Container-management system for a coffee grinding device

Abstract

A container-management system for a coffee grinding device comprising a container-holder element (42, 42') which accommodates a container (30) and which is movable along an interface (21) of the system, between an insertion position and a working position. The container (30) comprises a plate-shaped cap (33, 33'), provided with a pair of grip elements (33b, 33b') configured to engage respective diametrically opposite portions of an edge of the opening (34) of the container (30), the cap being applicable to and removable from the container (30) according to a sliding direction parallel to the opening and defined by the pair of grip elements (33b, 33b'). On an upper surface (23 c) of the interface (23) a cap receiving seat (23d) is obtained, wherein the cap (33, 33') received within the cap receiving seat (23d) has an upper surface (33c, 33c') substantially coplanar with the upper surface (23c) of the interface (21), and the pair of grip elements (33b, 33b') oriented parallel to a direction of movement of the container-holder element (42, 42') at the position of insertion.

Description

[0001] Container-management system for a coffee grinding device

[0002] The present invention relates to a container-management system for a coffee grinding device, comprising: an interface that may be coupled to a coffee grinding device, wherein the interface supports an inverted container for coffee beans and defines a through hole to form a passage for the coffee beans to fall out of the container; and a shutter closing unit slidable between an opening and a closing position for selectively allowing or blocking a stream of coffee beans through said passage.

[0003] A coffee containing beverage is known to be prepared using ground coffee obtained by means of grinding coffee beans. The beverage is generally obtained by means of extraction, i.e. percolation using pressurized boiling water. In particular, machines for producing coffee containing beverages are known, which are provided with a water container wherefrom, by means of a pump, the water itself is delivered at high pressure to a heating assembly. From the latter, hot water and / or water vapor are obtained, which are used within an extraction unit where they are percolated through the ground coffee in order to produce the coffee containing beverage.

[0004] In order for the beverage to develop the aroma thereof in an optimal manner, it is preferable for the coffee beans to be ground just before the beverage is prepared. In this regard, there are so-called "beans to cup" machines that are capable of both grinding coffee beans and producing a beverage from the coffee thus ground. In such machines it is desirable to be able to vary between different varieties of coffee beans quickly and easily.

[0005] WO 2019 / 228879 Al describes a container-management system of the type defined above, wherein the container-management system is integrated into the coffee beans container. When the container is mounted onto the coffee grinding device, a drive shaft provided within such device couples to a closing unit provided within the container. Another container, possibly containing a different variety of coffee beans, is attached to the coffee grinding device within a storage area and remains available for a possible replacement. This solution entails some complexity at the container level, which complexity is not desirable from a commercial point of view.

[0006] One object of the present invention is to implement a solution that is at least in part capable of overcoming the drawback described above.

[0007] This and other objects are achieved according to the invention with a system of the type initially defined, further comprising a container-holder element which accommodates the container and which is movable along the interface between an insertion position, wherein the container is insertable into and extractable from said container-holder element, and a working position wherein an opening of the container is aligned with said hole; wherein the container comprises a plate-shaped technical cap, provided with a pair of grip elements configured to engage respective diametrically opposite portions of an edge of the opening of the container, said technical cap being applicable onto and removable from the container according to a sliding direction parallel to said opening and defined by said pair of grip elements; wherein a cap receiving seat is formed on an upper surface of the interface, wherein the technical cap received at the cap receiving seat has:

[0008] - an upper surface substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the interface, and

[0009] - said pair of grip elements which are oriented parallel to a direction of movement of the container-holder element at the insertion position, in such a way that the container exiting the insertion position is disengageable from the technical cap and a container entering the insertion position is re-engageable with the technical cap.

[0010] By virtue of this solution, the container may be made in the form of a simple container without further mechanical components that may be marketed in normal commercial establishments such as supermarkets. The technical cap that enables the interaction between the container and the interface may be supplied together with the container, or else supplied with the container-management system. The container may be made available on shelves with a common cap, such as a screw cap, and when used with the container-management system it may be used with the technical cap described above.

[0011] Another advantage is that the container may be inserted or extracted without loss of content, thereby facilitating storage.

