Machine, system and method for preparing fluid food products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022265082-A1
Application number	US-202017627620-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2020
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	Aug 25, 2022
Grant date	—

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

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 pumping means, 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 dispensing element is configured for coupling, in particular sealed coupling, with an inlet of a disposable container for preparing and retaining the food product, and wherein the hydraulic circuit is controllable, in particular via the control system, for supplying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element.

2 . The machine according to claim 1 , wherein:
the stationary structure defines a container-positioning area, the first dispensing element is part of a dispensing head that is carried by the stationary structure and faces towards the container-positioning area; and the dispensing head is configured for coupling, in particular sealed coupling, of the first dispensing element with the at least one coupling element of the disposable container when the disposable container is positioned in a substantially predetermined position within the container-positioning area.

3 . The machine according to claim 1 , moreover comprising 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 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.

4 . The machine according to claim 3 , 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 second food substance into the disposable container.

5 . The machine according to claim 2 ,
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 second food substance into the disposable container, and 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.

6 . 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.

7 . 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 first dispensing element, and the first dispensing element has a sealing arrangement which is able to co-operate 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.

8 . The machine according to claim 4 ,
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 has piercing or tearing means, suitable to pierce or tear an 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.

9 . The machine according to claim 2 , comprising a coupling arrangement configured for identifying the predetermined position of the disposable container within the container-positioning area and/or for providing a coupling of a substantially mechanical type with the disposable container, the coupling arrangement being preferably operatively associated to the dispensing head and configured for providing a coupling of a substantially mechanical type with the inlet of the disposable container.

10 . The machine according to claim 10 , wherein 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 dispensing element.

11 . The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a fork-like element, that comprises two substantially parallel arms, the two arms having preferably a front end portion provided with at least one inclined upper surface.

12 . The machine according to claim 3 , 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 dispensing element.

13 . 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.

14 . The machine according to claim 3 , wherein the preparation chamber comprises a first chamber part, preferably configured for introduction of water and/or steam into the preparation chamber, and a second chamber part, preferably configured for dispensing the second food substance from the preparation chamber,
wherein at least one chamber part is movable relative to the other 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.

15 . A system for preparing a food product, comprising a preparation machine according to claim 1 and a disposable container, for preparing and retaining the food product, having an internal volume that contains a predetermined amount of at least one first food substance or a precursor thereof, and an inlet configured for coupling with a first dispensing element of the preparation machine.

16 . The system according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one capsule or pod or tablet containing a dose of precursor of at least one second food substance, the capsule or pod or tablet being processable on the preparation machine.

17 . A method for preparing a food product, comprising the steps of:
providing a preparation machine according to claim 1 , having a stationary structure and a hydraulic circuit which comprises a first dispensing element, and optionally a second dispensing element, providing a disposable container for preparing and retaining the food product, having an internal volume that contains a predetermined amount of at least one first food product or a precursor thereof, and an inlet configured for coupling with the first dispensing element of the preparation machine, coupling the first d

Assignees

• Lavazza Luigi Spa

Inventors

• Carbonini Carlo
• De Mango Carlo
• Bugnano Luca

Classifications

• A47J31/469

  Details of hydraulic circuits · CPC title

• A23F5/26

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

• A47J31/468

  Pumping means · CPC title

• A47J31/3628 Primary

  Perforating means therefor · CPC title

• A47J31/525

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