HK1224534B - Horizontal unit for making beverages using capsules containing powdered food substances - Google Patents

Description

Horizontal unit for making beverages using containers filled with powdered food substances

The present invention relates to a horizontal unit for making beverages using containers containing powdered food substances.

In particular, the present invention preferably relates to a unit with a horizontal axis, which is a device for extracting a pulverulent food substance using water and comprises a first portion and a second portion, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other along a horizontal line between an operating position, in which the two portions are coupled to each other and form between them an extraction chamber capable of retaining a container therein, and a container insertion position, in which the two portions are at a distance and allow the insertion of a container into the unit. In fact, in the insertion position, the container can be inserted from above by gravity until it reaches the retaining means constituted by the two converging lateral elements, which can then be separated to release the container in the housing during the unit closing step.

Associated with the two movable portions are a water injection device and a beverage collection device operatively associated with the chamber to feed water into the receptacle housed in the chamber and to collect the beverage flowing out of the receptacle, respectively.

The invention relates in particular to horizontal units using containers in which the wall through which the beverage flows out is closed and which therefore must be perforated inside the unit.

Currently, there are many different prior art solutions for piercing the bottom of a container.

In particular, in the most widespread solutions, the container is pierced during the closing of the unit by a piercing spike mounted in a fixed manner inside the housing for the container in a position such that it interferes with the container.

There are also some prior art solutions in which the bottom of the capsule is pierced only during the extraction of the beverage, with an increase in the pressure in the capsule which causes it to expand so that it is torn against a fixed piercing spike. The piercing spike may initially be spaced from the base (e.g. as described in patent EP 468078) or in contact with the base (patent EP 507905) or partially inserted into the base.

A further solution is described in patent EP 2000063 and involves the use of a movable blade which, once the container is placed in the housing, is pushed against the bottom of the container to pierce it and is then removed before extraction begins.

Among all the prior art solutions, the applicant considers the solution described in patent EP 2000063 as a solution capable of supplying espresso coffee of the best quality. However, even this solution has disadvantages. In particular, if used with containers made of plastic, the bottom of the container may be deformed instead of being cut by the blade and therefore the blade may not pierce the bottom correctly.

Against this background, the technical purpose forming the basis of the present invention is to provide a horizontal unit for making beverages using containers containing powdered food substances, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

In particular, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a horizontal unit for making beverages using containers containing powdered food substances, which allows to perforate the bottom of the container in an optimally feasible manner, in particular with a liner cutter.

The technical purpose specified and the aims indicated are substantially achieved by a horizontal unit for making beverages using containers filled with powdered food substances as described in the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description, with reference to a number of preferred, non-limiting embodiments of a horizontal unit for making beverages using containers containing powdered food substances, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a horizontal unit made in accordance with the present invention in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the unit of FIG. 1 in a vertical axial plane;

FIG. 3 shows the unit of FIG. 2 in an open configuration with a container inserted prior to supply;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the unit of FIG. 3 taken according to line IV-IV of FIG. 9;

FIG. 5 shows the unit of FIG. 3 in a subsequent intermediate configuration during shutdown;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the unit of FIG. 5 taken according to line IV-IV of FIG. 13;

FIG. 7 shows the unit of FIG. 6 in a subsequent configuration, close to the closed configuration;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the lower housing of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the unit of FIG. 3 in a horizontal axial plane;

fig. 10 to 14 show various successive steps of the transition of the unit of fig. 9 from the open configuration to the closed configuration; in particular, fig. 12 and 13 correspond to the configurations of fig. 6 and 7, respectively, while fig. 14 shows the unit in the closed configuration; and

fig. 15 shows an intermediate configuration of the unit during the transition from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, numeral 1 indicates as a whole a horizontal unit for making beverages using a container 2 containing a powdered food substance according to the invention.

The horizontal unit 1 generally comprises a support structure 3. Mounted on the structure is at least a first portion 4 and a second portion 6, the first portion 4 forming a housing 5 for receiving the container 2 containing the powdery food substance to be extracted, the second portion 6 being mounted on the supporting structure 3 and being shaped as an element for closing the housing 5. It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, the housing 5 is dimensioned such that it can almost completely receive the container 2. In fact, only the radial annular flange 7 of the container 2 remains outside the casing 5 (fig. 2 and 14).