[0012] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the detailed description that follows, given purely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container-management system of the multi-container type;

[0014] Figure 2a is an exploded view of the container-management system of Figure 1;

[0015] Figures 2b and 2c are cross-sectional perspective views of the container-management system coupled to a grinding device, wherein the container-management system is shown in two different operating positions;

[0016] Figure 3a is a perspective view of a detail of the container-management system;

[0017] Figure 3b is a perspective view of a detail of the container-management system, coupled to the grinding device;

[0018] Figure 4 is a plan view from below of the container-management system;

[0019] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the container-management system;

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container of the container-management system;

[0021] Figures 7 and 8 are plan views of the container-management system in an opening position and a closing position, respectively;

[0022] Figures 9-1 lb are perspective views showing the container-management system in different operating positions;

[0023] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a container-management system according to a further embodiment;

[0024] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a container that may be used with the containermanagement system in Figure 12;

[0025] Figures 14-17 are perspective views showing the container-management system of Figure 12 in different operating positions.

[0026] With reference to Figures 1 and 2a, a container-management system is indicated as a whole with the reference numeral 20. In the example shown, this is a multi-container system, but it could also be a single container system. The container-management system 20 comprises an interface 21 configured to be coupled to a grinding device 10 (shown partially in Figures 2b and 2c) as part of a so-called "beans to cup" machine, capable of both grinding coffee beans and producing a beverage from the coffee thus ground. According to one embodiment, the coupling between the interface 21 and the grinding device 10 is achieved by means of a support structure (not shown) of the "beans to cup" machine, whereupon the container-management system 20 and the grinding device 10 are mounted. According to another embodiment, the coupling between the interface 21 and the grinding device 10 is direct, and the container-management system 20 is therefore mounted directly onto the grinding device 10.

[0027] The grinding device 10 comprises a device body 11, inside which there are housed those components that are provided for the operation thereof, such as, for example, a grinding member 12, an electric motor, a transmission that dynamically connects the grinding member to the electric motor, and a circuit board for controlling the electric motor (not shown).

[0028] In particular, a grinding chamber 13 is formed inside the device body 11. Such grinding chamber 13 opens at the top towards the outside of the device body 11, through a feed opening 14. It is possible, by means of the feed opening 14, to gravity feed coffee beans to be ground into the grinding chamber 13.

[0029] The grinding member 12 is arranged within the grinding chamber 13, which grinding member is configured to grind coffee beans and to produce a ground coffee powder. The grinding member is at least partially able to rotate about an axis indicated with z in the figures, but the specific constitution thereof is not essential for the purposes of the invention. In the example shown, the grinding member 12 comprises a movable grinding member 12a rotatable about the rotation axis z and a fixed grinding member 12b that is integral to the device body 11. Also visible in Figures 2b and 2c is a grinder shaft 12c that is rotationally integral with the movable grinding member 12a and arranged coaxially with the feed opening 14. The grinding shaft 12c comprises an axial extension 12c'.

[0030] The interface 21 of the container-management system 20 is configured to support at least one coffee beans container 30 and defines a through hole 22 configured to be aligned with the feed opening 14 of the grinding device 10 so as to form a passage for the coffee beans to fall from the container 30 to the grinding chamber 13 of the grinding device 10.

[0031] In the example shown, the interface 21 comprises a main plate 23 and a guide element 24 mounted on the main plate 23. On a lower face 23a of the main plate 23 (see Figure 4) a coupling formation 23b is formed, arranged around the through hole 22, and wherethrough the interface 21 may be coupled to the feed opening of the grinding device. The guide element 24, arranged on an upper face 23 c of the main plate 23, has an edge 24a extending in a circumferential arc, wherealong a guide formation 24b is formed, the object of which will be described below. A pair of cap receiving seats 23d and a blade seat 23e are also obtained on the upper face 23 c of the main plate 23, the purpose of which will be described below.

[0032] The container-management system 20 further comprises a shutter closing unit 25 that may switch between an opening and a closing position in order to selectively allow or block a stream of coffee beans through the passage defined by the through hole 22. In the example shown, the closing unit is a shutter closing unit 25 slidable between an opening and a closing position in order to selectively allow or block a stream of coffee beans through the passage defined by the through hole 22. In the example shown, the shutter closing unit comprises a plurality of shutter blades, in particular two shutter blades indicated with 26 and 27 arranged within the blade seat 23e. The opening position of the shutter blades 26, 27 is shown, for example, in Figures 1, 2c, 3 and 7, whilst the closing position of the shutter blades 26, 27 is shown in Figures 2b and 8.

