Used capsule receptacle for beverage machines

Abstract

A machine (1) configured for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a capsule (100) has: a passage (2) for evacuating such ingredient capsule (100) upon preparing a beverage from such capsule (100) in the machine (1); a seat (20) positioned so that the evacuation passage (2) leads into the seat (20), the seat (20) having a bottom end (21); a capsule collector (10) having a bottom (11) and sidewalls (12,12') delimiting a cavity (13) with a cavity entry opening (14), the cavity (13) being configured for storing such used capsules (100); and a spacer (15). The capsule collector (10) has a collection position in which the capsule collector (10) is located in the seat (20) above the seat bottom end (21) for collecting in the storage cavity (13) capsules (100) delivered into the storage cavity (13) via the evacuation passage (2) and the entry opening (14). The spacer (15) has a spacing position in which the spacer (15) is located in the seat (20). The capsule collector (10) and the spacer (15) are removable by a user from the seat (20). The spacer (15) is removable from the seat (20) independently from the capsule collector (10) when the capsule collector (10) is blocked in the seat (20) by one or more capsules (100) protruding above the entry opening (14) of the collector (10), whereby a space (22) in the seat (20) is freed below the collector (10) to lower the collector (10) and the protruding capsule(s) (100) under the evacuation passage (2) so as to allow removal from the seat (20) of the collector (10) after removal of the spacer (15).

Description

[0001]USED CAPSULE RECEPTACLE FOR BEVERAGE MACHINES Field of the Invention The field of the invention pertains to capsule beverage preparation machines having a collector for collecting used capsules, the collector being easily removable from the machine for emptying even when overfilled with capsules. For the purpose of the present description, a “beverage” is meant to include any human-consumable liquid substance, such as tea, coffee, hot or cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc… A “capsule” is meant to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredient, such as a flavouring 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 cartridges containing the ingredient. The capsule may contain an amount of ingredient for preparing a single beverage serving or a plurality of beverage servings. Background Art Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or to be dissolved; for other machines, the ingredients are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or else are added at the time of preparation of the drink. Most beverage machines possess within a housing: filling means that include a pump for liquid, usually water, which pumps the liquid from a source of water that is cold or indeed heated through heating means, such as a heating resistor, a boiler, a thermoblock or the like, a brewing unit in which an ingredient is brewed with water or a mixing unit in which ingredients are mixed together, and a beverage outlet for dispensing the prepared beverage. Typically, the beverage outlet is located above a beverage dispensing zone, e.g. above a grid for supporting a cup or other recipient under the outlet and for the passage of drops of liquid from the beverage outlet or other spills into a collector tray located under the grid. The use of capsules, such as plastic and / or aluminium-based capsules for the preparation of beverages has many advantages. Capsules, in particular aluminium- based capsules can be made hermetic or gas tight and thus can protect the beverage ingredient effectively during an extended period of time against the environment such as air, humidity or light, before use of the ingredient. Thus such capsules prevent premature degradation of the ingredient. In any case, capsules of a beverage ingredient are easy to handle, hygienic, and their use involves less cleaning of the beverage preparation machine, in particular no significant part of the machine’s extraction chamber comes into contact with the beverage ingredient contained in the capsule during the extraction process. Capsules are usually inserted individually into the machine’s extraction chamber, manually or automatically from a capsule. Hot or cold water is then passed through the capsule for brewing or otherwise extracting the ingredient(s) contained within the capsule and form the desired beverage. The prepared beverage is supplied via an outlet of the machine into a cup, mug or other receptacle to the user. Used capsules may either be removed individually from the liquid food or beverage preparation machine after each preparation cycle or they may be collected in a machine’s used capsule receptacle for instance as mentioned in EP 1731 