Patent Application
20130340387
The present invention falls within the field of the preparation of beverages, for example coffee-based, by extraction of a concentrated dose, for example of ground coffee, contained in a capsule. It relates to the doses used for this purpose and more particularly to the devices using such doses.
Capsules and machines functioning according to the above-mentioned principle have existed for several decades.
The patents U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,886, U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,560, U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,617 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,297 describe devices in which the capsule is initially perforated in several places, then passed through by water under pressure.
The capsule described in the patent CH 605 293 or in the patent EP 0 242 556 B1 comprises a membrane in its lower part. Water under pressure is initially introduced in the upper part of the capsule, which brings about a swelling of the capsule, principally at the level of the membrane. Starting from a certain pressure, the membrane tears, thus permitting the flow of a water-coffee mixture.
Other capsules provided with a membrane are described in the following patent documents: EP 0 468 079 A, EP 0 806 373 A, EP 0 554 469 A.
One of the objectives of the present invention aims to optimize the “capsule—capsule holder” pair by proposing specific means, cooperating with one another, to obtain an optimum coupling of these elements and to thus improve the functioning of the machine.
In fact, in the field of these machines provision is generally made that the capsules are adapted for certain machines and that the machines only accept certain types of capsules which form the pair which is designated here “capsule—capsule holder”. Such a pair can be desired by the manufacturers of such products so as to ensure a certain quality thereof and also so as to limit the risks of problems if the user uses capsules and a machine (a capsule holder) which are not adapted to one another. In such a case one runs the risk of damaging these elements. If such a damage is negligible when it is the capsule which is affected, this is not the case if it is the machine (or a part thereof) which is damaged since it is the most expensive component.
For a manufacturer (especially for questions of guarantee), it is therefore important, on the one hand, to be able to determine if a non-adapted capsule has been used and, on the other hand, to provide means which prevent too great a “breakage” of the machine, even an injury to the user, if a non-adapted capsule is used.
These objectives are realized with the capsule holder as defined in the claims.
According to the invention, weakening means are provided, attached to the capsule holder, these means preventing in particular the putting in place of the capsule holder and, consequently, the functioning of the machine, when a non-adapted capsule is used.
These weakening means can be reversible, or not. More particularly, these means can be formed by zones which deform elastically or plastically when certain conditions are not realized, indicating that the capsule is not adapted to the capsule holder and to the machine.
The conditions to be realized can be various. For example, provision can be made that the capsule sinks or engages into the capsule holder (as is the case in the current coffee machines using this principle) and that during this engaging the capsule deforms to permit the correct placing in position of the capsule holder and to ensure tightness. This principle implies that the capsule comprises deformable parts or is in a deformable material under these conditions. A non-adapted capsule, which, for example, would not deform, would not permit the capsule holder to arrive in final position or would involve at least exerting a greater force than the normal force (i.e. the force to be supplied with an adapted capsule), which greater force could effectively not be provided owing to these deformable zones.
Several equivalent ways of forming the means according to the invention are possible, and the example embodiments in the present application are given by way of illustration. Of course, they must not be considered as restrictive, and variations are possible within the framework of the present application, in particular by the use of equivalent means.
For example, in addition to a deformation of the capsule, particular shapes or dimensions etc. can be provided, for example.
The invention is described in further detail below by means of examples illustrated by the following figures:
In
So as to carry out the movement of the capsule holder 2, actuating means (generally manual) are used, which are manipulated by the user of the machine. Thus, once a capsule has been introduced into the machine, the user “closes” (even locks) the capsule holder by these actuating means, this operation having the effect (as indicated above) of forcing the capsule in the capsule holder and of piercing the capsule to permit the introduction therein of a liquid under pressure and to create the desired beverage, such as a coffee.
In the known systems, a certain manual force must be imparted by the user so that the capsule holder is in the final suitable position. According to the principles of the invention disclosed above, one seeks in particular to calibrate this force such that it must not exceed a certain value to prevent an inappropriate use of the system.
Consequently, the actuating means generally comprise one or more levers and bearing points. A configuration will be described below having several levers and bearing points, but it is evident that this is only an example and that there can be more or fewer thereof than the number represented in the figures and which are only a non-restrictive illustration of the principle of the invention.
Returning to
As described below, the levers mentioned each comprise adapted deformable means. Thus, the first lever 3 comprises a first weakening zone 6 which is formed in its body, this zone permitting a deformation of the lever if it is subjected to a force which is too great in relation to the resistance of this zone 6 (taking into account the lever arm).
The end of the lever 3 comprises a second weakening zone 7 which functions according to the same principle as the zone 6.
The common axis 8 between the levers 3 and 4 is itself also connected to a bearing point 9 by a weakening zone 10. The levers 4 and 5 also have weakening zones 11, respectively 12, and finally the lever 5 is connected to the capsule holder 2, also by weakening zones 13, 14.
As will be readily understood, the presence of these weakening zones permits specific deformation, even rupture, sites to be provided, which will be implemented if the forces exerted on the system, in particular from the first lever 3 to bring the capsule holder into the appropriate position are greater than a specific value.
Of course, it is not indispensable to provide all the weakening zones illustrated in
The deformation of the weakening zone or zones can be elastic, plastic, or proceed to rupture, the combination of two or of the three being possible as a function of the number of weakening zones.
As is observed in
In this mode of execution, the weakening zones can also be formed by the teeth 26/27 of the wheel 21 and/or of the rack. As indicated above, the deformation of the said zones can be elastic, plastic, or by rupture, even a combination.
In
In
As will be understood from the different non-restrictive examples described above, the weakening means can take numerous different forms and can be situated on numerous sites of the machine, the aim being to prevent an inappropriate functioning of the machine according to the principles set forth above.
For example, the weakening means can be a zone or zones of reduced dimensions in relation to the remainder of the part on which it (they) is (are) placed. These zones can also be added on and/or formed of a different material. One can also make use of specific mechanical elements (see
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2011/050955 | Mar 2011 | IB | international |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2012/051068 | 3/7/2012 | WO | 00 | 9/9/2013 |