[0033] The shutter blades 26, 27 are hinged upon the interface 21, more precisely upon the main plate 23, at the same rotation pin 23f which defines a vertical axis of rotation zi of the shutter blades 26, 27 (shown in Figures 7 and 8). The shutter blades 26, 27 have respective attachment edges 26a, 27a which, in the closing position of the shutter blades, abut against each other. Said attachment edges 26a, 27a, in the closing position of the shutter blades 26, 27, cooperate so as to delimit a residual hole 28. To this end, respective notches delimiting complementary portions of the residual hole 28 are obtained upon the attachment edges 26a, 27a. Preferably, the residual hole 28 has a flared edge so as to direct the beans along the direction of fall. As may be seen in Figures 2a, 2b and 3b, by virtue of the axial extension 12c', the grinding shaft 12c extends axially (at least) up to a plane defined by the shutter blades 26, 27. In the closing position of such blades, the residual hole 28, delimited by the respective attachment edges of the shutter blades 26, 27, receives the upper end of the grinding shaft 12c. For clarity, in Figure 3b, one of the shutter blades has been removed.

[0034] The shutter blades 26, 27 have respective peripheral edges 26b, 27b extending in a circumferential arc and slidably coupled to an edge 23g of the blade seat 23e. A male-female coupling between the peripheral edges 26b, 27b of the shutter blades 26, 27 and the edge 23g of the blade seat 23 e holds the shutter blades 26, 27 in the vertical direction.

[0035] A first blade 26 of the pair of shutter blades 26, 27 comprises a first portion 26c delimited above by a first top surface 26d and at least one second portion 26e delimited above by a second top surface 26f that is lowered in relation to the first top surface 26d. A second blade 27 of the pair of shutter blades 26, 27 is able to slide above the second top surface 26f of the first blade 26 and has a top surface 27g that is flush with the first top surface 26d of the first blade 26. Furthermore, the top surface 27g of the second blade 27 and the first top surface 26d of the first blade 26 are arranged so as to be flush with the upper surface 23 c of the main plate 23.

[0036] The container-management system 20 further comprises an actuator 29' operable to move the shutter closing system in relation to the passage defined by the through hole 22. In the example shown, the actuator 29' is an electrically controlled linear actuator which moves the shutter blades 26, 27 by means of a transmission 29.

[0037] To this end, a movable element 29a' of the actuator 29' is fastened to a fork element 29a of the transmission 29, slidingly coupled to the lower surface 23a of the main plate 23. Each of the arms of the fork element 29a is coupled to a relevant rocker arm 29b pivoted to the lower surface 23a of the main plate 23. In particular, each rocker arm 29b comprises a proximal end provided with a pin 29c slidingly coupled to a groove 29d formed on a distal end of a relevant arm of the fork element 29a. Each rocker arm 29b furthermore comprises a distal end provided with a groove 29e slidably coupled to a pin 29f that is integral with a relevant shutter flap 26, 27. The pins 29f of the shutter blades 26, 27 are guided along grooves 23h obtained through the main plate 23. The actuator and the transmission, which allow the shutter blades to move, may be different from those described above. The shutter closing unit may also be different to that described above.

[0038] The coffee beans container 30 essentially comprises a main body 31 and a neck 32 extending from one end of the container 30. An opening 34 is obtained at the neck 32 of the container 30 in such a way as to allow coffee beans to be loaded into the container 30 when the latter is in the upright position, and to allow said coffee beans to be unloaded by gravity out of the container when the container is in the inverted position shown in the figures, wherein the opening of the container is arranged at the lower end of the container 30. According to one embodiment, not shown, the opening for loading and the opening for unloading may be distinct, for example arranged at opposite ends of the container. The example shows a container having a circular cross section. Such shape is not essential to the invention it being possible to have other shapes. The opening 34 of the container 30 is closed by a technical cap 33 fastened to the neck 32 of the container 30. The cap 33 has a plate shape and is configured to be slidingly inserted into a relevant cap receiving seat 23d. To this end, the lateral edges 33a of the cap 33 are slidingly coupled to respective edges 23d’ of the cap receiving seat 23 d. A male-female coupling between the lateral edges 33a of the cap 33 and the edges 23 d’ of the cap receiving seat 23d holds the cap 33 in the vertical direction. The cap 33 is fastened to the neck 32 (or, more generically, to an edge of the opening 34) by means of a pair of grip elements 33b, such as elastic flaps, protruding vertically from the cap 33 and extending in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of extension of the lateral edges 33a of the cap 33. Said elastic flaps 33b engage with ribs 32a obtained on the neck 32 of the container 30, having at least one portion extending in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of extension of the side edges 33a of the cap 33.

