Title of Invention	MACHINE FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES
Abstract	The present invention discloses a machine (10) for the preparation of beverages, of the type comprising at least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope (10). The dispensing unit has a removable collecting device (40).The access to the latter is through a window (20) obtained in the envelope. There is also provided at least one removable covering element (30) to occlude or selectively free said access window (20), such that the access window (20) faces the collecting device (40) and of the covering element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprises sliding guide means (31, 21) which are complementary to each other.

Title of Invention

MACHINE FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES

Abstract

The present invention discloses a machine (10) for the preparation of beverages, of the type comprising at least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope (10). The dispensing unit has a removable collecting device (40).The access to the latter is through a window (20) obtained in the envelope. There is also provided at least one removable covering element (30) to occlude or selectively free said access window (20), such that the access window (20) faces the collecting device (40) and of the covering element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprises sliding guide means (31, 21) which are complementary to each other.

Full Text	Title: MACHINE FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machine for the preparation of beverages, for instance a machine suitable for the preparation of a beverage starting from disposable containers, such as cartridges or the like. Background of the Invention Generally, in the machines of the known art of this type, at least one dispensing unit is present that is housed in the inside of an envelope. In particular, the dispensing unit comprises at least one collecting unit which can be removed for the necessary cleaning operations. The mounting of the collecting device in the dispensing unit is generally realized by means of a bayonet-coupling. The same collecting device has in the lower part a dispensing duct wherefrom the beverage prepared comes out to be in its turn conveyed through a duct that ends in the dispensing spout. The latter is obtained in an underlying covering plate that can be removed to allow the access to, and the removal of, the collecting device. As is obvious, the access to the collecting device in the mounting and removal operations is poorly practical and particularly tiresome. The collecting device, in fact, can be reached only by operating manually from the bottom of the dispensing duct. Besides being tiresome from the point of view of the operations necessary to place the collecting device in a bayonet- coupling system, it is worth stressing that there may arise health problems, as the "clean" collecting device is re-positioned by operating with a hand on the dispensing duct of the collecting device. A general object of the present invention is to provide a machine for dispensing beverages such as to render easier and safer for health the frequent operations which the collecting device is submitted to. A particular object of the present invention is to provide a machine for dispensing beverages such as to facilitate the access to the collecting device. Another particular object of the present invention is to provide a machine for dispensing beverages such as to facilitate the mounting and removal of the collecting device. Summary of the invention These objects are achieved by the present invention that relates to a machine for the preparation of beverages, of the type comprising at least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope, said dispensing unit comprising at least one removable collecting device whose access is through at least one access window obtained in the envelope, and at least one removable covering element to occlude or selectively free the access window, characterized in that the access window faces the collecting device, and that the at least one covering element and the at least one access window comprise sliding guide means that are complementary to each other. In this way, it is possible to have access to the dispensing unit from the front and to operate directly on the bayonet-coupling by which the collecting device is held. The sliding guide means are oriented according to a sliding direction substantially parallel to the axis of the collecting device. Hence, one only vertical movement suffices to remove the covering element from the rest of the envelope. Suitably, locking means are provided to keep the covering element in the access window occluding position, such as for instance elastic snap- locking means. Preferably, the collecting device comprises at least one protruding handling portion to facilitate the positioning and the removal of said collecting device with respect to the dispensing unit. Besides facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the bayonet-coupling, this characteristic is more advantageous also from the point of view of health, as it allows the manipulation of the collecting device without touching the zones concerned by the passage of the dispensed beverages. Advantageously, the covering element comprises guide means that loosely engage the protruding handling portion when the collecting device is correctly mounted. In this manner, a key-mechanism is obtained that prevents the access window from closing if the collecting device is not correctly mounted in the bayonet-coupling. Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be clearer thanks to the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein : - Figure 1 shows a portion of a machine for beverage dispensing according to the present invention, in correspondence of the access window to the dispensing unit; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a covering element for a machine according to the present invention ; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a collecting device for a machine according to the present invention ; - Figure 4 is another perspective view of the covering element of Figure 2 ; and - Figure 5 is a view that shows the coupling between the collecting device of Figure 3 and the covering element of Figure 4. Modes for carrying out the invention Figure 1 shows a portion of a machine for the preparation of beverages 10 in correspondence of window 20 allowing the access to the dispensing unit. For the sake of representation clearness, some details have been omitted, for instance the bayonet-coupling wherein the collecting device 40 engages. In the represented embodiment, envelope 11 of machine 10 also comprises an opening 12 allowing the insertion and the removal of a disposable cartridge (not shown) containing a preparation for the beverage