. FIG. 10) or an axis 25a that is tangential about processing axis (e.g. FIG. 9).

[0143] Processing cavity 5 can have a plurality of beverage outlets 25 peripherally arranged at processing cavity 5 about central processing axis 30 and/or have water inlet 24 located at processing cavity 5 on or adjacent to processing axis 30.

[0144] During operation, beverage 4 can be prepared from flavouring ingredient 5a supplied within capsule 5b into machine 1. The beverage preparation method can include: [0145] holding capsule 5b between first and second ingredient handlers 10,20 in the transfer configuration; [0146] relatively moving first and second ingredient handlers 10,20 with capsule 5b into ingredient processing configuration by actuation by handler actuator 41; [0147] moving at least one fastener 41 into the fastening position to fasten together first and second capsule handlers 10,20 with capsule 5b in the processing configuration by actuation by handler actuator 41; [0148] feeding water 4 via water inlet 24 into capsule 5b in processing cavity 5 and centrifuging flavouring ingredient 5a with water 4 and forming beverage 4; [0149] releasing beverage 4 from capsule 5b via beverage passage 26; [0150] moving at least one fastener 41 into the unfastening position by actuation by handler actuator 41; and [0151] relatively moving by actuation by handler actuator 41 first and second ingredient handlers 10,20 with capsule 5b from the ingredient processing configuration to the ingredient transfer configuration and releasing capsule 5b from first and second handlers 10,20.