DE102016121332B3 - CAPSULE FILLER AND CAPSULE UNIT - Google Patents

Abstract

There are known machines for the preparation of hot drinks, with which a product powder is poured with hot water, which can be purchased in a capsule. However, these capsules are expensive and cause a significant amount of waste. In addition, they are inflexible insofar as only products provided by the manufacturer can be brewed with the machines. The invention therefore proposes a device for sealing product capsules and an associated capsule system, which is an easy-to-use alternative to the known capsules and in particular reduces the amount of waste due to the use of reusable capsules. For this purpose, a product capsule and a capsule lid between a ram and a support pin are mounted within a multi-part housing and the housing parts against the force of a housing spring so compressed that the product capsule is closed with the capsule lid to a capsule unit.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for connecting product capsules and capsule caps to a capsule unit, and to a corresponding capsule unit comprising a product capsule and a capsule lid.

It has long been known in the prior art to pack product powder for the production of products such as, in particular, coffee or cocoa, tea or similar hot drinks in capsules, which are each sufficient for one serving, usually a cup. These capsules are used in specially provided for this coffee machines and machines, which have a special manufacturer-dependent shaped capsule holder. As part of the insertion process, the capsules are opened on opposite sides and brewed with hot water, so that the flavors on the downstream side with the water from the capsule can escape again.

In miniature and in a single serving size, these systems thus simulate the hitherto customary coffee machines, in which a filter chamber was designed with a filter bag and into which coffee powder was introduced. By filling the filter chamber with hot water, coffee was also produced here, with the filter bag preventing the escape of coffee powder into the cup.

In contrast to this, it is also possible with the capsules to produce coffee mix drinks with the addition of milk powder, sugar, tea and aromatic substances. The intriguing simplicity of inserting a finished capsule into the machine, adding water, switching it on, and then simply disposing of the spent capsule has led to the great success of such systems by reducing effort and allowing for a wide variety of choices.

However, the disadvantages of such systems are also obvious. First of all, it must be stated that the capsules represent a high waste load due to their unique usability. The second point is the high cost. The cheapest way to buy fresh coffee is to buy the unmilled, roasted coffee beans in larger quantities, for example, one kilogram per pack. However, this possibility does not exist in the known systems, because the capsules are not customizable. In addition to the high cost of small amounts of coffee, the fact remains that the capsules are not freshly ground coffee, but pre-ground coffee, which is far less aromatic.

Against this background, the present invention has the object to provide a device for connecting product capsules and capsule capsules to a capsule unit, which allows easy handling, avoids waste and allows the processing of freshly ground coffee in coffee machines for capsule use. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object to provide a capsule unit for use with such a device.

This is achieved by a device for connecting product capsules and capsule caps to a capsule unit with the features of claim 1. Such a device can be further developed with the features of claims 2 to 13. Furthermore, this is achieved by a capsule unit having the features of the independent claim 14.

The invention provides that a device for connecting product capsules and capsule caps has a housing, which form a lower housing part and an upper housing part. Further housing parts can be formed within the scope of the invention. Between the lower housing part and the upper housing part a housing spring is interposed, which allows to move the upper housing part to the lower housing part. This will usually be done by a mechanical pressure on the upper housing part, which is thereby moved to the lower housing part.

The upper housing part in this case a pressure ram is assigned pressure-resistant, which also moves in the course of this movement to the lower housing part, while in the lower housing part, a support pin is arranged in a defined, pressure-resistant position. Between the support bolt and the ram a capsule holder is arranged, which holds a product capsule, which is supported directly or indirectly by the support bolt. Above the capsule holder, a lid holder is provided, which can position a capsule lid between the capsule holder and the pressing die over a product capsule accommodated in the capsule holder.

Now, if a capsule lid is received in the lid holder and arranged with this over a filled with a product powder product capsule in the capsule holder, it is moved by a pressure on the upper housing part against the spring force of the housing spring on the lower housing part, wherein the press ram against the capsule lid press and press this on the edge of the product capsule. As a result, the capsule lid gets into clamping, frictional or frictional contact with the product capsule and is so connected to this releasably but captively. The Meanwhile, the product capsule can not escape the applied force because it is held on the lower side by the support bolt of the lower case. The resulting capsule unit can then be removed and used in a coffee machine.

The product capsule and the capsule lid consist of a plastic which is washable and food safe. The usual, punched from the coffee machine holes for feeding water are already introduced in advance in product capsule and capsule lid. Due to the immediate use, it does not depend on an airtight closure, which is not guaranteed by this.