065. Typically, the capsule receptacle is located underneath the capsule chamber so that the capsules fall by gravity into the receptacle upon extraction. In the latter case, the receptacle has to be emptied by the user when full. The receptacle may be a drawer-type removable receptacle located in a seat of the beverage preparation machine typically under the extraction chamber. The used capsule receptacle may be slid in and out of the machine’s housing. A problem may arise with such capsule receptacles, in particular in conjunction with rigid capsules, when used capsules accumulate in the receptacle to form a heap of capsules whose top extends above the receptacle in such a manner to come into conflict with the housing when the receptacle is slid out of the machine’s housing for emptying. A solution to avoid the jamming of the receptacle by used capsules is to provide an optical level detector for measuring the level of capsules in the used capsule receptacle and inviting the user to empty the receptacle when the level of capsules comes close to the level of the machine’s housing. Another solution involves counting the number of capsule extractions after emptying the receptacle and inviting the user to empty the receptacle after a predetermined number of capsules has been collected, an excess of which may possibly cause jamming. A drawback with the level detector system involves the use of expensive electronic detectors, in particular optical detectors. Furthermore, since the accumulated capsules naturally form a heap in the receptacle a waste of space is usually also involved around this heap. A drawback of the capsule counting system lies in the fact that, in order to avoid jamming, it is necessary to set a maximum number of collectible capsules in the receptacle that will often lead to a poor filling of the receptacle when the user is invited to re-empty the receptacle and to an even greater waste of space around the heap of collected capsules in the receptacle than with the above described level detector. WO 2009 / 074559 discloses a beverage machine having a seat for a removable used-capsule collector. The seat has a body that projects into the collector when the collector is in the seat and that is out of the collector when the collector is removed from the seat, so as to increase the storage space of the collector at removal and prevent clogging by capsules evacuated to the collector. The body may be static in the machine and enter into the collection cavity of the collector at insertion of the collector. The body may be a piston movable in the seat when the collector is housed in the seat so as to move a sidewall of the collector inwards into the collector’s collection cavity. The seat may combine a movable piston and a static body so configured that the movable piston moves the entire collector to allow the static body enter the collector’s collection cavity. WO 2009 / 135869 discloses a beverage machine having a seat for a removable used-capsule collector that is tiltable in the seat at removal to prevent clogging when the collector is overfilled with capsules. WO2019 / 158542 illustrates another removable used-capsule collector in a seat of a beverage machine and configured to prevent clogging in the seat by capsules evacuated to the collector. Summary of the Invention The invention relates to a machine for preparing a beverage from at least one ingredient. Normally such beverage is then dispensed to a user, e.g. to a user-cup or user-mug. For instance, the machine is a coffee, tea, chocolate, cacao, milk or soup preparation machine. For example, the machine is arranged for preparing within a beverage processing module that includes an ingredient holder, a beverage by passing hot or cold water or another liquid through the ingredient held in the holder, such as a flavouring ingredient, of the beverage to be prepared, such as ground coffee or tea or chocolate or cacao or milk powder. Such beverage preparation typically includes the mixing of a plurality of beverage ingredients, e.g. water and milk powder, and / or the infusion of a beverage ingredient, such as an infusion of ground coffee or tea with water. One or more of such ingredients may be supplied in loose and / or agglomerate powder form and / or in liquid form, in particular in a concentrate form. A carrier or diluent liquid, e.g. water, may be mixed with such ingredient to form the beverage. Typically, a predetermined amount of beverage is formed and dispensed on user-request, which corresponds to a portion (e.g. a serving). The volume of such a serving may be in the range of 15 to 1000 ml such as 25 to 600 ml for instance 40 to 250 ml, e.g. the volume for filling a cup or mug, depending on the type of beverage. Formed and dispensed beverages may be selected from ristrettos, espressos, lungos, cappuccinos, café