Retractable guide in capsule handling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309947-A1
Application number	US-201415101984-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 a capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) having a flange ( 2 a′, 2 b ′). The device comprises: a first part ( 10 ) and a second part ( 20 ) that are relatively movable across a space ( 3 a, 3 b ) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part ( 30 ) for guiding such capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) to in between the first and second parts ( 10,20 ) when in the transfer position; and stop means ( 32 a, 32 b ). The stop means are configured for successively: stopping the capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) in between the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ) in the transfer position; maintaining the capsule while the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ) are relatively moved from the transfer position towards the extraction position to receive the capsule; and allowing a liberation of the capsule from the stop means after reception of the capsule by at least one of the first and second parts ( 10,20 ) while relatively moving towards the extraction position. The third part ( 30 ) has a flange section ( 300 ) that has a first position for engaging with and guiding the capsule flange ( 2 a ′, 2 b ′) when the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ) are in the transfer position before liberation of such capsule ( 2 a, 2 b ) from the stop means ( 32 a, 32 b ). The flange section ( 300 ) in the first position extends into such space ( 3 a, 3 b ), the flange section ( 300 ) being moved after the capsule liberation from its first position to a second position in which the flange section ( 300 ) is retracted from the space ( 3 a, 3 b ) to allow a crossing thereof by the at least one of the first and second parts ( 10, 20 ).

First claim

1 . A device for handling a capsule having a flange, comprising:
a first part and a second part that are relatively movable across a space from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing the capsule to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part for guiding the capsule to inbetween the first and second parts when in the transfer position a stop member for successively: stopping the capsule inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position; maintaining the capsule while the first and second parts are relatively moved from the transfer position towards the extraction position to receive the capsule; and allowing a liberation of the capsule from the stop means after reception of the capsule by at least one of the first and second parts while relatively moving towards the extraction position; the third part having a flange section that has a first position for engaging with and guiding the capsule flange when the first and second parts are in the transfer position before liberation of the capsule from the stop member; and the flange section in the first position extends into the space, the flange section being moved after the liberation from its first position to a second position in which the flange section is retracted from the space to allow a crossing thereof by the at least one of the first and second parts.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flange section includes at least part of the stop member.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flange section has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
pivotable or translatable between its first and second positions, provided with at least one plain bearing surface for guidance of the flange section between its first and second position; and/or part of a portion for engaging with and guiding the flange of the capsule, the portion having a flange engagement and guiding arrangement comprising facing rails or grooves for engaging with generally opposite and corresponding matching edges of the flanges.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second parts comprises an actuator for actuating the flange section.

5 . 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 a first capsule and a second configuration for receiving a second capsule larger than the first capsule.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second parts arranged to take selectively the first and second configurations comprises the actuator.

7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the first and second parts in their first configuration are relatively movable across a first space and wherein the first and second parts in their second configuration are relatively movable across a second space that is larger than the first space, the flange section in its first position extending into the second space and being moved into its second position when the first and second parts in their second configuration are moved to the extraction position, and the flange section in its first position:
extending into the first space and being moved into its second position when the first and second parts in their first configuration are moved to the extraction position; or remaining outside the first space and remaining in the first position while the first and second parts in their first configuration are moved from the transfer position to the extraction position; or extending into the first and second spaces and being moved into its second position when the first and second parts in their first configuration or in their second configuration are moved to the extraction position.

8 . The device of claim 1 , for handling a first capsule having a first flange and a second capsule having a second flange greater than the first flange, wherein 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 said second capsule, 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.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the stop member comprises at least one member for stopping the first capsule after engagement in the first portion and/or for stopping the second capsule flange after engagement in the second portion.

10 . The device of claim 8 , 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.

11 . The device of claim 8 , 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.

12 . The device of claim 11 , 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, and the second spacing distance being greater than the first spacing distance.

13 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the third part has a characteristic 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 to the second portion; and a window for allowing any of the capsules into the third part.

14 . The device of claim 1 , comprising a separator for separating the capsule from 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.

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

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

17 . A system comprising a capsule and a device for handling the capsule having a flange, comprising:
a first part and a second part that are relatively movable across a space from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing the capsule to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part for guiding the capsule to inbetween the first and second parts when in the transfer position; a stop member for successively: stopping the capsule inbetween the first and second parts in the transfer position; maintaining the capsule while the first and second parts are relatively moved from the transfer position towards the extraction position to receive the capsule; and allowing a liberation of the capsule from the stop means after reception of the capsule by at least o

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Gunstone Andrew
• Bonacci Enzo
• Flick Jean-Marc

Classifications

• A47J31/3623

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

• A47J31/3633

  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

• A47J31/3676

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/3638 Primary

  Means to eject the cartridge after brewing · CPC title