Such a device thus makes it possible to fill reusable product capsules individually and then close them by means of the device, so that a directly usable capsule unit is formed. Due to the reusability of the capsules, unnecessary waste is avoided. The parts can be reused several thousand times. Since it does not depend in detail on the filled products, cheaper coffee products can be used, which can be bought and processed in larger containers.

To simplify handling, the housing, in particular the upper housing part, may be assigned a product container, which may contain a larger amount of the product to be dispensed into the product capsules. This eliminates a cumbersome manual filling of the individual capsules prior to their insertion into the device. In addition to the product container, this can be equipped with means for portioning the product powder and a product chute so that a suitably portioned amount of product powder can be introduced via the chute into the empty product capsule held in the capsule holder. Only in the next step, the capsule lid is placed on the capsule holder and in particular the just-filled product capsule in position and sealed according to the invention. For this purpose, the press ram can be designed such that the tubular product chute opens into the middle of the area of the press ram, so that the press ram can be formed like a terminal ram edge of the product chute. It eliminates the product chute and the press die for the filling and the pressing process to bring out of mutual engagement, the product chute with the terminal ram can rather remain permanently in position over the capsule holder.

After filling the capsule, however, a capsule lid between the punch and capsule holder with now filled product capsule must be inserted before pressing. In order to avoid manual intervention here, the lid holder can have means for inserting a capsule cover between the press ram and the capsule holder for this purpose.

Such means for inserting a capsule lid can be designed differently. In particular, the cover holder may be associated with a slide which, by means of a suitable mechanism, displaces a capsule lid out of a storage position out of engagement with a closed position over the filled product capsule. It may initially be in the slider to a sliding mechanism, which can be triggered by an externally accessible, attached to the housing wall handle. The handle can turn back manually or via a return spring in the starting position. In the starting position, another, stored capsule cover can then come into the engagement of the slider to load it for the next operation.

Alternatively, the slider can also be designed so that the pressure load of the housing spring, which is performed manually for the pressing operation, triggers the slide. This eliminates a step that can not be forgotten and a repetition of the pressing process in a forgetting the presentation of a new capsule cover can be avoided.

Finally, a drive may be provided which presents a capsule lid in advance of the pressing operation and feeds these via a product storage or via a supply opening provided on the outside of the housing.

By storing a plurality of capsule lid in a bearing part of the lid holder, a capsule lid does not have to be supplied with each operation. With some advantage, the bearing member accommodates as many capsule caps as can be accommodated in the capsule holder product capsules.

For this purpose, the capsule holder can preferably be constructed as a carousel, in which a number of empty product capsules are accommodated. These are then successively moved into position, filled and closed with a capsule lid by several pressing operations are performed.

This is particularly preferably possible if the pressing operation and the associated pressure on the housing suspension via a suitable mechanism causes the further rotation of such a carousel. In such a configuration, several product capsules can be filled in succession by several actuations one behind the other and then taken out together at the end.

Alternatively and preferably, it is provided that the designed as a carousel product holder is arranged in a drawer of the housing, wherein the carousel is further rotated by a rotational position with each opening of the drawer. This means, for example, in the case of a carousel for six product capsules, that the carousel is rotated by 60 ° with each opening or closing operation. With more rotational positions, the angle decreases, with fewer rotational positions it increases accordingly.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which both the capsule holder, and the lid holder are arranged in drawers so that they can be easily pulled out of the housing and removed the filled capsule units and new product capsules and capsule lid can be used. It is sufficient if the drawers can be pulled out only partially, but it makes sense to make them completely removable to clean the drawers. Since the capsules may vary depending on the manufacturer for different systems, the invention provides that the drawers can be replaced to adapt the device according to the invention to different capsule sizes.

To further supplement the function of a device according to the invention, it may finally be useful to use a grinder between the product container and the product chute, if present. This can be operated via a drive and connected via an operating switch on the housing. Advantageously, a pressure on the actuation switch causes the grinding of exactly one portion for a product capsule. For this purpose, no finished product powder, but a raw product such as coffee beans filled in the product container. These can be fed through a hopper to the grinder and over the duration of operation of the grinder, the portion size can be adjusted. The resulting product powder can then be added to the product chute via an outlet of the grinder as previously described.

Also included in the present invention are suitable product capsules and capsule caps which can be combined to form a capsule unit. They are made of washable plastic, with the capsule lid and product capsule clipping together like a household can. In the capsule lid inlet openings are provided, via which the capsule unit can be charged with the filled product powder in the coffee machine with hot water, in the bottom of the product capsule outlet openings are provided, through which the hot water, which has dissolved the product powder and associated with this who can leave capsule again. The inlet and outlet openings correspond to the otherwise introduced by the coffee machines openings that are stamped into conventional capsules.

