Capsule dispensing device

{
  "publication_number": "US2018141761A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Capsule dispensing device",
  "abstract": "A cartridge dispenser (1) has: a receptacle (10) delimiting a cavity (10 ′) for storing cartridges (2); a cartridge outlet (11) for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from said cartridges (2), the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; and a cartridge transfer device (12,13,14) for transferring cartridges (2) from the cavity (10 ′) to the cartridge outlet (11). The cavity (10 ′) is so dimensioned that cartridges (2) can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations. The transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges (2) to the outlet (11) via an orientation-discrimination passage (15) which ensures that the cartridges (2) are delivered one at the time to the outlet (11) and that each cartridge (2,2 a) that is delivered to the outlet (11) is in the predetermined orientation at the outlet (11).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A cartridge dispenser having: a receptacle defining a cavity for storing cartridges; a cartridge outlet for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from the cartridges, the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; a cartridge transfer device for transferring cartridges from the cavity to the cartridge outlet; the cavity is so dimensioned that cartridges can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations; and the transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges to the outlet via an orientation-discrimination passage which ensures that the cartridges are delivered one at the time to the outlet and that each cartridge that is delivered to the outlet is in the predetermined cartridge orientation at the outlet, such as a passage which for each cartridge to be delivered: maintains the cartridge orientation of the cartridge to be delivered to the outlet, when the cartridge when close to or reaching the passage is in itself in a proper position and orientation for being delivered to the outlet in the predetermined cartridge orientation; or adjusts the cartridge orientation and/or position of the cartridge or rejects the cartridge to the bulk of cartridges in the cavity, when the cartridge when close to or reaching the passage is not in itself in a proper position or orientation for being delivered to the outlet in the predetermined cartridge orientation. 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the delivery conveyor is associated with a least one delivery guide for guiding cartridges inside the cavity to the delivery conveyor. 3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the orientation-discrimination passage is defined by a window that is so dimensioned as to allow only one cartridge to pass therethrough at a time. 4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the orientation-discrimination passage is associated with or comprises or is defined by a return conveyor that is configured to move within the cavity away from the passage cartridges that are close to or reaching the passage and that are improperly oriented or positioned to pass through the passage. 5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the return conveyor has a part facing a part of the delivery conveyor and moving in opposition thereto. 6. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the return conveyor is associated with a return guide configured to guide cartridges moved away from the orientation-discrimination passage by the return conveyor back towards the delivery conveyor. 7. The machine of claim 4, wherein the return conveyor comprises: at least one conveyor selected from the group consisting of a belt conveyor, plate conveyor, a disc conveyor, roll conveyor, chain conveyor, screw conveyor and a cylinder conveyor; and/or a transport friction surface or friction vibrating surface for driving cartridges by friction and/or or transport buckets for driving cartridges in corresponding conveyor seats. 8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the outlet has a dispensing opening through which cartridges are driven or made available to outside the dispenser in the dispensing orientation. 9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the outlet has a guide arrangement, along which cartridges are guided to outside the dispenser in the dispensing orientation. 10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the delivery conveyor is configured to drive each cartridge along the orientation-discrimination passage and the outlet. 11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the delivery conveyor comprises: at least one conveyor selected from the group consisting of a belt conveyor, plate conveyor, a disc conveyor, a roll conveyor, a chain conveyor, a screw conveyor and a cylinder conveyor; and/or a transport friction surface or friction vibrating surface for driving cartridges by friction and/or or transport buckets for driving cartridges in corresponding conveyor seats. 