At least one of the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 is movable relative to the other between an operating position (fig. 2 and 14) and an insertion position (fig. 3 and 9). In the operating position, the two portions 4, 6 are coupled to each other and form an extraction chamber 8 between them at the housing 5, the container 2 being able to be held in the extraction chamber 8. In the position for inserting the container 2, the two portions 4, 6 are at a distance and allow the container 2 to be placed between them. The two parts 4, 6 are movable relative to each other substantially along an axial line parallel to a central axis of the housing 5, the central axis of the housing 5 corresponding, in use, to a central axis of the container 2. However, in use, the axial line is disposed substantially horizontally.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, in particular, the first portion 4 is fixed with respect to the support structure 3, while the second portion 6 moves with respect to the support structure 3 and with respect to the first portion 4. In more detail, the support structure 3 comprises an upper shell 9 and a lower shell 10, the upper and lower shells 9, 10 being coupled to each other and forming between them a guiding slit 11 parallel to the axial line, and the movable second portion 6 being slidably coupled (by means of an elongated arm 12 parallel to the slit 11 and described in more detail below) to this guiding slit 11.

The unit 1 further comprises water injection means 13 and beverage collecting means 14, the water injection means 13 and the beverage collecting means 14 being operatively associated with the chamber 8 to feed water into the receptacle 2 housed in the chamber 8 and to collect, respectively, the beverage flowing out of the receptacle 2, in use. Advantageously, one of the water injection means 13 and the beverage collecting means 14 is associated with the first portion 4 and the other with the second portion 6, and, depending on the needs, they may also comprise piercing means 15 for the lid and/or perforating means 16 for the bottom of the container 2 (both in the illustrated embodiment). However, after the rest of the unit has been described, the specific structure of the perforating device 16, which is the main aspect of the present invention, is described in more detail below.

In general, the unit 1 according to the invention comprises moving means 17 for the reciprocating movement of the two portions 4, 6, which are mounted between the support structure 3 and at least the movable one of the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 (the second portion 6 in the embodiment shown).

Advantageously, the shuttles 17 comprise: a movement shaft 18 rotatably connected to the support structure 3, the movement shaft 18 being arranged perpendicular to the axial line and which, in use, is arranged substantially horizontally; and a crank 19, the crank 19 comprising an inner end fitted on the shaft 18 and an outer end 20; and a connecting rod 21, the connecting rod 21 comprising a rear end 22 rotatably connected to the outer end 20 of the crank and a front end 23 rotatably connected to a movable one of the first and second portions 4, 6 (and thus to the second portion 6 in the embodiment shown). Depending on the requirements, this moving means 17 can be operated manually (by using a lever fixed to the moving shaft 18) or driven by a motor (by a motor also coupled to the moving shaft 18).

Thanks to the horizontal unit 1, in the inserted position the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 are at a distance along the axial line and the unit 1 comprises retaining means 24 for retaining the container 2 at a retaining area interposed between the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 when said portions are in the inserted position. In practice, the container 2 can be inserted into the unit 1 from above, for example through an opening 25 made in the upper shell 9 (the opening 25 can be selectively closed by a movable panel 26 fixed to the movable portion when the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 are in the operating position).

The holding means 24 are normally and in a known manner switchable between a first configuration, in which the holding means 24 are able to hold the container 2 (the container 2 can reach the holding means 24 due to the effect of gravity), and a second configuration, in which the holding means 24 are unable to hold the container 2.

Advantageously, the retaining means 24 comprise two opposite guide elements 27, each forming a seat 28 facing the other guide element 27 and designed to house a seat 28 of a portion of the container 2. In the preferred embodiment, each seat 28 is constituted by a mainly vertically extending channel, the lower part of which converges towards the other seat 28, and in which the radial annular flange 7 of the container 2 can be inserted (fig. 4).

In a preferred embodiment, the guide elements 27 are movable between the first and second configurations, and vice versa, by movement (at least partially) away from and towards each other respectively in a bifurcation plane substantially orthogonal to the axial line (and therefore, in use, vertical).