to be dispensed. In correspondence of the access window 20, envelope 11 comprises edge portions 21 placed on the opposite sides of the window, which are provided for engaging in a sliding manner the inside of guide grooves 31 obtained on the opposite sides of at least a first wall 34 of a covering element 30. The restraining of the covering element 30 in the occluding position of the access window 20 is realized, for instance, by locking elastic snap- means. In the embodiment shown herein, the locking elastic snap-means are realized, for instance, with one or more protrusions 32 obtained on elastically deformable arms 33, intended for engaging in special seats 22 obtained in a suitable position in the inside of machine 10. The covering element 30, shown with more details in Figures 2 and 4, which, for instance, may be realized from plastic material, comprises in particular a first substantially flat wall portion 34, parallel to the vertical axis of the collecting device 40 when the covering element 30 is slidingly engaged in the access window 20. On the external front part of the covering element 30, below the first portion of wall 34, a handling portion 35 is obtained that is provided, for instance, with protruding ribs 54, to facilitate the manual operations of positioning and removing the covering element 30. The covering element 30 also comprises a second wall portion 35 substantially perpendicular to the first wall portion 34. In the embodiment shown herein, the second wall portion 35 is integral with the first wall portion 34, but it is also possible to provide the wall portions as separate parts by providing means for connecting the separate parts in an articulated manner, or means allowing also the removable positioning of the part comprising the second wall portion 35. The covering element 30 also comprises a tubular portion 36 having a through-hole whose axis is perpendicular to the second wall portion 35. The tubular portion 36 is composed of a duct that ends in a dispensing spout 37 wherefrom the prepared beverage comes out to be collected in a cup or a glass already placed under said spout. The tubular portion 36 has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the dispensing duct 46 (Figure 3) of the collecting device 40, in such a manner that, when the covering element 30 is in the position occluding the access window 20, the dispensing duct 46 is housed at least partly in the inside of the tubular portion 36. The collecting device 40, shown with more details in Figure 3, is of the type intended for being engaged in a bayonet-coupling. A first protruding arm 41 of the bayonet coupling is therefore provided, while in a diametrically opposed position the second arm 42 of the bayonet coupling extends to form a protruding handling portion 45 that allows the manipulation of the collecting device 40 in an easier and health-safer manner. Figure 5 shows the assembly composed of a covering element 30 and a collecting device 40 in a mutual coupling position, i.e. in the state where the covering element is in the position that occludes the access window 20. As can be observed, the covering element 30 advantageously comprises guide means, consisting for instance of a couple of flanges 38 that loosely engage the protruding handling portion 45 in such a manner as to realize a key-mechanism that prevents the covering element 30 from closing if the collecting device is not correctly mounted in the bayonet-coupling. WE CLAIM : 1. A machine (10) for the preparation of beverages of the type comprising at least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope (10), said dispensing unit comprising at least one removable collecting device (40) whose access is through at least one access window (20) obtained in the envelope, and at least one removable covering element (30) to occlude or selectively free said access window (20), characterized in that the access window (20) faces the collecting device (40); and said at least one covering element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprise sliding guide means (31, 21) that are complementary to each other. 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one removable covering element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprise locking means (32, 33) for holding said covering element in the occluding position of said access window. 3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking means are elastic snap-locking means. 4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one removable covering element comprises at least one substantially flat first wall portion (34), said at least one substantially flat first wall portion being parallel to the vertical axis of said collecting device when said covering element is slidingly engaged in said access window. 5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sliding guide means consist of at least a couple of grooves obtained on the opposite sides of said at least one first wall portion. 6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one covering element comprises a second wall portion (35) substantially perpendicular to a first wall portion. 7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one covering element has at least one tubular portion (36) having a through-hole whose axis is perpendicular to said at least one second wall portion and suitable to house in its inside at least part of the beverage dispensing duct (46) of said collecting device. 8. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collecting device is removably mounted in said dispensing unit by means of a bayonet-coupling (41, 42), and wherein said collecting device comprises at least one protruding handling portion (45), to facilitate the positioning and the removal of said collecting device with respect to said dispensing unit. 9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one covering element comprises guide means (38) that loosely engage said at least one protruding handling portion (45) when said collecting device is correctly mounted. 10. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sliding guide means complementary to each other are oriented according to a sliding direction substantially parallel to the axis of said collecting device. The present invention discloses a machine (10) for the preparation of beverages, of the type comprising at least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope (10). The dispensing unit has a removable collecting device (40).The access to the latter is through a window (20) obtained in the envelope. There is also provided at least one removable covering element (30) to occlude or selectively free said access window (20), such that the access window (20) faces the collecting device (40) and of the covering element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprises sliding guide means (31, 21) which are complementary to each other.

