Machine, system and method for preparing fluid food products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12268326-B2
Application number	US-202017627620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2020
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

A machine for preparing a food product comprises at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit and a control system. The hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and pumping means, as well as a first dispensing element ( 51 ), which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam. The first dispensing element ( 51 ) is configured for coupling, in particular sealed coupling, with an inlet ( 18, 26 ) of a disposable container ( 11 ) for preparing and retaining the food product, and the hydraulic circuit ( 40 ) is controllable, in particular via the control system, for conveying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element ( 51 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for preparing a food product, comprising at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit, and a control system,
wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and a pump,
wherein the hydraulic circuit further comprises a first external dispensing element, designed to be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam,
wherein the first external dispensing element is configured for coupling with an inlet of a disposable container for preparing and retaining the food product,
wherein the hydraulic circuit is controllable for supplying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first external dispensing element,
wherein the stationary structure defines a container-positioning area,
wherein the first external dispensing element is part of a dispensing head that is carried by the stationary structure and faces towards the container-positioning area,
wherein the dispensing head is configured for coupling of the first external dispensing element with the inlet of the disposable container when the disposable container is positioned in a substantially predetermined position within the container-positioning area,
wherein the dispensing head is provided with piercing or tearing means configured for locally piercing or tearing an entry wall of the disposable container, and enabling venting of air present inside the container in the course of preparation of the food product,
and wherein the machine moreover comprises a preparation unit, which includes a preparation chamber suitable for receiving a dose of a precursor of at least one second food substance, and dispensing the at least one second food substance following upon passage of water and/or steam through the preparation chamber, the hydraulic circuit being configured for supplying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the preparation chamber.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises a second dispensing element, which is connected in fluid communication with an outlet of the preparation chamber and is configured for introducing the at least one second food substance into the disposable container.

3. The machine according to claim 2 ,
wherein the dispensing head comprises the second dispensing element and is configured for introducing the second food substance into the disposable container when the disposable container is in said substantially predetermined position.

4. The machine according to claim 1 ,
wherein the dispensing head comprises a movable part and a stationary part for guiding the movable part, the movable part being displaceable between an inoperative or raised position and an operative or lowered position with respect to the container-positioning area, and
wherein the movable part of the dispensing head comprises the first external dispensing element, and the first external dispensing element has a sealing arrangement cooperating in a sealed way with the inlet of the disposable container when the movable part of the dispensing head is in the respective operative or lowered position.

5. The machine according to claim 2 ,
wherein the dispensing head comprises a movable part and a stationary part for guiding the movable part, the movable part being displaceable between an inoperative or raised position and an operative or lowered position with respect to the container-positioning area, and
wherein the movable part of the dispensing head comprises the second dispensing element and said piercing or tearing means configured to pierce or tear the entry wall of the disposable container during passage of the movable part of the dispensing head from the inoperative or raised position to the operative or lowered position.

6. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising a coupling arrangement configured for identifying said substantially predetermined position of the disposable container within the container-positioning area and/or for providing a coupling of a mechanical type with the disposable container.

7. The machine according to claim 6 , wherein the coupling arrangement is configured for coupling with the disposable container following upon a movement of the disposable container in a generally transverse direction with respect to a direction of displacement of the first external dispensing element.

8. The machine according to claim 6 , wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a fork-like element, that comprises two substantially parallel arms.

9. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein in the control system there is stored at least one operating program configured for controlling both dispensing of the second food substance via the preparation unit and dispensing of pressurized hot water and/or steam via the first external dispensing element.

10. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a sensor system for detection of presence and/or type of the disposable container.

11. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the preparation chamber comprises a first chamber part, configured for introduction of water and/or steam into the preparation chamber, and a second chamber part, configured for dispensing the second food substance from the preparation chamber,
wherein at least one of the first chamber part or the second chamber part is movable relative to the other of the first chamber part or the second chamber part between a spaced-apart position, to enable loading of the dose of precursor of the at least one second food substance into the preparation chamber, and a close position, to enable introduction of water and/or steam into the preparation chamber and dispensing of the second food substance from the preparation chamber.

12. The machine according to claim 6 , wherein the coupling arrangement is operatively associated to the dispensing head and is configured for providing a coupling of a mechanical type with the inlet of the disposable container.

13. The machine according to claim 8 , wherein the two substantially parallel arms each have a front end portion provided with at least one inclined upper surface.

14. A machine for preparing a food product, comprising at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit, and a control system,
wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and a pump,
wherein the hydraulic circuit further comprises a first external dispensing element, designed to be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam,
wherein the first external dispensing element is configured for coupling with an inlet of a disposable container for preparing and retaining the food product,
wherein the hydraulic circuit is controllable for supplying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first external dispensing element,
wherein the stationary structure defines a container-positioning area,
wherein the first external dispensing element is part of a dispensing head that is carried by the stationary structure and faces towards the container-positioning area,
wherein the external dispensing head is configured for coupling of the first external dispensing element with the inlet of the disposable container when the disposable container is positioned in a substantially predetermined position within the container-positioning area,
wherein the dispensing head is provided with piercing or tearing means configured for locally piercing or tearing an entry wall of the disposable container, and enabling venting of air present inside the container in the course of preparation of the food product,
and wherein the dispensing head comprises a movable part

Assignees

• Lavazza Luigi Spa

Inventors

• Carbonini Carlo
• De Mango Carlo
• Bugnano Luca

Classifications

• A47J31/407

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title

• A23F5/26

  Extraction of water soluble constituents {(A23F5/246 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47J31/525

  the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters · CPC title

• A47J31/468

  Pumping means · CPC title

• A47J31/469

  Details of hydraulic circuits · CPC title