In the second configuration, the guide elements 27 are also at least partially spaced apart and further apart than when they are in the second configuration.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the retaining means 24 move together with the second portion 6 to insert the container 2 in the housing 5 and subsequently release the container 2 before the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 reach the operating position. In fact, during the movement of the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 from the insertion position to the operating position, the retaining means 24 advantageously remain in the first configuration at least until the container 2 is at least substantially inserted in the housing 5, after which the retaining means 24 are turned to the second configuration.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in the figures, each guide element 27 is slidably associated with the second portion 6 along a bifurcation line which lies in the bifurcation plane and which is substantially horizontal in use, and the retaining means 24 further comprise auxiliary elastic means 29 mounted between each guide element 27 and the second portion 6 to push the guide element 27 towards the first configuration.

Furthermore, each guide element 27 comprises at least one follower foot 30 (advantageously two, one above and one below), the follower feet 30 being slidably coupled to a sliding track 31, the sliding track 31 in turn being fixed with respect to the first portion 4 (and therefore stationary in the embodiment shown). Movement of the first and/or second parts 4, 6 between the operating and insertion positions causes relative sliding of the follower foot 30 and the slideway 31. The slide 31 is also cam-shaped to cause the relative guide element 27 to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration (and vice versa) respectively, after the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 have been moved from the insertion position to the operating position (and vice versa). As shown in fig. 8 (only the lower shell 10 is illustrated), each slide 31 advantageously comprises a distal stretch 32 (further away from the first portion 4) and a proximal stretch 33 (closer to the first portion 4), the distal stretch 32 and the proximal stretch 33 extending parallel to the axial line and being connected by an angled stretch 34. The distal extensions 32 of each slide rail 31 are closer to each other than the proximal extensions 33. Thus, when the follower foot 30 is in the distal stretch 32, the guide element 27 is in the first configuration, while when the follower foot 30 is in the proximal stretch, the guide element 27 is in the corresponding second configuration.

Furthermore, advantageously, the sliding track 31 is substantially shaped to match the follower foot 30 in order to guide the follower foot 30 in the best possible way. However, in the embodiment shown, in which the auxiliary elastic means 29 push the guide element 27 towards the first configuration (and therefore towards the axial line), each sliding track 31 may advantageously comprise an enlargement 35 at the positioning end on the distal stretch 32 where the follower foot 30 rests when the first and second portions 4, 6 are in the insertion position. Indeed, thanks to this measure, it is possible to separate the two guide elements 27 manually at the holding area to detach the container 2 from the unit 1 without having to close and reopen the unit 1 (it is possible to press the container 2 sufficiently from above to separate the guide elements 27).

It should be noted that what has been described above for the holding device 24 and its movement by means of the slide 31 can also be applied independently of other technical aspects described in the present patent application. This may therefore form the subject of a specifically divisional patent application relating only to these aspects.

The horizontal unit 1 further comprises a spraying device 36 for spraying the containers 2 out of the housing 5, which spraying device 36 is active when the first and second parts 4, 6 are moved from the operating position to the insertion position and is spaced apart from the holding device 24.

In the embodiment shown, the injection means 36 comprise at least one pusher 37, which pusher 37 is slidably associated with the first portion 4 and is equipped with a head 38 positioned at the chamber 8 and with an actuator portion 39 positioned outside the chamber 8 (and advantageously outside the first portion 4). The pusher 37 is movable between a first position, in which the head 38 allows the insertion of the container 2 in the housing 5, and a second position, in which the head 38 prevents the insertion of the container 2 in the housing 5. During the transition from the first position to the second position, the head 38 in use causes the receptacle 2 to be ejected from the housing 5, since it occupies the space inside the housing 5 (which space places the receptacle 2 with the chamber 8 closed) when it is in the first position and advantageously keeps the centre of gravity of the receptacle 2 outside the housing 5.

The movement of the pusher 37 is ensured by at least one actuator element 40, the actuator element 40 being fixed to the second portion 6 and being able to be coupled to the actuator portion 39 at least during a portion of the movement of the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 from the operating position to the insertion position. In fact, during the movement of the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 from the operating position to the insertion position, the actuator element 40 moves the pusher 37 from the first position to the second position to eject the container 2 contained in the chamber 8.