Full Text

Title: MACHINE FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES
Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine for the preparation of
beverages, for instance a machine suitable for the preparation of a beverage
starting from disposable containers, such as cartridges or the like.
Background of the Invention
Generally, in the machines of the known art of this type, at least one
dispensing unit is present that is housed in the inside of an envelope. In
particular, the dispensing unit comprises at least one collecting unit which
can be removed for the necessary cleaning operations. The mounting of the
collecting device in the dispensing unit is generally realized by means of a
bayonet-coupling.
The same collecting device has in the lower part a dispensing duct
wherefrom the beverage prepared comes out to be in its turn conveyed
through a duct that ends in the dispensing spout. The latter is obtained in an
underlying covering plate that can be removed to allow the access to, and
the removal of, the collecting device.
As is obvious, the access to the collecting device in the mounting and
removal operations is poorly practical and particularly tiresome. The
collecting device, in fact, can be reached only by operating manually from the
bottom of the dispensing duct. Besides being tiresome from the point of view
of the operations necessary to place the collecting device in a bayonet-
coupling system, it is worth stressing that there may arise health problems,
as the "clean" collecting device is re-positioned by operating with a hand on
the dispensing duct of the collecting device.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a machine for
dispensing beverages such as to render easier and safer for health the
frequent operations which the collecting device is submitted to.
A particular object of the present invention is to provide a machine for
dispensing beverages such as to facilitate the access to the collecting
device.
Another particular object of the present invention is to provide a
machine for dispensing beverages such as to facilitate the mounting and
removal of the collecting device.
Summary of the invention
These objects are achieved by the present invention that relates to a
machine for the preparation of beverages, of the type comprising at least one
dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope, said dispensing unit
comprising at least one removable collecting device whose access is through
at least one access window obtained in the envelope, and at least one
removable covering element to occlude or selectively free the access
window, characterized in that the access window faces the collecting device,
and that the at least one covering element and the at least one access
window comprise sliding guide means that are complementary to each other.
In this way, it is possible to have access to the dispensing unit from
the front and to operate directly on the bayonet-coupling by which the
collecting device is held.
The sliding guide means are oriented according to a sliding direction
substantially parallel to the axis of the collecting device. Hence, one only
vertical movement suffices to remove the covering element from the rest of
the envelope.
Suitably, locking means are provided to keep the covering element in
the access window occluding position, such as for instance elastic snap-
locking means.
Preferably, the collecting device comprises at least one protruding
handling portion to facilitate the positioning and the removal of said collecting
device with respect to the dispensing unit. Besides facilitating the
engagement and disengagement of the bayonet-coupling, this characteristic
is more advantageous also from the point of view of health, as it allows the
manipulation of the collecting device without touching the zones concerned
by the passage of the dispensed beverages.
Advantageously, the covering element comprises guide means that
loosely engage the protruding handling portion when the collecting device is
correctly mounted. In this manner, a key-mechanism is obtained that prevents
the access window from closing if the collecting device is not correctly mounted
in the bayonet-coupling.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be
clearer thanks to the following description wherein reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, wherein :
- Figure 1 shows a portion of a machine for beverage dispensing
according to the present invention, in correspondence of the access window to
the dispensing unit;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a covering element for a machine
according to the present invention ;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a collecting device for a machine
according to the present invention ;
- Figure 4 is another perspective view of the covering element of Figure 2 ;
and
- Figure 5 is a view that shows the coupling between the collecting device
of Figure 3 and the covering element of Figure 4.
Modes for carrying out the invention
Figure 1 shows a portion of a machine for the preparation of beverages 10
in correspondence of window 20 allowing the access to the dispensing unit. For
the sake of representation clearness, some details have been omitted, for
instance the bayonet-coupling wherein the collecting device 40 engages.
In the represented embodiment, envelope 11 of machine 10 also
comprises an opening 12 allowing the insertion and the removal of a disposable
cartridge (not shown) containing a preparation for the beverage to be dispensed.
In correspondence of the access window 20, envelope 11 comprises
edge portions 21 placed on the opposite sides of the window, which are
provided for engaging in a sliding manner the inside of guide grooves 31
obtained on the opposite sides of at least a first wall 34 of a covering
element 30.
The restraining of the covering element 30 in the occluding position of
the access window 20 is realized, for instance, by locking elastic snap-
means. In the embodiment shown herein, the locking elastic snap-means are
realized, for instance, with one or more protrusions 32 obtained on elastically
deformable arms 33, intended for engaging in special seats 22 obtained in a
suitable position in the inside of machine 10.
The covering element 30, shown with more details in Figures 2 and 4,
which, for instance, may be realized from plastic material, comprises in
particular a first substantially flat wall portion 34, parallel to the vertical axis of
the collecting device 40 when the covering element 30 is slidingly engaged