[0039] The container-management system 20 may further comprise a container-changing assembly 40. The container-changing assembly 40 comprises a support element 41 mounted on the main plate 23 defining a rotation pin 41a for at least one, and preferably two container-holder elements 42. Each container-holder element 42 comprises a support arm 42a having a radially inner end hinged to the rotation pin 41a, and therefore capable of rotating about a vertical rotation axis Z2 defined by the rotation pin 41a.

[0040] By rotating about the vertical rotation axis Z2, the support arm 42a is able to slide upon the upper surface 23c of the main plate 23. The radially outer end of the support arm 42a has a housing portion 42b, in which a bay 42c is formed that is open radially outwards, and wherein the profile thereof matches the profile of the outer side surface of the main body 31 of the container 30. At the bottom of the bay 42c, the housing portion 42b has a support protrusion 42d that is configured to provide support for a shoulder of the container 30. A pair of elastic teeth 42e, arranged on opposite sides of the bay 42c, is obtained on the support protrusion 42d for snap-fitting the neck 32 of the container 30. Correspondingly, on an inner surface of the inlet 42c, a pair of protruding formations 42g is formed, configured for snapfitting the main body 31 of the container 30. A pair of end extensions 42f arranged on opposite ends of the support protrusion 42 is furthermore obtained on the support protrusion 42d for slidingly coupling to the guide formation 24b of the guide element 24.

[0041] By virtue of the arrangement described above, each container-holder element 42 is capable of completing a circular trajectory between an insertion position, shown in Figures 1 and 7- 10, and a working position (Figures I la and 11b) wherein the container 30 is arranged in alignment with the through hole 22 of the interface 21. An end stop, at the insertion position, is defined by the support element 41. Another end stop, at the working position, is defined by a surface of the support arm 42a of the container holder element 42 that has remained in the insertion position, whereagainst there abuts a corresponding surface of the support arm 42a of the container-holder element 42 that has been conveyed to the working position. The container holder element 42 may be manually moved between the insertion position and the working position. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the movement of the container element 42 may be driven by a dedicated actuator.

[0042] Each container-holder element 42 may be provided with a relevant sensor (not shown) configured to detect the presence of the relevant container 30, for example a micro circuit breaker. Furthermore, each container-holder element 42 may be provided with a container type recognition system, implemented, for example, with a mechanical coupling, optical sensors or radiofrequency identification devices.

[0043] The container-management system 20 further comprises a sensor 45 that is configured to provide a detection signal for indicating that the working position has been reached on the part of one of the container-holder elements 42.

[0044] The figures also show a control lever 51 and related gears 52, 53 by means whereof it is possible to adjust the mutual distance of the grinders of the grinding device. Such elements are not the object of the invention and will not therefore be described further.

[0045] A container 30 provided with a cap 33 is inserted into one of the container-holder elements 42, according to the direction of the arrow A shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 9. The cap 33 is then slid along the relevant cap receiving seat 23d obtained within the interface 21, until the main body 31 of the container 30 engages with the protruding formations 42g, and the neck 32 of the container 30 engages with the elastic teeth 42e (Figure 10). The direction of the arrow A intersects the local direction of movement of the container 30 at the insertion position. In particular, the direction of the arrow A may be orthogonal or oblique with respect to the aforementioned local direction of movement.

[0046] At this point, the container-holder element 42 may be rotated until the working position is reached (Figures I la and 1 lb). At the beginning of such movement, the container 30 disengages from the cap 33 which, due to the fact that the coupling flaps 33b of the cap 33 are arranged parallel to the local direction of movement of the container 30, remains within the relative cap receiving seat 23d (note that in Figures 9-1 lb the cap 33 is slightly different from that of the previous figures: the coupling flaps 33b are in fact connected therebetween in such a way as to define a receiving area in the shape of a bay). The container 30 may then slide with the lower opening 34 thereof substantially in contact with a substantially continuous sliding surface, initially defined by the upper surface of the cap 33, then by the upper surface 23c of the main plate 23, and finally by the top surfaces 27g and 26d of the shutter blades 26, 27 which are in the closing position thereof. Along the entire path the coffee beans are therefore prevented from escaping from the container 30. Once the container-holder element 42 has reached the working position, such state is detected by the sensor 45, which provides a signal authorizing a control unit of the system to activate the actuator 29' in order to convey the shutter blades 26, 27 to the opening position, and to thus perform the dosage of the coffee beans.