In a preferred embodiment, the movement of the first part 4 and/or the second part 6 from the operating position to the insertion position occurs along a track comprising a first stretch extending from the operating position to a first intermediate position and a second stretch extending from the intermediate position to the insertion position. During this movement, the actuator element 40 is uncoupled from the actuator portion 39 in the first stretch and moves relative to the actuator portion 39; in the intermediate position, the actuator element 40 is coupled to the actuator portion 39 of the thruster 37, which is placed in the first position; and in the second extension the actuator element 40 moves the pusher 37 from the first position to the second position. Preferably, in the second stretch, the actuator element 40 rests against the actuator portion 39 and pushes the actuator portion 39 towards its first position.

The movement of the first part 4 and/or the second part 6 from the insertion position to the operating position preferably takes place along a track opposite to the track moving from the operating position to the insertion position, instead it first runs along the second stretch and then along the first stretch. In a preferred embodiment, in order to facilitate the insertion of the container 2 in the housing 5, during this movement the actuator element 40 is advantageously coupled to the actuator portion 39 in a second stretch and moves the pusher 37 from the second position to the first position, while in the subsequent first stretch the actuator element 40 is uncoupled from the actuator portion 39 and moves with respect to the actuator portion 39.

For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment, one of the actuator element 40 and the actuator part 39 comprises a magnet 41 and the other comprises a ferromagnetic element 42, the magnet 41 and the ferromagnetic element 42 being arranged in such a way that the magnet 41 can hold the ferromagnetic element 42 when the actuator element 40 is in contact with the pusher 37. In this way, during the movement along the second stretch from the insertion position to the operating position, the actuator element 40 pulls the pusher 37 due to the magnetic attraction exerted by the magnet 41 on the ferromagnetic element 42. In contrast to this, the pulling stops in the first stretch, since in the intermediate position the actuator portion 39 reaches the end of its stroke and the subsequent movement with respect to the actuator element 40 decouples the magnet 41 from the ferromagnetic element 42 (fig. 10).

In a preferred embodiment, the second portion 6 comprises at least one elongated arm 12, the elongated arm 12 being elongated along a line substantially parallel to the axial line, extending at least partially along a side of the first portion 4 and comprising a free end capable of being coupled to the coupling portion and constituting the actuator element 40. In particular, the free end extends perpendicular to the remainder of the arm adjacent thereto and towards the central axis.

Advantageously, however, the horizontal unit 1 comprises at least two actuator elements 40 fixed to the second portion 6, which are arranged at two opposite sides of the second portion 6, each actuator element 40 being coupleable to a different part of the actuator portion 39. In the embodiment shown, in particular, the second portion 6 comprises two elongated arms 12 which are elongated along a line substantially parallel to the axial line and extend at least partially at two opposite sides of the first portion 4 at least when the first and second portions 4, 6 are in the operating position (in the figures, they are always in the operating position), and each elongated arm 12 comprises a free end which can be coupled to the coupling portion and which constitutes a respective actuator element 40. Furthermore, in the case shown, the two arms are substantially specular and the guide element 27 is slidably mounted along the bifurcation line, one on each elongated arm 12.

In a preferred embodiment, the pusher 37 comprises at least two heads 38, the two heads 38 being positioned at the chamber 8 (advantageously in a position such that they act against the bottom of the container 2) and being connected to an actuator portion 39, the actuator portion 39 in turn extending substantially transverse (in a horizontal plane) to the central axis. In fact, as can be seen in fig. 15, the actuator part 39 extends in a horizontal plane in a C-shape and the end of this C protrudes outwards with respect to the central axis and can be connected to an actuator element 40.

As can be seen in fig. 9, the second part 6 comprises a main body 43, the main body 43 closing the housing 5 in the operating position and the injection device being at least partially mounted on the main body 43. The bodies 43 are each rotatably connected to the front end 23 of the link 21 of the shuttles 17 and to the two elongate arms 12. The correct orientation of the body 43 with respect to the line of displacement is ensured by the additional connection of the body 43 to the movable panel 26, which in turn is slidably guided on the upper shell.

As already indicated, the innovative aspect of the present invention relates to the beverage collecting device 14 mentioned above and to the perforating device 16 for perforating the bottom of the container 2, the perforating device 16 being part of the beverage collecting device 14.

