US 11,925,286 B2
System for producing beverages from single-serve capsules
Andrea Castellani, Valbrembo (IT)
Assigned to SAGA COFFEE S.P.A., Valbrembo (IT); and KONINKLIJKE DOUWE EGBERTS, Utrechet (NL)
Appl. No. 17/057,800
Filed by SAGA COFFEE S.P.A., Valbrembo (IT); and KONINKLIJKE DOUWE EGBERTS B.V., Utrechet (NL)
PCT Filed May 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/054447
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 23, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/229670, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 102018000005819 (IT), filed on May 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0204749 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 31/36 (2006.01); A47J 31/40 (2006.01); A47J 31/44 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/3633 (2013.01) [A47J 31/407 (2013.01); A47J 31/4407 (2013.01); A47J 31/469 (2018.08)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for producing beverages from single-serve capsules, the system comprising:
a capsule including a cup-shaped container having an outer annular flange and closed by a lid welded to the outer annular flange; and
a brewing assembly including a pressurized water injection assembly and a beverage extraction assembly aligned along an axis and relatively movable between an open configuration, in which the pressurized water injection assembly and the beverage extraction assembly define a capsule loading space therebetween, and a closed configuration, in which the pressurized water injection assembly and the beverage extraction assembly are arranged one against the other and define a brewing chamber for the capsule therebetween;
wherein the pressurized water injection assembly includes a cup that is arranged with a free edge thereof towards the beverage extraction assembly, and is mounted to move between an inoperative backward position and an operative forward position, in which, during operation, the cup houses said capsule and the free edge either engages or is arranged close to the outer annular flange of the capsule;
wherein the extraction assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder including a fixed cylindrical body and a piston that includes a head portion facing the pressurized water injection assembly, and is axially slidably mounted in the cylindrical body to axially slide between a normal backward position and an extracted position, in which, the head portion is compressed against the free edge of the cup arranged in the operative forward position with an axial force such as to couple the outer annular flange and the free edge in a fluid-tight manner; and
wherein the free edge of the cup has a thickness, measured radially, and a diametral size are so sized that the free edge engages the outer annular flange only at annular area of the outer annular flange arranged close to an outer circumferential edge of the outer annular flange, so that said annular area is arranged in a radially outer position to any sealing element of the capsule associated with the outer annular flange.