The capsule lids may additionally be associated with flavors with aroma substances, which can preferably be fixed inwardly to the capsule lid. As a result, additional flavors such as Amaretto and the like can be introduced into the capsule unit and expand the possibilities of using the device according to the invention. Such an insert pad has water- and / or vapor-permeable walls on both sides and is thus permeable to the water which is passed through the capsule, so that the water passed through the product capsule can take the aromas out of the insert pad.

Disposable lids can also be combined with the reusable product capsule, which directly integrates a pillow with flavors.

The invention described above will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment.

Show it

1 a device for connecting a product capsule with a capsule lid to a capsule unit in a perspective view obliquely from above,

2 a capsule unit in an open and a closed position in a lateral cross-sectional view,

3 the device according to 1 in a side cross-sectional view,

4 the device according to 1 in a frontal cross-sectional view,

5 a lid drawer with a manual slide release in a plan view,

6 an alternative lid drawer with a mechanically automated slide release in a plan view,

7 a variant of the device according to 1 with an outside automatic feed for the capsule lid in a front view,

8th a capsule drawer in the open state in a top plan view,

9 the capsule drawer according to 8th in the closed state in a top plan view

10 the capsule drawer according to 8th in an open state in a bottom plan view, as well

11 the capsule drawer according to 8th in the closed state in a bottom plan view.

1 shows a device for connecting a product capsule with a capsule lid to a capsule unit. A housing 1 is for this purpose in an upper housing part 2 and a lower housing part 3 divided, wherein the lower housing part 3 in the present case is more or less a pedestal. A product container 11 inside the case 1 is via a filling opening 4 filled with roasted coffee beans by pressing the operating button 7 ground and thus one in a capsule drawer 6 recorded product capsule 8th filled. Then it's about a mechanical slider 26 a capsule lid 9 into a position above the now filled product capsule 8th brought. By applying pressure to the top of the case 1 becomes the upper housing part 2 on the lower housing part 3 too moved and the capsule lid pushed into position 9 with the underlying, filled product capsule 8th connected to a capsule unit. About the capsule drawer 6 Now the capsule unit can be removed and used in a coffee machine.

This to the functional sequence. In the following, the individual functions are to be considered more closely with reference to the following drawings.

First, in 2 the product capsule 8th considered, which cup-shaped is formed from a washable, food safe plastic. At its bottom side, the product capsule 8th not shown here outlet openings, which are otherwise punched by coffee machines for the capsule use in the conventional capsules. At the top is the product capsule 8th an edge on which a contact surface for supporting the capsule lid 9 represents. The edge of the wall of the product capsule 8th is formed beaded, so that this in a corresponding recess of the capsule lid 9 intervene and can be included in this non-positively. In the right-hand illustration of this mutual engagement is shown, which is non-positively but solvable. This adhesion is achieved by a compression of the capsule lid 9 with the product capsule 8th prepared as described below.

3 shows a lateral cross section through the device according to 1 , About the filling opening 4 the coffee beans are placed in the product container 11 filled and can be kept there in the unmilled state. If a product capsule to be filled for use, is first by an operation of the not visible here operating switch 7 an engine 24 set in motion, which is a grinder 13 drives. The grinder is removed from the product container 11 over a funnel 12 fed and operated until a predetermined portion of coffee powder is produced, which over the life of the grinder 13 is determined. By extending the operating time, the portion size can be increased, reduced by shortening. The ground coffee beans are delivered via a product outlet 14 Issued laterally and fall into a product slide 15 over a capsule-mounted capsule 8th ends. In this drawing, the outlet openings of the product capsule 8th drawn.

At this point begins for the user of the second operation step. On the filled but still open product capsule 8th is now by pressing a handle 17 on a lid drawer 5 a capsule lid 9 pushed from a storage position in a closed position. In detail, this process is again in 5 described in more detail, alternatives to this result from the 6 and 7 ,