According to the invention, the perforating means 16 comprise at least one perforating element 44, this perforating element 44 being movable between an active position in which the perforating element 44 can interfere, in use, with the container 2 inserted in the casing 5 to perforate it (fig. 5), and an inactive position in which the perforating element 44 is retracted with respect to the active position and in which, in use, the perforating element 44 is at a distance from the bottom of the container 2 inserted in the chamber 8 (fig. 2). Preferably, the perforating element 44 comprises at least one blade 45, the blade 45 extending in a plane parallel to the central axis and which is therefore able to make a linear cut at the bottom of the container 2. Advantageously, the perforating element 44 is movable parallel to the central axis.

Furthermore, the beverage collecting device 14 comprises hooking means 46 operatively associated with the first portion 4, the hooking means 46 being switchable between a hooking configuration and an unhooking configuration. When it is in the hooking configuration, the hooking means 46 keep the perforating element 44 in the active position, while when it is in the unhooking configuration, the hooking means 46 allow the perforating element 44 to move from the active position towards the inactive position.

As shown in fig. 3 and 9, when the first and second portions 4, 6 are in the insertion position, the perforating means 16 are in the active position and the hooking means 46 are in the hooking configuration, while, as shown in fig. 2, 7 and 14, when the first and second portions 4, 6 are in the operating position, the perforating means 16 are in the inactive position and the hooking means 46 are preferably in the unhooking configuration (although they may even be in the hooking configuration).

The first elastic means 47 operatively act on the perforating element 44 to urge the perforating element 44 towards the inactive position. The first elastic means 47 are advantageously constituted by a helical spring which is arranged between the first portion 4 and a base portion 48 of the perforating element 44, outside the first portion 4. The blade 45 is fixed to this base portion 48 and is slidably inserted in a sealed manner into a through hole communicating with a discharge channel 49 for the beverage flowing out of the capsule 2.

Advantageously, during the movement of the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 from the insertion position to the operating position, at the approach or at the operating position, the second portion 6 switches the hooking means 46 from the hooking configuration to the unhooking configuration, while during the movement of the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 from the operating position to the insertion position, the second portion 6 moves the perforating element 44 from the inactive position to the active position.

In a preferred embodiment, the hooking means 46 comprise at least one shaped body 50, this shaped body 50 being elongated along a line transverse to the axial line and comprising a central portion, in turn comprising at least one hooking tooth 51, and two end portions 52. The hooking tooth 51 may be coupled to the perforating element 44 disposed in the hooking configuration to retain the perforating element 44 in this configuration (fig. 5). In contrast, the two ends 52 of the shaped body 50 are operatively connected to the second portion 6. In particular, in the embodiment shown, the two ends 52 are slidably coupled to the second portion 6 to slide thereon during the movement between the operating position and the insertion position (fig. 6 and 7). In particular, in the preferred embodiment, each end 52 of the shaped body 50 interacts with one of the elongated arms 12 of the second portion 6 and the latter moves the shaped body 50 from the hooking position to the unhooking position.

In turn, the shaped body 50 is slidably associated with the first portion 4 according to a sliding line (and therefore advantageously a line which is vertical in use) substantially orthogonal to both the axial line and said transversal line. Thus, the molded body 50 can be moved between a hooking position corresponding to the hooking configuration of the hooking means 46 and an unhooking position corresponding to the unhooking configuration of the hooking means 46.

In more detail, each end of the shaped body 50 is slidably associated with one of the elongated arms 12 (resting thereon according to a line of rest parallel to the sliding line) and comprises a resting face on which at least one raised area 53 is made, the raised area 53 being raised according to a line parallel to the sliding line (relatively, outside the raised area 53, this resting face having a uniform profile in the same relative position and in each plane transverse to the axial line). The raised areas 53 are then identical in terms of a plane perpendicular to the axial line. In this way, as a whole, the raised region 53 is designed so that the shaped body 50 moves from the hooking position to the unhooking position when it interacts with the end 52 of the shaped body 50 (according to a method which will be shown in greater detail below).