latte, americano coffees, teas, etc... For example, a coffee machine may be configured for dispensing espressos, e.g. an adjustable volume of 20 to 60 ml per serving, and / or for dispensing lungos, e.g. a volume in the range of 70 to 200 ml per serving, and / or for dispensing americanos, e.g. a volume in the range of 150 to 750 ml. An aspect of the invention relates to a machine for preparing a beverage from a flavouring ingredient supplied within a capsule in a processing cavity. The ingredient is mixed with a liquid such as water in the capsule. The ingredient and liquid (e.g. water) may be centrifugally driven about a processing axis to form the beverage. The centrifugation process for preparing a beverage is known for example from EP 2000 062, EP 2155 020, EP 2 152 128, WO 2008 / 148646, WO 2009 / 106175, WO 2009 / 106589, WO 2010 / 026045, WO 2010 / 026053, WO 2010 / 066736, WO 2008 / 148650, WO 2008 / 148834, WO 2010 / 066705, WO 2010 / 063644, WO 2011 / 023711, WO 2014 / 096122 or WO 2014 / 096123. The machine has: a passage for evacuating the ingredient capsule upon preparing a beverage from such capsule in the machine; a seat positioned so that the evacuation passage leads into the seat, the seat having a bottom end; a capsule collector having a bottom and sidewalls delimiting a cavity with a cavity entry opening, such as a top opening, the cavity being configured for storing such used capsules; and a spacer. The capsule collector has a collection position in which the capsule collector is located in the seat above the seat bottom end for collecting in the storage cavity capsules delivered into the storage cavity via the evacuation passage and the entry opening. The spacer has a spacing position in which the spacer is located in the seat, e.g. at the seat bottom end and below the capsule collector. The capsule collector and the spacer are removable by a user, such as for cleaning and / or servicing e.g. emptying collected capsules, from the seat. The capsule collector and the spacer may be removable via a seat opening, e.g. a seat opening on a machine dispensing side fitted with a beverage outlet. The spacer is removable from the seat independently from the capsule collector when the capsule collector is blocked in the seat by one or more capsules protruding above the entry opening of the collector, whereby a space in the seat is freed below the collector to lower the collector and the protruding capsule(s) under the evacuation passage so as to allow removal from the seat of the collector after removal of the spacer. Hence, such clogged capsule collector may be unclogged from the seat without reduction of the collection capacity of the collector. The machine may include a (stationary) frame and / or an outside housing in which and / or to which the machine’s components, e.g. the components mentioned below as well as the capsule collector and spacer, are mounted or fixed or assembled. Exemplary beverage preparation architectures are for example disclosed in WO 2009 / 074550 and WO 2009 / 130099. Typically, the machine includes one or more of the following components: a) a fluid system in fluid communication with the flavouring ingredient during beverage preparation; b) a thermal conditioner, such as in-line heater and / or cooler, for thermally conditioning a flow of liquid circulated to the flavouring ingredient or a batch thermal conditioner for circulating thermally conditioned liquid from the batch conditioner to the flavouring ingredient; c) a liquid driver, such as a pump, for driving liquid to the flavouring ingredient, for instance a low pressure pump e.g. within the range of 1 to 5 bar, such as 1.5 to 3 bar, and / or a high pressure pump e.g. within the range of 7 to 25 bar such as 10 to 20 bar; d) a motor for driving the flavouring ingredient in rotation during beverage preparation; e) an electric control unit, in particular comprising a printed circuit board (PCB), for receiving instructions from a user via an input user-interface and for controlling the thermal conditioner, liquid driver and motor(s); and f) one or more sensors for sensing at least one characteristic selected from characteristics of fluid system, the thermal conditioner, the liquid driver, a liquid tank, an ingredient collector, a flow of the liquid (e.g. by a flowmeter), a pressure of the liquid and a temperature of the liquid, and for communicating such characteristic(s) to the control unit. The abovementioned capsule may have a body containing the ingredient and a peripherally projecting flange, e.g. a body in the shape of a cup and a lid covering the mouth of the cup and extending beyond the mouth to form the peripherally projecting flange. The capsule may have a body that is symmetric or asymmetric, conical or frusto-conical or cylindrical or spherical or