12. A combination of a dispenser having: a receptacle defining a cavity for storing cartridges; a cartridge outlet for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from the cartridges, the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; a cartridge transfer device for transferring cartridges from the cavity to the cartridge outlet; the cavity is so dimensioned that cartridges can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations; and the transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges to the outlet via an orientation-discrimination passage which ensures that the cartridges are delivered one at the time to the outlet and that each cartridge that is delivered to the outlet is in the predetermined cartridge orientation at the outlet, such as a passage which for each cartridge to be delivered: maintains the cartridge orientation of the cartridge to be delivered to the outlet, when the cartridge when close to or reaching the passage is in itself in a proper position and orientation for being delivered to the outlet in the predetermined cartridge orientation; or adjusts the cartridge orientation and/or position of the cartridge or rejects the cartridge to the bulk of cartridges in the cavity, when the cartridge when close to or reaching the passage is not in itself in a proper position or orientation for being delivered to the outlet in the predetermined cartridge orientation and a plurality of cartridges in the cavity of the receptacle, in which the cartridges are stored in bulk at random capsule orientations in the cavity of the receptacle for their dispensing in the predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation by the cartridge outlet upon their transfer, one at the time, by the cartridge transfer device configured to displaces each cartridge by the delivery conveyor to the outlet via an orientation-discrimination passage which ensures that each cartridge that is delivered to the outlet is in the predetermined cartridge orientation at the outlet. 13. A method of operating a dispenser having a receptacle defining a cavity for storing cartridges; a cartridge outlet for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from the cartridges, the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; a cartridge transfer device for transferring cartridges from the cavity to the cartridge outlet; the cavity is so dimensioned that cartridges can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations; and the transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges to the outlet via an orientation-discrimination passage which ensures that the cartridges are delivered one at the time to the outlet and that each cartridge that is delivered to the outlet is in the predetermined cartridge orientation at the outlet, such as a passage which for each cartridge to be delivered: maintains the cartridge orientation of the cartridge to be delivered to the outlet, when the cartridge when close to or reaching the passage is in itself in a proper position and orientation for being delivered to the outlet in the predetermined cartridge orientation; or adjusts the cartridge orientation and/or position of the cartridge or rejects the cartridge to the bulk of cartridges in the cavity, when the cartridge when close to or reaching the passage is not in itself in a proper position or orientation for being delivered to the outlet in the predetermined cartridge orientation to dispense cartridges, comprising: storing cartridges in bulk at random capsule orientations in the cavity of the receptacle; transferring to the cartridge outlet cartridges, one at the time, by the cartridge transfer device that displaces each cartridge by the delivery conveyor to the outlet via an orientation-discrimination passage which ensures that each cartridge that is delivered to the outlet is in the predetermined cartridge orientation at the outlet; and dispensing by the cartridge outlet each cartridge in the predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation. 14 - 15. (canceled)"
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a cartridge-dispensing device, the cartridge containing at least one beverage ingredient to be supplied to beverage preparation machines for preparing a beverage. For the purpose of the present description, a “beverage” is meant to include any liquid food, such as tea, coffee, hot or cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc.... A “cartridge” is meant to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredient, such as a flavoring ingredient, within an enclosing packaging of any material, in particular an airtight packaging, e.g. plastic, aluminium, recyclable and/or biodegradable packagings, and of any shape and structure, including soft pods or rigid capsules containing the ingredient. The cartridge may contain an amount of ingredient for preparing a single beverage serving or a plurality of beverage servings.\n\nBeverage preparation machines have been known for a number of years. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,472 discloses a water circulation system between a water reservoir and a hot water or vapour distribution chamber of an espresso machine. The circulation system includes a valve, metallic heating tube and pump that are connected together and to the reservoir. A beverage preparation machine typically includes a housing containing a beverage processing module and a water supply, e.g. a water tank, in fluid communication with the beverage processing module.",
  "cpc": [
    "A47J 31/3642",
    "B65G 47/256",
    "G07F 11/44"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47J 31/36",
    "B65G 47/256",
    "G07F 11/44"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "NESTEC SA"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "CAMIER NICOLAS",
    "GAVILLET GILLES",
    "GILLE JEAN-CLAUDE",
    "HUYNH ISABELLE",
    "JARISCH CHRISTIAN",
    "MONTVENOUX GAUTIER",
    "PERETTI LIONEL"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-06-17",
  "publication_date": "2018-05-24",
  "priority_date": "2015-06-23",
  "application_number": "US-201615573676-A",
  "family_id": "53488218",
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}