This is followed by the actual connection between the product capsule 8th with the capsule lid 9 , The product slide 15 , which above the product capsule 8th ends, ends in a press stamp 16 , in the middle of the area the product chute 15 forms an outlet opening. By a mechanical pressure on the top of the case 1 becomes the upper housing part 2 under compression of a housing suspension 10 on the lower housing part 3 to move, with a support bolt below the product capsule 8th prevents it from going down. The support bolt 21 Here is a thread height adjustable in the lower housing part 3 screwed in so that the press force can be adjusted by the height adjustment. Between the bottom of the product capsule 8th and the support bolt 21 is a support stamp 22 interposed, which the force of the support pin 21 transfers. The support stamp 22 is with the capsule drawer 6 retractable and retractable while the support bolt 21 fixed. The support punch will be in position over the support bolt 21 first a piece in the direction of a passage opening 23 the pressure of the press stamp 16 Dodge, but after engagement with the support bolt 21 countered, leaving the punch 1 then product capsule 8th and capsule lid 9 pressed together until a capsule unit is formed from the two parts. After the pressing process, the pressure on the upper housing part 2 relaxed again and he returns due to the spring force of the housing suspension 10 back to his original position.

Finally, the capsule drawer 6 opened and removed the filled capsule unit. When subsequently pushing the capsule drawer 6 becomes a subsequent empty product capsule 8th spent in the filling position. The mechanism used for this purpose is in the 8th to 11 closer look.

4 shows another section through the housing 1 at which the grinding process is to be illuminated again. The grinder 13 is by the engine 24 driven, which via the operating switch 7 is started. The grinder is filled 13 here from a product container 11 from which the unmilled coffee product is fed through a funnel 12 in the grinder 13 incident. About a set screw 25 can the grinder 13 can be adjusted so that coarser or finer is ground. The finer the ground, the stronger the coffee becomes, as it becomes more soluble in water due to its relatively larger surface area.

5 shows a first variant of a lid drawer 5 in which a handle 17 the reserved capsule lid 9 puts in position. The product capsule to be filled 8th is intended under a floor opening 27 the lid drawer 5 above, the product slide ends 15 with the terminal punch 16 , By a lateral displacement of the handle 17 to the right side of the picture, so along the upper outer wall of the drawer, with the handle 17 also the slider 26 moved, which is the bottom capsule lid 9 takes along and over the bottom opening 27 pushes. By a centering wall prevents the capsule lid 9 with too much momentum over the bottom opening 27 is postponed. A sensor 29 indicates if no capsule lid 9 more in the lid drawer 5 is available. Appropriate sensors can also detect the presence of product capsules 8th at the filling position of the carousel 19 in the capsule drawer 6 or of coffee beans in the product container 11 to capture.

A second variant of the lid drawer 5 is in 6 shown where a displacement of the slider 26 with the compression of the housing suspension 10 accompanied. The slider 26 is pivotally mounted here and pushes a capsule lid as it moves 9 until it stops at the centering wall 28 in the position above the just filled product capsule 8th , Using a slider spring 30 the slider is moved between both positions. The handle 17 is in this embodiment without function and only serves to pull out the lid drawer 5 out of the case 1 ,

Another option, the capsule lid 9 to feed, as in 7 shown in a feed from the outside, via a feed opening 31 in the lid drawer 5 , Here, an automatic feeder may be provided which the capsule lid 9 through the feed opening and positioned.

8th to 11 describe the function of the capsule drawer 6 which is a carousel 19 for receiving the individual product capsules 8th assigned. The carousel 19 is a bottom of the capsule drawer 6 assigned to rotate about an axis, wherein on the underside a gear 33 is arranged, which is the rotation of the carousel 19 causes. Also is the carousel 19 mounted height adjustable, so the distance of the product capsule 8th to the support stamp 22 and the press stamp 16 to adjust and so to fine-tune the forces acting. The carousel has in the in 8th shown arrangement six positions, each containing a product capsule 8th is included. below one of the positions is the support stamp 22 arranged, which is in the closed state of the capsule drawer 6 on the support bolt 21 of the lower housing part 3 supported. The carousel points between the positions where the product capsules 8th are arranged, centering on which alternatively with a centering ram 20 can cooperate, which is arranged inside the housing. In the situation shown, the capsules are not rotated in a defined position, but arbitrarily.

9 shows the inserted position of the capsule drawer 6 in which the carousel 19 is aligned with exact position. For this purpose, the centering ram engages 20 in a centering bead 32 between two product capsules 8th and thus aligns the carousel straight. This is important to the capsule lid 9 clean on a product capsule 8th align and the two parts using the press ram 16 to be able to compress and connect with it.

10 shows the capsule drawer 6 again in the open position from below. Under the bottom of the capsule drawer 6 is a gear 33 arranged, whose axis is identical to the axis of rotation of the carousel. A springy first pawl 34 prevents the gear from turning in the wrong direction, allowing one capsule after the other to be removed. An actuator arm connected to the housing 37 has a rigid driver, which will now turn the gear on the right when inserting what the first pawl 34 allowed and the rotation releases in this direction.