Preferably, the forming body 50 and/or the perforating element 44 comprise a forming portion 54, the forming portion 54 generally comprising a surface disposed at an angle to the line of movement of the perforating element 44 between the active position and the inactive position. During movement of the perforating element 44 from the inactive position to the active position, the perforating element 44 interacts with the forming body 50 at the forming portion 54 to cause the forming body 50 to transition from the hooked position to the unhooked position.

Furthermore, the hooking means 46 comprise second elastic means 55, the second elastic means 55 acting operatively on the shaped body 50 to push the shaped body 50 towards the hooking position and keep its end 52 in contact with the elongated arm 12.

As clearly shown in the figures, in the preferred embodiment, the hooking means 46 comprise two shaped bodies 50 mounted opposite each other along a sliding line and when they are both in respective positions, respectively hooking position and unhooking position, respectively approaching each other and departing from each other. The second elastic means 55 comprise two helical springs mounted between the respective ends 52 of the shaped body 50 to pull them towards each other. Thus, on the one hand, one of the shaped bodies 50 acts above the perforating element 44 and the other below the perforating element 44, and on the other hand, one of its ends 52 is coupled above the respective elongated arm 12 and the other below the respective elongated arm 12, the elongated arm 12 comprising two raised areas 53, one of the raised areas 53 extending downwards and the other upwards (upper, lower, upwards and downwards should all be understood with reference to the position of the unit 1 in use).

It is clear that the invention also relates to a machine for making beverages by conveying hot water through a container 2 containing a powdered food substance, comprising a horizontal unit 1 of the type described above. The machine may comprise, in a known manner, means for feeding water to the injection means, means for dispensing the beverage at the outlet of the collection means, etc.

The operation of the unit 1 according to the invention derives from the description of the structure above.

When the first and second portions 4, 6 are in the insertion position (fig. 3 and 9), the movable panel 26 releases the opening 25 through the upper shell 9 and is able to insert the container 2 through this opening 25.

The container 2 inserted in this way reaches the retaining means 24 due to gravity, the retaining means 24 being arranged in the first configuration due to the insertion of the follower foot 30 in the distal stretch 32 of the relative slide 31 and to the action of the auxiliary elastic means 29. The upper radial flange of the container 2 is inserted in the channel and the container 2 rests between the first portion 4 and the second portion 6 (figure 4).

The shuttles 17 are now operated to move the first and second portions 4 and 6 into the operative position (figures 2 and 14).

Due to the interaction of the magnets with the ferromagnetic element (fig. 9), the movement of the first part 4 and/or the second part 6 from the insertion position towards the operating position first causes a movement of the pusher 37 from the second position to the first position. However, when the intermediate position is reached, the actuator element 40 is uncoupled from the actuator portion 39 which has reached the end of its stroke, and it continues to move (fig. 10 and 11).

Furthermore, during closure of the chamber 8, the follower foot 30 slides along the sliding track 31 until it reaches the proximal stretch (fig. 12), causing the guide element 27 to move into the second configuration and release the container 2 in the housing 5.

Moreover, during the closing of the unit 1, the bottom of the container 2 and, if necessary, the lid are pierced (fig. 11 and 12). In particular, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, during the insertion of the container into the housing, the bottom of the container is pressed (by the retaining means and/or the second portion) against the perforating element 44, the perforating element 44 penetrating the bottom and thus creating an aperture allowing the outflow of the beverage. Once the bottom has been perforated and just before the operating position is reached, the end 52 of the shaped body 50 is adjacent to the raised area 53 of the arm (fig. 6). Subsequent relative movement between the second portion 6 and the first portion 4 lifts the end 52 onto the raised region 53 (fig. 7), which consequently causes the shaped body 50 to be separated and thereby disengaged from the perforating element 44 (fig. 13). The perforating element 44, which is now free, is then pushed by the first elastic means 47 towards the inactive position (fig. 14) and is disengaged from the perforated bottom of the capsule 2, through which the beverage can then flow out.

Finally, when the extraction of the container 2 has been completed, the shuttles 17 move the first portion 4 and/or the second portion 6 from the operating position to the insertion position. Thus, the actuator element 40 first slides with respect to the actuator part 39, but in the intermediate position it engages with the actuator part 39 (fig. 16) and from this moment it pushes the pusher 37 from the first position to the second position. The head 38 of the pusher 37 thus acts on the bottom of the container 2, so as to eject the container 2 from the casing 5.