hemispherical or frusto-spherical, containing the ingredient, e.g. ground coffee, tea or cacao or another beverage ingredient. The capsule may be of the type described above under the header “field of the invention”. The capsule may be a capsule that has a container-body, e.g. a generally cup- shaped or hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal body, having a flange to which a cover lid (or membrane) is attached, in particular sealed. Typically the capsule contains a beverage ingredient. Examples of suitable capsules are disclosed in WO 2008 / 148601, WO 2008 / 148604, WO 2008 / 148646, WO 2008 / 148650, WO 2008 / 148656, WO 2008 / 148834, WO 2011 / 141532, WO 2011 / 141535, WO 2013 / 072239, WO 2013 / 072297, WO 2013 / 072326, WO 2015 / 044400. The capsule may be of the variety commercialised by Nespresso, for example under the brand Vertuo. Typically, the spacer is a machine component that provides a further function related to handling and / or operating such machine. The spacer may define a storage space for at least one of: - a liquid, e.g. so as to form a liquid reservoir, for instance a drip tray for collecting waste liquid from the capsule collector and / or from a beverage outlet or a liquid supply tank e.g. a water tank; - ingredients, e.g. spare ingredient capsules and / or other flavouring ingredients, such as milk, cream and / or sugar; - maintenance items, such as one or more of a brush, sponge, cloth, descaling agent and a cleaning agent; and - machine accessories, such as an electric cord, electric adaptor and / or a user-manual. The spacer may include an upright panel that covers the seat when the spacer is in the spacing position. The panel can extend: beyond the seat for instance vertically beyond the seat; and / or flush with a fixed outside machine surface. The spacer may have a support for supporting a user- recipient, such as a cup or a mug, under a beverage outlet when the spacer is in the spacing position. The support or a further support can be placeable at different heights under the beverage outlet for accommodating user-recipients of different heights. Examples of support for user-recipients are disclosed in EP 1 867 260, WO 2009 / 074557 and WO 2013 / 104636. The spacer may be reversibly fastened to the capsule collector such that the collector is removed from the seat by the removal of the spacer from the seat when the capsule collector spaced by the spacer above the seat bottom end is not blocked in the seat by any capsule protruding above the entry opening. The spacer can be reversibly fastened to the capsule collector e.g. by at least one of friction, elastic retainer e.g. elastic clip, form-shape retainer such as a hook or protrusion matching a facing hook-retainer or recess, and magnetic constraint. The spacer may be configured to slide under the capsule collector out of the seat when the collector is blocked in the seat. The capsule collector and spacer can have one or more rails and one or more cooperating grooves forming corresponding sliding interface(s). The spacer and the seat may be configured for the spacer to slide translationally and / or rotationally out of the seat. The spacer can include or be associated with a part that is seizable by a user-hand or finger for pulling the spacer out of the seat. For example the seizable part is a handle or a support for a user-recipient, e.g. a cup or mug. The capsule collector may have or be associated with a part that is seizable by a user-hand or finger from outside the seat for pulling the spacer out of the seat upon removal of the spacer from the seat. For example the seizable part is a handle. The seat can have a ceiling that extends between a bottom end of the capsule evacuation passage and a seat opening via which the capsule collector and the spacer are removable by a user from the seat, the ceiling being spaced above the capsule collector by a distance that is smaller than a maximum overall width of a maximum-sized capsule suitable for beverage preparation in the machine and evacuation by the passage. For instance, the distance is smaller than 50%, such as smaller than 25%, for example smaller than 10% e.g. smaller than 5% of such maximum overall width. The maximum overall width may be a maximum diameter of a largest capsule of the type mentioned above that suitable for beverage preparation in the machine and evacuation by the passage. The space freed below the collector can have a height that is larger than 5% of a maximum overall width of a largest capsule suitable for beverage preparation by such machine and evacuation by the passage, such as larger than 10%, for example larger than 25%, e.g. larger than 50% of the maximum overall width. The collector may rest on the spacer in direct contact therewith when the collector is in the collecting position and the