[0047] The figures from 12 to 17 show another embodiment of the container-changing assembly, indicated as a whole with the reference numeral 40'. The container-changing assembly 40' comprises at least one, and preferably two container-holder elements 42' slidably mounted on the interface 21. In a similar way to the preceding embodiment, such interface 21 comprises the main plate 23 in which the through hole 22 is formed, and a guide element 24 which is mounted on the main plate 23. The container-holder elements 42' are slidable along a linear guide 24c formed in the guide element 24.

[0048] Each container-holder element 42' has a housing portion 42b' having a cup-shaped portion in which a cavity 42c' is formed, which is open upwards, and wherein the profile thereof matches the profile of the outer side surface of the main body 31 of the container 30. At the bottom of the cavity 42c', the housing portion 42b' has a support protrusion 42d' that is configured to provide support for a shoulder of the container 30.

[0049] As may be seen in Figure 13, the coffee beans container 30 is substantially identical to that shown in the previous embodiment, but the technical cap, indicated with 33', has a slightly different shape. The cap 33' has a plate shape, and is configured to be inserted into a relevant cap receiving seat 23d obtained in an upper surface of the main plate 23 of the interface 21. Such insertion is performed according to an insertion direction A' that is orthogonal to the upper surface of the main plate 23. To this end, the cap 33' has a plan shape that matches the plan shape of the cap receiving seat 23d. Such shapes are non-circular, in such a way that the cap 33' may be positioned in one orientation only. A through opening 42e' is formed in the support protrusion 42d' of the container-holder element 42' in order to allow the cap 33' to access the cap receiving seat 23d. The cap 33' is fastened to the neck 32 (or, more generically, to an edge of the opening 34) by means of a pair of grip elements 33b', such as elastic flaps, that protrude vertically from the cap 33' and extend in a direction parallel to the mounting direction M on the container 30. Said elastic flaps 33b engage with ribs 32a obtained on the neck 32 of the container 30.

[0050] By virtue of the arrangement described above, each container-holder element 42' is capable of completing a linear trajectory between an insertion position, shown in Figures 12, 15 and 17, and a working position (Figure 16) wherein the container 30 is arranged in alignment with the through hole 22 of the interface 21. An end stop, at the insertion position, is defined by an end of the linear guide 24c. Another end stop, at the working position, is defined by a surface of the container-holder element 42’ that has remained in the insertion position, whereagainst there abuts a corresponding surface of the container-holder element 42’ that has been conveyed to the working position. The container-holder element 42’ may be manually moved between the insertion position and the working position. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the movement of the container-holder element 42 may be driven by a dedicated actuator.

[0051] Each container-holder element 42' may be provided with a relevant sensor (not shown) configured to detect the presence of the relevant container 30, for example a micro circuit breaker. Furthermore, each container-holder element 42' may be provided with a system for recognizing the type of container, implemented, for example, using a mechanical coupling, optical sensors or radiofrequency identification devices.

[0052] A container 30 provided with a cap 33’ is inserted into one of the container-holder elements 42', according to the direction of the arrow A shown in Figure 14.

[0053] At this point, the container-holder element 42’ may be linearly moved until the working position is reached (Figure 16). At the beginning of such movement, the container 30 disengages from the cap 33’ which remains in the relative cap receiving seat 23d, by virtue of the fact that the coupling flaps 33b’ of the cap 33’ are arranged parallel to the local direction of movement of the container 30, and by virtue of the fact that a stopping step 24d is interposed between the cap receiving seat 23d and the guide 24c, which stops the cap 33’ and prevents it from following the container 30. The container 30 may then slide with the lower opening 34 thereof substantially in contact with a substantially continuous sliding surface, defined initially by the upper surface 33 c' of the cap 33', then by the upper surface 23 c of the main plate 23, and finally by one or more top surfaces 27g and 26d of the shutter closing unit which is in the closing position. Along the entire path the coffee beans are therefore prevented from escaping from the container 30. Once the container-holder element 42 has reached the working position, such state may be detected by a sensor which provides a signal authorizing a control unit of the system to activate the actuator 29' in order to convey the shutter closing unit to the opening position, and thus to perform the dosage of the coffee beans. According to embodiments which are not shown, the number of containers may be greater than two, and the paths thereof between the respective insertion positions and the working position may be defined by a set of circumferential arcs or linear sections (for example, in a cross-shaped system the ends of the arms of the cross would define respective insertion positions for respective containers, and the intersection point of the arms of the cross would define the working position).