The present invention brings important advantages.

In fact, the bottom perforation device according to the invention guarantees, on the one hand, a certain piercing of the container during the insertion step and, on the other hand, also allows the same quality benefits as described in patent EP 2000063, especially if the perforation device uses a blade.

Finally, it should be noted that the invention is relatively easy to produce and even the costs associated with implementing the invention are not very high.

The invention described above can be modified and varied in a number of ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various parts, may be varied as desired.

Legend:

horizontal unit 1

Container 2

Support structure 3

First part 4

Housing 5

Second part 6

Annular flange 7

Extraction chamber 8

Upper shell 9

Lower shell 10

Slit 11

An elongate arm 12

Water injection device 13

Beverage collecting device 14

Piercing device 15

Perforating device 16

Moving device 17

Moving shaft 18

Crank 19

Outer end 20

Connecting rod 21

Rear end 22

Front end 23

Retaining device 24

Opening 25

Panel 26

Guide element 27

Base 28

Auxiliary elastic device 29

Follower foot 30

Slide rail 31

Distal extension 32

Proximal extension 33

Angled extension 34

Amplifying part 35

Injection device 36

Propeller 37

Head 38

Actuator part 39

Actuator element 40

Magnet 41

Ferromagnetic element 42

Main body 43

Perforating element 44

Blade 45

Hook device 46

First elastic means 47

Base portion 48

Channel 49

Shaped body 50

Hook tooth 51

End 52

Raised region 53

The forming section 54

Second elastic means 55

Claims (11)

1. A horizontal unit for making beverages using containers filled with powdered food substances, the horizontal unit comprising:

a support structure (3);

at least a first portion (4), said first portion (4) being mounted on said supporting structure (3) and forming a housing (5) for receiving a container (2) containing a powdery food substance to be extracted;

a second portion (6), said second portion (6) being mounted on said supporting structure (3) and shaped as an element for closing said casing (5);

at least one of said first portion (4) and said second portion (6) being horizontally movable with respect to the other between an operating position, in which said two portions are coupled and at said housing (5), forming an extraction chamber (8) therebetween, and a container (2) insertion position, said container (2) being able to be retained in said extraction chamber (8); and in the container (2) insertion position said two portions are at a distance and allow the container (2) to be placed therebetween; the two portions (4), (6) being movable relative to each other substantially along an axial line which is parallel to the central axis of the housing (5) and which is disposed substantially horizontally in use;

water injection means (13) and beverage collecting means (14), said water injection means (13) and said beverage collecting means (14) being operatively associated with said chamber (8) for, in use, respectively sending water into said container (2) housed in said chamber (8) and collecting the beverage flowing out from said container (2);

-moving means (17) for the reciprocal movement of said two portions (4), (6), said moving means (17) being mounted between said supporting structure (3) and at least said movable one of said first portion (4) and said second portion (6);

a holding device (24) for holding a container (2), the holding device (24) being inserted between the first part (4) and the second part (6) when the first part (4) and the second part (6) are placed in the insertion position; and

-an ejection device (36), said ejection device (36) being adapted to eject said container (2) from said housing (5) when said first portion (4) and said second portion (6) are moved from said operating position to said insertion position;

the method is characterized in that:

said beverage collecting device (14) comprising perforating means (16) for perforating the bottom of said container (2), the perforating means (16) comprising at least one perforating element (44), said perforating element (44) being movable between an active position, in which, in use, said perforating element (44) can interfere with a container (2) inserted in said housing (5) to perforate it, and an inactive position, in which, with respect to said active position, said perforating element (44) is retracted and in which, in use, said perforating element (44) is at a distance from the bottom of a container (2) inserted in said chamber (8);

said beverage collecting device (14) comprising hooking means (46), said hooking means (46) being operatively associated with said first portion (4) and being switchable between a hooking configuration, in which said hooking means (46) keep said perforating element (44) in said active position, and an unhooking configuration, in which said hooking means (46) allow said perforating element (44) to move away from said active position; when the first portion (4) and the second portion (6) are in the inserted position, the perforation means (16) are in the active position and the hooking means (46) are in the hooking configuration;

said beverage collecting means (14) comprising first elastic means (47), said first elastic means (47) acting operatively on said perforating element (44) to urge said perforating element (44) towards said inactive position;

and, during the movement of the first portion (4) and/or the second portion (6) from the insertion position to the operating position, close to or at the operating position, the second portion (6) switches the hooking means (46) from the hooking configuration to the unhooking configuration;

and, during the movement of the first portion (4) and/or the second portion (6) from the operating position to the insertion position, the second portion (6) moves the perforating element (44) from the inactive position to the active position.