in the access window 20.
On the external front part of the covering element 30, below the first
portion of wall 34, a handling portion 35 is obtained that is provided, for
instance, with protruding ribs 54, to facilitate the manual operations of
positioning and removing the covering element 30.
The covering element 30 also comprises a second wall portion 35
substantially perpendicular to the first wall portion 34. In the embodiment
shown herein, the second wall portion 35 is integral with the first wall portion
34, but it is also possible to provide the wall portions as separate parts by
providing means for connecting the separate parts in an articulated manner,
or means allowing also the removable positioning of the part comprising the
second wall portion 35.
The covering element 30 also comprises a tubular portion 36 having a
through-hole whose axis is perpendicular to the second wall portion 35. The
tubular portion 36 is composed of a duct that ends in a dispensing spout 37
wherefrom the prepared beverage comes out to be collected in a cup or a
glass already placed under said spout.
The tubular portion 36 has an internal diameter greater than the
external diameter of the dispensing duct 46 (Figure 3) of the collecting device
40, in such a manner that, when the covering element 30 is in the position
occluding the access window 20, the dispensing duct 46 is housed at least
partly in the inside of the tubular portion 36.
The collecting device 40, shown with more details in Figure 3, is of the
type intended for being engaged in a bayonet-coupling. A first protruding arm
41 of the bayonet coupling is therefore provided, while in a diametrically
opposed position the second arm 42 of the bayonet coupling extends to form
a protruding handling portion 45 that allows the manipulation of the collecting
device 40 in an easier and health-safer manner.
Figure 5 shows the assembly composed of a covering element 30 and
a collecting device 40 in a mutual coupling position, i.e. in the state where
the covering element is in the position that occludes the access window 20.
As can be observed, the covering element 30 advantageously comprises
guide means, consisting for instance of a couple of flanges 38 that loosely
engage the protruding handling portion 45 in such a manner as to realize a
key-mechanism that prevents the covering element 30 from closing if the
collecting device is not correctly mounted in the bayonet-coupling.
WE CLAIM :
1. A machine (10) for the preparation of beverages of the type comprising at
least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope (10), said
dispensing unit comprising at least one removable collecting device (40) whose
access is through at least one access window (20) obtained in the envelope, and
at least one removable covering element (30) to occlude or selectively free said
access window (20), characterized in that
the access window (20) faces the collecting device (40); and
said at least one covering element (30) and said at least one access
window (20) comprise sliding guide means (31, 21) that are complementary to
each other.
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one removable
covering element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprise
locking means (32, 33) for holding said covering element in the occluding
position of said access window.
3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking means are elastic
snap-locking means.
4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one removable
covering element comprises at least one substantially flat first wall portion (34),
said at least one substantially flat first wall portion being parallel to the vertical
axis of said collecting device when said covering element is slidingly engaged in
said access window.
5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sliding guide means
consist of at least a couple of grooves obtained on the opposite sides of said at
least one first wall portion.
6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one covering
element comprises a second wall portion (35) substantially perpendicular to a
first wall portion.
7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one covering
element has at least one tubular portion (36) having a through-hole whose axis is
perpendicular to said at least one second wall portion and suitable to house in its
inside at least part of the beverage dispensing duct (46) of said collecting device.
8. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collecting device is
removably mounted in said dispensing unit by means of a bayonet-coupling (41,
42), and wherein said collecting device comprises at least one protruding
handling portion (45), to facilitate the positioning and the removal of said
collecting device with respect to said dispensing unit.
9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one covering
element comprises guide means (38) that loosely engage said at least one
protruding handling portion (45) when said collecting device is correctly mounted.
10. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sliding guide means
complementary to each other are oriented according to a sliding direction
substantially parallel to the axis of said collecting device.
The present invention discloses a machine (10) for the preparation of beverages,
of the type comprising at least one dispensing unit housed in the inside of an envelope
(10). The dispensing unit has a removable collecting device (40).The access to the latter
is through a window (20) obtained in the envelope. There is also provided at least one
removable covering element (30) to occlude or selectively free said access window (20),
such that the access window (20) faces the collecting device (40) and of the covering
element (30) and said at least one access window (20) comprises sliding guide means (31,
21) which are complementary to each other.

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Patent Number

222882

Indian Patent Application Number

1547/KOLNP/2004

PG Journal Number

35/2008

Publication Date

29-Aug-2008

Grant Date

27-Aug-2008

Date of Filing

13-Oct-2004

Name of Patentee

TUTTOESPRESSO S.P.A.

Applicant Address

VIA TRIESTE, 49, I-21042 CARONNO PETRUSELLA

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	MAJER DOGLIONI LUCA	VIA VINCENZO MONTI, 57, I-20145, MILAN

PCT International Classification Number

A47J 31/44, 31/46

PCT International Application Number

PCT/IT/02/00249

PCT International Filing date

2002-04-18

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA