Beverage capsule recycler

Abstract

A device for separating beverage capsules, in particular coffee, comprises a base unit and a pusher. The base unit has a face with an aperture for receiving a used capsule and the pusher comprises a projection sized to fit within the aperture, which has first and second support surfaces to enable different capsule sizes to be inverted. In use the pusher inverts the capsule enabling the separation of the contents of the capsule from the used capsule.

Description

[0001] Beverage Capsule Recycler

[0002] The invention relates to devices for assisting in the recycling of single-serve beverage capsules.

[0003] Powered espresso machines are well known. The conventional espresso machine comprises a water chamber, a heating element adapted to heat the water to around 95-98 C, which is then pumped under high pressure of 15 to 19 bar to a filter holder or portafilter. Lower pressure systems also exist. The filter holder typically comprises a handle portion and a holder portion provided with two or three lugs that are adapted to engage in the installed position with the machine brewhead to where the water is pumped. The holder portion is adapted to receive a filter, which is usually a metal bowl with a number of perforations through its bottom. In use, the filter is filled with finely ground coffee and the water is forced through the coffee at the high pressure generated by the pump to produce the espresso coffee which is collected in a cup placed under the filter holder.

[0004] The classic coffee machine suffers from two potential drawbacks. The first drawback is that ground coffee starts to lose its freshness and flavour after a few days and so for the optimum espresso, the user will also need to have a coffee grinder. The other drawback is that the used espresso coffee has to be removed from the filter, which can lead to mess as the grinds are fine.

[0005] This lead to the development of ESE coffee pods, which can be used in many espresso machines. Coffee pods are generally individually wrapped to maintain freshness and consist of a small pod made of a perforated filter paper which contains the coffee. The pod is placed in the filter holder and then disposed of after use. Coffee pods are convenient but have to fit the filter holder and be placed correctly otherwise water can leak around the edge.

[0006] This in turn lead to the development of capsule machines. The coffee capsules for these machines are completely sealed. The capsule machines do not use the conventional filter holder. A capsule machine typically has a two part mechanism. The first part receives the capsule and is provided with an extraction surface upon which the capsule rests. The second part is provided with a locking lever which is used to make the first and second parts integral. In use, the second part cuts the upper surface of the capsule to allow water to enter the capsule and percolate down through the capsule, where it exits through the lower surface of the capsule at multiple locations determined by the geometry of the extraction surface. An example of such a machine is disclosed in EP 0870457 or W02005 / 004683. Capsules in the known capsule coffee machines are, in use, inserted into a capsule cage of the machine which holds the capsule in position so that it may be cut by a cutting member.

[0007] Capsule machines have proved to be commercially very successful as they are very convenient to use and produce a consistent product. However, each manufacturer’s coffee machines and capsules are designed to work with the manufacturers own brand. The most popular brand of capsule is Nespresso ®, which uses a sealed capsule made of aluminium. The original Nespresso capsule is disclosed in EP0512468 and the current iteration in EP1654966. A further machine is disclosed in US2020 / 0000265.

[0008] More recently, a new systems such as Vertuo® have been introduced. The Vertuo capsules are extracted by a centrifugal process. The Vertuo capsule is made from formed aluminium and is enclosed by a plasticised aluminium foil lid. Unlike the original Nespresso capsule system, Vertuo capsules come in different sizes and the net coffee weight ranges from 5.5 grams through to 13grams. The aluminium packaging weight (inc. lid foil) are 1.54g for the small, 1.75g from the medium and 1.91g for the large, compared to the 0.94 grams for an original Nespresso capsule. Details of the Vertuo system can be found in WO2013171238. A further system is the L’Or Barista ® disclosed in EP3897310 provides for capsules of different sizes in the same machine.

[0009] A particular problem with known aluminium capsules is that the silicone seal means that the capsule cannot be recycled easily despite the significant ecological benefit in recycling aluminium and they are not recyclable in normal kerbside mixed collections. Special collection of the capsules negate the benefits of recycling.

[0010] ES 1241931 U discloses a four part device for separating capsules comprising a lower cylindrical tank with a vessel configuration, in whose upper open end a ring-shaped piece is inserted by means of a screw or pressure. The latter has a hole with the diameter equal to the larger diameter of the capsule cone, and a stepped recess in said hole sufficient to support and centre the capsule disc. The third piece is the cylindrical upper body with the shape of an inverted vessel, which has a diameter slightly larger than the lower cylinder, so that, together, one cylinder slides inside the other as a piston sleeve. This upper body has inside its bottom, and integral to it, a frustoconical punch with the shape of the capsule in an inverted position, and a perforation along the longitudinal axis, where the fourth piece that is the sliding ejector is housed. The moveable ejector is required to prevent the capsule from sticking on the plunger. It also requires significant effort to use.

[0011] GB2586618 discloses a device for separating beverage capsules comprising a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein a portion of the face surrounding the aperture has a surface that undulates in a longitudinal direction relative to a central axis through the aperture; the plunger comprising a projection sized to fit within the aperture. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other residue into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee or residue and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling. This device has proven to be successful but can only recycle a single Nespresso original capsule at a time and cannot be adapted to process multiple capsules simultaneously or larger capsules such as the L’Or XXL and Vertuo as the downward pressure required is too great.

[0012] The present invention therefore seeks to provide an improved capsule recycling device.

[0013] According to the invention there is provided a device for separating beverage capsules, comprising a base unit and a pusher, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein the aperture has first and second support surfaces, which support surfaces have first and second diameters, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter.

[0014] Preferably the support surfaces are connected at least in part by spatially separated ribs, space between the ribs enabling contents in the beverage capsule to pass through to the base unit.

[0015] Further preferred embodiments of the capsule are disclosed in the sub-claims.

[0016] The base unit has a face with an aperture for receiving a used capsule and the pusher comprises a projection sized to fit within the aperture, which has first and second support surfaces to enable different capsule sizes to be inverted. The devices of the invention enable an increased number and / or variety of capsules and their residues to be recycled, separately, in kerbside collections.

[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the capsule recycler before inversion of a large capsule;

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 after capsule inversion;

[0020] Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the capsule recycler before inversion of a standard capsule;

[0021] Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the capsule recycler after inversion of a standard capsule;

[0022] Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of the capsule holder;

[0023] Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the capsule holder; Fig. 7 shows a side by side arrangement of a two capsule recycler;

[0024] Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of a side by side arrangement of a two capsule recycler.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of the recycler suitable for use with large coffee capsules such as the L’Or XXL ® and conventional capsules such as the Nespresso original line. The recycler comprises a base unit 10 forming a receptacle 12 open at its upper end 16.

[0026] A capsule holder 18, described in greater detail below with respect to Figures 5 and 6, sits on the upper end of the receptacle 12. The capsule holder comprises an opening 13 with a circumferential upstanding wall 15, which wall is set back from the edge of the opening 13 to provide a first support surface 17. The circumferential upstanding wall 15 has a first diameter. The holder is provided with a second support surface 19 located below the height of the opening at the upper end of the receptacle. The support surface 19 is connected to the first support surface 17 by a plurality of spatially separated ribs 20. Either or each of the support surfaces 17, 19 may have a curved or undulating profile. The space between each of the ribs 20 is open so that coffee grinds can fall between the ribs into the receptacle 12. The receptacle 12 can have a volume sufficient to hold the residue from a plurality of capsules. The second support surface has a second diameter. The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter so that the second support surface and ribs take the form of a truncated cone. The second support surface is preferably located at a height below (in the vertical plane) the first support surface which is substantially equal to the height difference between the large and small capsules.

[0027] A large capsule 1 is shown sitting on the first support surface 17 with the capsule flange abutting the upstanding wall 15. The upper part 21 of the recycler functions as a lid and is provided with a pusher 22, which is substantially co-axial with the opening 13. The pusher comprises a projection sized to fit within the aperture, the projection having an undulating profile, although it would also be possible to have a stepped profile in which each successive surface has a smaller diameter the further it is located from the lid. The pusher is dimensioned so that there is a gap or clearance, exemplarily approximately 4-6mm, preferably around 5 mm, between the surface of the pusher and the surface of the opening. In a typical capsule, the aluminium is between 0.075 to 0.125mm thick. There is therefore a clearance between the pusher and opening when inverting the capsule. The pusher 22 is shown as engaging with the upper end of the capsule 1 . The upper part is further provided with an end stop 23 on an inner surface so that the upper part does not engage flush with the capsule holder. The length of the pusher is preferably substantially twice the distance in the vertical plane between the first and second support surfaces.

[0028] Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 after inversion of the capsule 1 , with like parts labelled with like numbers. In use the capsule 1 sits on the flange or first support surface 17 prior to recycling with the edge of the capsule flange abutting the upstanding wall 13. When a downward force is applied to the capsule, the upstanding wall allows the angle between the lower face of the capsule and the holder to increase, which in turn increases the tension on the foil closing the capsule. Preferably the edge of the opening, which acts as the pivot point, is located beyond the midpoint of the flange from the capsule wall to the flange edge to increase the moment of the forces being applied to the front surface of the capsule. The angle of the pusher with respect to the vertical axis is smaller than that of the angle on the collar, i.e. closer to the vertical, so the capsule remains on the holder when the pusher is removed. This allows the user to easily pick up and remove the capsule. The collar opening profile may have a draft angle, eg 10° , on the surface allowing easy release of the capsule inside the collar compared to if there were no draft angle.

[0029] The pusher 22 has a length which is greater than the height of the capsule 1 so that the capsule is fully inverted by the down stroke of the pusher. This enables most of the used coffee grinds to fall through the lower part of the opening 13 into the receptacle and facilitates cleaning any residual coffee grinds off the inverted capsule should this be necessary. Some coffee grinds will fall between the gaps of the ribs. The end stops 23 engage with the upper surface of the capsule holder so that the tip remains separated from the capsule holder in its final position.

[0030] Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the recycler shown in Figure 1 with a smaller capsule 2 such as a Nespresso ® or Dualit ® original capsule in which like parts are labelled with like numbers.

[0031] The capsule 2 is located within the opening 13 supported on the second support surface 19. The second support surface forms an annular flange. The second support surface is located at a height below the first support surface which is substantially equal to the difference in height between a large capsule and a smaller capsule. The pusher 22 therefore is shown engaging with the top part of the capsule 2.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the recycler after inversion of the capsule 2 shown in Figure 3 in the same manner as Figure 2 with like parts labelled with like numbers.

[0033] Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the capsule holder 18. The capsule holder comprises the opening 13 with the circumferential upstanding wall 15, which wall is set back from the edge of the opening 13 to provide a first support surface 17. The circumferential upstanding wall 15 has a first diameter. The holder is provided with a second support surface 19 located below the height of the opening at the upper end of the receptacle. The support surface 19 is connected to the first support surface 17 by a plurality of spatially separated ribs 20. The space between each of the ribs 20 is open so that coffee grinds can fall between the ribs into the receptacle 12. The spaces or cut outs in the material in fig 5 which joins the larger and smaller openings allows coffee grinds or other residues to fall through the cut outs when in particular the large capsule is inverted. This prevents a coffee build up on the lower smaller ring. The second support surface has a second diameter. Finger holes 24, 25 are cut from the surface of the capsule holder to facilitate the removal of the inverted capsule. Figure 6 shows an alternative capsule holder without the finger holes 24,25.

[0034] Fig. 7 shows a side by side arrangement of a two capsule recycler. In some circumstances it is desirable to be able to invert two capsules at the same time. In the arrangement of Figure 7 the capsule holder is provided with two spatially separated openings and two correspondingly spatially separated pushers 30,31 . The pusher 30 is longer than the pusher 31 and is intended for a larger capsule 1 . The pusher 31 is shorter and intended for the smaller capsule 2. The difference between the lengths of pusher 30 and pusher 31 from the lid is substantially equal to the difference in the heights of the capsules 1 and 2 (the height being measured from the top of the capsule to the foil closing the capsule).

[0035] Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of a side by side arrangement of a two capsule recycler. In the arrangement of Figure 8 the capsule holder is provided with two spatially separated openings 34, 35 and two correspondingly spatially separated pushers 32,33. The pushers 32, 33 have similar dimensions. The opening 34 for the larger capsule is at the surface level of the capsule holder. The opening 35 for the smaller capsule is recessed below the surface level of the capsule holder. The supporting surface for the smaller capsule is located at a distance below the surface level of the capsule holder which is substantially equal to the difference in the heights of the capsules 1 and 2 (the height being measured from the top of the capsule to the foil closing the capsule).

[0036] Although the invention has been specifically described with respect to coffee capsules, it would be applicable to other beverage capsules such as tea or hot chocolate. Although the device has been described for manual operation in a vertical direction, it would be possible for it to be used in other orientations.

Claims

Claims1. A device for separating beverage capsules, comprising a base unit and a pusher for inverting the beverage capsule to facilitate separation of contents in the beverage capsule, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein the aperture has first and second support surfaces, which support surfaces have first and second diameters, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, the support surfaces being arranged to receive a beverage capsule having a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the support surface.

2. A device according to Claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces are connected to each other at least in part by a plurality of spatially separated ribs, space between the ribs enabling contents in the beverage capsule to pass through to the base unit.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first and second support surfaces are co-axial.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the face is provided with an upstanding wall, which upstanding wall provides an abutment surface for a beverage capsule.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the edge of the opening acts as the pivot point and is located beyond the midpoint of the support surface from the capsule wall to the flange edge to increase the moment forces being applied to the front surface of the capsule.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein one or more finger holes are provided in the face to facilitate capsule removal.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one support surface has a curved or undulating profile.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the second support surface is located at a height below in the vertical plane the first supportsurface, the second support surface and ribs having the form of a truncated cone.

9. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the pusher has a length, which is substantially twice the distance in the vertical plane between the first and second support surfaces.

10. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the pusher is dimensioned so that there is a gap or clearance of approximately 4 to 6 mm, preferably around 5 mm, between the surface of the pusher and the surface of the opening.

11. A device according to any one of Claims 3 to 10, wherein the angle of the pusher with respect to the vertical axis is smaller than that of the angle on the upstanding wall, so the capsule remains on the holder when the pusher is removed.

12. A device according to any one of Claims 3 to 11 , wherein the upstanding wall has a draft angle of around 10°, on the surface to facilitate release of the capsule.

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