2. Horizontal unit according to claim 1, wherein the perforating element (44) comprises at least one blade (45).

3. Horizontal unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hooking means (46) comprise at least one shaped body (50), the shaped body (50) is elongated along a line transverse to the axial line and comprises a central portion, said central portion comprising at least one hooking tooth (51), said hooking tooth (51) being couplable to said perforating element (44) in said hooking configuration to retain it in this configuration, and two ends (52), the two ends (52) being operatively connected to the second portion (6), the shaped body (50) being between a hooking position corresponding to the hooking configuration and an unhooking position corresponding to the unhooking configuration, is also slidably associated with the first portion (4) according to a sliding line substantially orthogonal to both the axial line and the transverse line.

4. Horizontal unit according to claim 3, wherein the shaped body (50) and/or the perforating element (44) further comprises a shaped portion (54), the shaped portion (54) substantially comprising a surface arranged at an angle to the line of movement of the perforating element (44) between the active position and the inactive position, the perforating element (44) and the shaped body (50) interacting at the shaped portion (54) during the movement of the perforating element (44) from the inactive position to the active position to cause the shaped body (50) to transition from the hooking position to the unhooking position.

5. Horizontal unit according to claim 3, wherein the hooking means (46) further comprise second elastic means (55), the second elastic means (55) acting operatively on the shaped body (50) to urge the shaped body (50) towards the hooking position.

6. The horizontal unit according to claim 3, wherein the second portion (6) comprises two elongated arms (12), the elongated arms (12) being elongated along a line substantially parallel to the axial line and the elongated arms (12) extending at least partially at two opposite sides of the first portion (4) at least when the first portion (4) and the second portion (6) are in the operating position, and each elongated arm (12) interacting with one of the ends (52) of the shaped body (50) to move the shaped body (50) from the hooking position to the unhooking position.

7. Horizontal unit according to claim 6, wherein each end (52) of the shaped body (50) is slidably associated with one of the arms (12), and each arm (12) comprises at least one raised area (53), the raised area (53) being raised according to a line parallel to the sliding line, the raised area (53) being designed to cause the shaped body (50) to move from the hooking position to the unhooking position when it interacts with the end (52) of the shaped body (50).

8. Horizontal unit according to claim 3, wherein the hooking means (46) comprise two said shaped bodies (50) mounted opposite each other along the sliding line and respectively close to each other and at a distance from each other when they are both in the respective positions of hooking and unhooking respectively.

9. Horizontal unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises ejection means (36) to eject said containers (2) from said casing when said first portion (4) and said second portion (6) are moved from said operating position to said insertion position, said ejection means (36) comprising at least one pusher (37), said pusher (37) being slidably associated with said first portion (4) and being equipped with a head (38) positioned at said chamber (8) and with an actuator portion (39) positioned outside said chamber, said pusher (37) being movable between a first position in which said head (38) allows inserting a container (2) into said casing (5) and a second position, the head (38) prevents the insertion of a container (2) into the casing (5), the second portion (6) acts on the actuator portion (39) to push the pusher (37) into the first position, and the perforating element (44) is slidably coupled to the pusher (37) to move relative to the pusher (37) when the perforating element (44) transitions from the active position to the inactive position and the perforating element (44) is moved into the active position by the pusher (37) when the pusher (37) transitions from its own first position to the second position.

10. Horizontal unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first part (4) is fixed relative to the support structure (3), the second part (6) is moved relative to the first part (4), and the holding means (24) is moved together with the second part (6) to insert the container (2) in the housing and subsequently release the container (2) before the first part (4) and the second part (6) reach the operating position.

11. A machine for making beverages by conveying hot water through containers containing powdered food substances, characterized in that it comprises a horizontal unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.