Device guiding differently sized capsules to extraction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309946-A1
Application number	US-201415101998-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2014
Priority date	Dec 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 27, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device ( 1 ) handles selectively a first capsule ( 2 a ) having a first flange ( 2 a ′) and a second capsule ( 2 b ) having a second flange ( 2 b ′) greater than the first flange ( 2 a ′). The device comprises: a first part ( 10 ) and a second part ( 20 ) that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ); and a third part ( 30 ) for guiding such capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) to inbetween the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ) when in the transfer position. The third part ( 30 ) has: a first portion ( 31 a ) for engaging with and guiding the first flange ( 2 a ′) of the first capsule ( 2 a ); and a second portion ( 31 b ) for engaging with and guiding the second flange ( 2 b ′) of the second capsule ( 2 b ). The third part ( 30 ) is so configured that: the first portion ( 31 a ) is bypassed by the second flange ( 2 b ′) when the second capsule ( 2 b ) is guided to inbetween the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ) in the transfer position; and the second portion ( 31 b ) is bypassed by the first flange ( 2 a ′) when the first capsule ( 2 a ) is guided to inbetween the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ) in the transfer position.

First claim

1 . A device for handling selectively a first capsule having a first flange and a second capsule having a second flange greater than the first flange, such device comprising:
a first part and a second part that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part for guiding such capsule to inbetween the first and second parts when in the transfer position; for guiding such capsule to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position, the third part has: a first portion for engaging with and guiding the first flange of the first capsule; and a second portion for engaging with and guiding the second flange of the second capsule; and the third part being so configured that: the first portion is bypassed by the second flange when the second capsule is guided to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position; and the second portion is bypassed by the first flange when the first capsule is guided to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first flange engagement and guiding arrangement dimensioned for the first flange and wherein the second portion has a second flange engagement and guiding arrangement dimensioned for the second flange.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first flange engagement and guiding arrangement comprising facing rails or grooves for engaging with generally opposite and corresponding matching edges of the first flange and/or wherein the second portion has a second flange engagement and guiding arrangement comprising facing rails or grooves for engaging with generally opposite and corresponding matching edges of the second flange.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the first and second portions have the facing rails or grooves, the facing rails or grooves of the first portion being spaced apart by a first spacing distance adjusted to the first flange, the facing rails or grooves of the second portion being spaced apart by a second spacing distance adjusted to the second flange, the second spacing distance being greater than the first spacing distance.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the third part has at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
a branching portion, for directing the first flange to the first portion and the second flange to the second portion; a common portion for engaging with any of the first and second flanges and for guiding the flanges either to the first portion or the second portion; and a window for allowing any of the capsules into the third part.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the third part comprises a stop for stopping the capsule inbetween the first and second parts so that when the first and second parts are moved from the transfer position to the extraction position the capsule is taken over by the first and second parts.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the stop comprises at least one member for stopping the first capsule flange after engagement in the first portion and/or for stopping the second capsule flange after engagement in the second portion.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a first flange section that is movable between a first position for engaging with said first flange and a second position for freeing a passage for the second capsule and/or for at least one of the first and second parts; and/or wherein the second portion comprises a second flange section that is movable between a first position for engaging with the second flange and a second position for freeing a passage for said first capsule and/or for at least one of the first and second parts.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second parts comprises an actuator for actuating the flange section.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second parts is arranged to take selectively a first configuration for receiving the first capsule and a second configuration for receiving said second capsule.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein said at least one of the first and the second parts arranged to take selectively the first and second configurations comprises an actuator that is moved between first and second actuator positions by changing the configuration of the at least one of the first and the second parts.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the third part is fixed to the first part or to the second part.

13 . The device of claim 1 , comprising a separator for separating the capsule from at least one of the first and second parts, such as from a cavity in the at least one of the first and second parts, when the first and second parts are relatively moved from the extraction position to the transfer position.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the separator is configured to act against either of the first and second flanges.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the separator is resiliently movable for acting against the first and second flanges and positionable by the first and second capsules.

16 . A system comprising a capsule and a device having a first flange and a second capsule having a second flange greater than the first flange, and a device comprising:
a first part and a second part that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part for guiding such capsule to inbetween the first and second parts when in the transfer position; for guiding such capsule to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position, the third part has: a first portion for engaging with and guiding the first flange of the first capsule; and a second portion for engaging with and guiding the second flange of the second capsule; and the third part being so configured that: the first portion is bypassed by the second flange when the second capsule is guided to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position; and the second portion is bypassed by the first flange when the first capsule is guided to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position.

17 . A method for handling selectively a first capsule having a first flange and a second capsule having a second flange greater than the first flange in a device comprising having a first flange and a second capsule having a second flange greater than the first flange, the device comprising: a first part and a second part that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part for guiding such capsule to inbetween the first and second parts when in the transfer position; for guiding such capsule to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position, the third part has: a first portion for engaging with and guiding the first flange of the first capsule; and a second portion for engaging with and guiding the second flange of the second capsule; and the third part being so configured that: the first portion is bypassed by the second flange when the second capsule is guided to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position; and the second portion is bypassed by the first flange when the first capsule is guided to inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position, wherein:
the first portion of the device's third part engages and guides the first flange of the first ca

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Gunstone Andrew
• Bonacci Enzo
• Flick Jean-Marc

Classifications

• A47J31/3676

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/3642

  Cartridge magazines therefor · CPC title

• A47J31/3623

  Cartridges being employed (with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652) · CPC title

• A47J31/3633 Primary

  Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position · CPC title

• A47J31/407

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