This position is in 11 shown. The driver 36 is due to the insertion of the capsule drawer 6 on the gear 33 has been pushed past, being temporarily with the teeth of the gear 33 engaged. Now a second pawl engages 35 in the gear 33 and prevents together with the first pawl 34 any major movement of the gear 33 , The centering ram 20 does the finer alignment on the top with the carousel 19 and its centering beads 32 , When you open the drawer again, the on the actuator arm 37 attached elements in turn slip through the gear while the pawl 34 prevents rotation. Thus, a limited rotation takes place only when pushing the capsule drawer 6 ,

Thus described above is a device for connecting a product capsule with a capsule lid to a capsule unit, which is reusable and versatile. With additional embodiments, such a device can be expanded to a complete coffee grinder with capsule filling and closure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 casing

2

 Upper housing part

3

 lower housing part

4

 filling

5

 lid drawer

6

 capsule drawer

7

 actuating switch

8th

 product capsule

9

 capsule cover

10

housing suspension

11

product container

12

funnel

13

grinder

14

product outlet

15

product slide

16

press die

17

handle

18

lidholder

19

carousel

20

Zentrierstößel

21

support bolts

22

support props

23

Through opening

24

engine

25

screw

26

pusher

27

bottom opening

28

centering wall

29

sensor

30

slider suspension

31

feed

32

Zentriersicke

33

gear

34

first pawl

35

second pawl

36

takeaway

37

actuating arm

Claims (16)

Device for connecting product capsules ( 8th ) and capsule capsules ( 9 ) to a capsule unit comprising a housing ( 1 ), which has a lower housing part ( 3 ) and one with the interposition of a housing suspension ( 10 ) above the upper housing part ( 2 ), wherein the lower housing part ( 3 ) a support bolt ( 21 ) for supporting a product capsule accommodated in a capsule holder ( 8th ) and the upper housing part ( 2 ) a press die ( 16 ) for pressing a means of a lid holder ( 18 ) capsule lid positioned over the capsule holder ( 9 ) to the upper edge of a product capsule ( 8th ) are each assigned pressure-resistant, so that at a pressure load of the housing suspension ( 10 ) the product capsule ( 8th ) with the capsule lid ( 9 ) is connected to a capsule unit. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) a product container ( 11 ), wherein between the product container ( 11 ) and the capsule holder a tubular product chute ( 15 ) and means for portioning the product powder are associated and the tubular product chute ( 15 ) at its end facing the capsule holder with the press ram ( 16 ) connected is. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lid holder ( 18 ) Means for inserting a capsule lid ( 9 ) between the press punches ( 16 ) and the capsule holder. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the lid holder ( 18 ) a slider ( 26 ) for moving a capsule lid ( 9 ) is assigned from a storage position to a closed position. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the slider ( 26 ) by means of a manually or by a return spring resettable handle ( 17 ) is triggered. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the slider ( 26 ) by the pressure load of the housing suspension ( 10 ) is triggered. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lid holder ( 18 ) an automatic trigger for supplying capsule lids ( 9 ) from within or from outside the housing ( 1 ) having. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the lid holder ( 18 ) as a bearing for several capsule lids ( 9 ) is configured. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that between the product container ( 11 ) and the product slide ( 15 ) a grinder ( 13 ) is interposed, which is electrically operated and is simultaneously used over a runtime adjustment as a means for portioning the product powder. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule holder as a carousel ( 19 ) for receiving a plurality of product capsules ( 8th ) is trained. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the carousel ( 19 ) at a pressure load of the housing suspension ( 10 ) is further rotated from one position to an adjacent position. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the carousel ( 19 ) upon opening or closing of a capsule drawer receiving the capsule holder ( 6 ) is further rotated from one position to an adjacent position. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lid holder ( 18 ) and the capsule holder individually or together in one or more of the housing ( 1 ) at least partially withdrawable drawers ( 5 . 6 ) are arranged.  Capsule unit for use with a device according to one of the preceding claims, consisting of a product capsule, which is formed from a plastic and at least one bottom, centrally disposed opening and a capsule lid, product capsule and capsule lid via a non-positive connection and / or clamping connection releasably to each other are connectable. Capsule unit according to claim 14, characterized in that the capsule lid 9 is made of a plastic and has at least one central opening. Capsule unit according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the capsule lid 9 an insert pad with flavoring is assigned fixed or detachable.

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