Claims

CLAIMS1. Container-management system for a coffee grinding device, comprising: an interface (21) that may be coupled to a coffee grinding device (10), wherein the interface (21) is configured to support an inverted container (30) for coffee beans and defines a through hole (22) to form a passage for coffee beans to fall from the container (30); a closing unit (25) movable between an opening position and a closing position for selectively allowing or blocking a stream of coffee beans through said passage; a container-holder element (42, 42’) configured to receive the container (30) and movable along the interface (21), between an insertion position, in which the container (30) is insertable into and extractable from said container-carrying element, and a working position in which an opening of the container (30) is aligned with said hole; wherein the container (30) comprises a plate-shaped technical cap (33, 33’) provided with a pair of grip elements (33b, 33b’) configured to engage respective diametrically opposite portions of an edge of the opening (34) of the container (30), said technical cap being applicable onto and removable from the container (30) according to a sliding direction parallel to said opening and defined by said pair of grip elements (33b, 33b’); wherein a cap receiving seat (23d) is formed on an upper surface (23c) of the interface (23), wherein the technical cap (33, 33’) received in the cap receiving seat (23d) has:- an upper surface (33c, 33c’) substantially coplanar with the upper surface (23c) of the interface (21), and- said pair of grip elements (33b, 33b’) oriented parallel to a movement direction of the container-holder element (42, 42’) at the insertion position, in such a way that the container (30) exiting from the insertion position is disengageable from the technical cap (33, 33’) and the container (30) entering the insertion position is re-engageable with the technical cap (33, 33’).

2. Container-management system according to claim 1, wherein the cap receiving seat (23d) has a shape in plan view that matches the shape in plan view of the technical cap (33’), and wherein the container (30) is insertable into the container-holder element (42’) according to a insertion direction orthogonal to the upper surface (23c) of the interface (21).

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the cap receiving seat (23d) has side edges (23d’) slidingly couplable to side edges (33a) of the technical cap (33), and wherein the container (30) is insertable into the container-holder element (42) according to an insertion direction parallel to the upper surface (23 c) of the interface (21) and crossing the movement direction of the container-carrying element (42) at the insertion position.

4. System according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the container-holder element (42, 42’) is slidable along a rectilinear guide (24c) formed on the interface (21).

5. System according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the container-holder element (42) comprises a housing portion (42b) configured to receive the container (30), and a support arm (42a) extending from the housing portion (42b) and having an end hinged to the interface (21), said support arm being rotatable about an axis (z ) orthogonal to the upper surface (23) in such a way as to move the container-holder element (42) along a circular arc.

6. System according to claims 4 or 5 in combination with claim 3, wherein a bay (42c) that is radially or laterally open outwardly is formed in the housing portion (42b), and whose profile matches the profile of an outer side surface of the container (30).

7. System according to claim 6, wherein at the bottom of the bay (42c), the housing portion (42b) has a support protrusion (42d), configured to provide support for a shoulder of the container (30).

8. System according to claim 7, wherein a pair of elastic teeth (42e) arranged on opposite sides of the bay (42c) is formed on the support protrusion (42d) for snap-fitting the neck (32) of the container (30).

9. System according to any of the claims from 6 to 8, wherein a pair of protruding formations (42g) configured for snap-fitting the main body (31) of the container (30) is formed on an inner surface of the bay (42c).

10. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the closing unit is a shutterclosing unit (25) slidable between an opening position and a closing position for selectively allowing or blocking a stream of coffee beans through said passage.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the closing unit (25) com- prises a top surface (27g, 26d) arranged flush with the upper surface (23c) of the interface(23).

12. Coffee beans container couplable to a container-management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (30) comprises a plate-shaped tech- nical cap (33, 33’) provided with a pair of grip elements (33b, 33b’) configured to engage respective diametrically opposite portions of an edge of the opening (34) of the container (30), said technical cap being applicable onto and removable from the container (30) according to a sliding direction parallel to said opening and defined by said pair of grip elements (33b, 33b’).

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