spacer is in the spacing position. The seat can be delimited at the bottom end by a lower or bottom machine part, e.g. by a machine panel or housing part or frame part that is substantially horizontal when the machine is in a beverage preparation orientation. The seat may be delimited at the bottom end by an external support surface, e.g. a horizontal surface such as a table or shelf top, on which the machine is placed to prepare beverage. The machine can include a capsule extraction module that delimits a capsule extraction chamber during beverage preparation, such as an extraction chamber that is stationary or rotated for capsule centrifugation. The capsule extraction module may be located above the seat, the module being configured to direct an extracted capsule to the passage. For example, such capsule is driven by gravity from the module into the capsule collector. The capsule extraction module can be fluidically connected to a beverage outlet and to a liquid supply, e.g. water supply, such as a liquid tank or an external liquid delivery line. The liquid supply and the extraction module may be fluidically connected together via a liquid driver, e.g. a pump, and / or a thermal conditioner for liquid, e.g. a heater and / or cooler, such as a thermoblock or thick film heater. Examples of pumps in beverage machines are disclosed in WO 2006 / 005425, WO 2009 / 024500, WO 2009 / 150030, WO 2010 / 108700 and WO 2011 / 107574. A suitable heater may be a boiler, a thermoblock or an on demand heater (ODH) e.g. a thick film heater, for instance an ODH disclosed in EP 1 253 844, EP 1 380 243 and EP 1 809 151. Other heaters are disclosed in WO 2009 / 043851, WO 2009 / 043865, WO 2009 / 092746 and WO 2011 / 157675 and WO 2012 / 007260. The liquid supply and the extraction module can be configured to supply liquid at a pressure in the range of 7 to 25 bar, e.g. 10 to 20 bar, into the extraction chamber while the extraction chamber is substantially immobile or centrifuged. The liquid supply and the extraction module may be configured to supply liquid at a pressure in the range of ambient pressure to 10 bar, such as 1 to 7 bar, e.g. 2 to 4 bar, into the extraction chamber while the extraction chamber is centrifuged. The extraction module can have a first part and a second part that are movable relative to one another between: a distant position for inserting a capsule into the chamber and directing such capsule from the chamber towards the passage; and a proximate position for processing the capsule and prepare beverage. The first and second parts can be relatively movable by an actuator such as a handle or a motor. For instance, the extraction module is assembled to a machine’s frame, e.g. an outside housing. Examples of extraction module are described in WO 2007 / 135135, WO 2009 / 043630, WO 2011 / 042400, WO 2014 / 096122 and WO 2014 / 096123. More recent examples are disclosed in WO 2023 / 118244, WO 2023 / 118245, WO 2023 / 118246, WO 2023 / 118247, WO 2023 / 118248 and WO 2023 / 118249. The extraction module is typically configured to process a capsule containing the beverage ingredient. The unit can have an ingredient chamber with at least one capsule opener, such as at least one of: one or more puncturing and / or tearing elements; and one or more pins and / or blades, such as a capsule piercer or tearing plate, e.g. as known from EP 0512 468, EP 0512 470, EP 1 299 022, EP 1 339 305, WO 2013 / 026845, WO 2014 / 076041, WO 2015 / 022342, WO 2015 / 022344 and WO 2015 / 022345. The machine may include a control unit for controlling at least one electric machine components, such as a liquid driver, thermal conditioner, user- interface, actuator of the extraction seat, actuator of the seat member (when the seat member is movable relative to the seat) etc… Examples of control units and user- interfaces are disclosed in WO 2008 / 138710, WO 2009 / 043851, WO 2009 / 043865, WO 2009 / 092745, WO 2010 / 003932, WO 2010 / 037806, WO 2010 / 046442, WO 2011 / 020779, WO 2011 / 026853, WO 2011 / 054889, WO 2011 / 067156, WO 2011 / 067157, WO 2011 / 067181, WO 2011 / 067188, WO 2011 / 067191, WO 2011 / 067227, WO 2011 / 067232, WO 2011 / 144719, WO 2012 / 032019, WO 2012 / 072761, WO 2012 / 072764, WO 2012 / 072767 and WO 2012 / 093107. When reference is made in the present description to an orientation or position relative to the machine or parts thereof, e.g. “above” or “below” or “vertical” or “horizontal”, the orientation or position takes as a reference the position and orientation of the machine in operation to prepare a beverage unless specified otherwise. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a machine with a capsule collector and spacer according to the invention in which the capsule collector is in the seat in its collection position and overfilled with used capsules preventing a direct removal of the collector from the seat; - Figure 2 shows in longitudinal cross-section the machine of Fig. 1 with the overfilled capsule collector, the spacer being partly removed from the seat and the capsule collector remaining clogged in the seat; - Figure 3 shows in longitudinal cross-section the machine of Fig. 1 with the overfilled capsule collector, the spacer being entirely removed from the seat and the capsule collector having been lowered in the seat so as to unclog the collector; - Figure 4 shows a transverse cross-section of the machine of Figs 1 to 3 with the capsule collector above the spacer in the seat; and - Figure 5 shows part of the machine of Fig 1. with the capsule collector empty. Detailed description Figures 1 to 5, in which the same numeric references designate the same or similar elements, show part of an exemplary machine 1 according to the invention. Machine 1 is configured for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a capsule 100. Machine 1 has a passage 2 for evacuating such ingredient capsule 100 upon preparing a beverage from such capsule 100 in machine 1. Machine 1 includes a seat 20 positioned so that the evacuation passage 2 leads into the seat 20. The seat 20 has a bottom end 21. Machine 1 incorporates a capsule collector 10 having a bottom 11 and sidewalls 12,12’ delimiting a cavity 13 with a cavity entry opening 14, such as a top opening. The cavity 13 is configured for storing such used capsules 100. Furthermore, machine 1 includes a spacer 15. Capsule collector 10 has a collection position in which capsule collector 10 is located in seat 20 above seat bottom end 21 for collecting in storage cavity 13 capsules 100 delivered into storage cavity 13 via evacuation passage 2 and entry opening 14. Spacer 15 has a spacing position in which spacer 15 is located in the seat 20, for example at seat bottom end 21 and below capsule collector 10. Capsule collector 10 and spacer 15 are removable by a user, such as for cleaning and / or servicing e.g. emptying collected capsules 100, from seat 20. Capsule collector 10 and spacer 15 may be removable via a seat opening 25 e.g. a seat opening 25 on a machine dispensing side 3’ fitted with a beverage outlet 3. Spacer 15 is removable from seat 20 independently from capsule collector 10 when capsule collector 10 is blocked in seat 20 by one or more capsules 100 protruding above entry opening 14 of collector 10, whereby a space 22 in seat 20 is freed below collector 10 to lower collector 10 and protruding capsule(s) 100 under evacuation passage 2 so as to allow removal from seat 20 of collector 10 after removal of spacer 15. Spacer 15 may provide a further function related to handling and / or operating such machine 1. For example, spacer 15 defines a storage space for at least one of: - a liquid, e.g. so as to form a liquid reservoir 19, for instance a drip tray for collecting waste liquid from capsule collector 10 and / or from a beverage outlet 3 or a liquid supply tank e.g. a water tank; - ingredients, e.g. spare ingredient capsules and / or other flavouring ingredients, such as milk, cream and / or sugar; - maintenance items, such as one or more of a brush, sponge, cloth, descaling agent and a cleaning agent; and - machine accessories, such as an electric cord 9, an electric adaptor and / or a user-manual. Spacer 15 may include an upright panel 16 that covers seat 20 when spacer 15 is in the spacing position. For example, panel 16 extends: beyond seat 20 e.g. vertically beyond seat 20; and / or flush with a fixed outside machine surface 4. Spacer 15 can have a support 17 for supporting a user-recipient, such as a cup or a mug, under a beverage outlet 3 when spacer 15 is in the spacing position. Support 17 or a further support can be placeable at different heights under beverage outlet 3 for accommodating user-recipients of different heights. Spacer 15 may be reversibly fastened to capsule collector 10 such that collector 10 is removed from seat 20 by the removal of spacer 15 from seat 20 when capsule collector 10 spaced by spacer 15 above seat bottom end 21 is not blocked in seat 20 by any capsule 100 protruding above entry opening 14. Spacer 15 can be reversibly fastened to capsule collector 10 e.g. by at least one of friction, elastic retainer e.g. elastic clip, form-shape retainer such as a hook or protrusion matching a facing hook-retainer or recess, and magnetic constraint. Spacer 15 can be configured to slide under capsule collector 10 out of seat 20 when collector 10 is blocked in seat 20. Capsule collector 10 and spacer 15 may have one or more rails 18 and one or more cooperating grooves 18’ forming corresponding sliding interface(s). Spacer 15 and seat 20 can be configured for spacer 15 to slide translationally and / or rotationally out of seat 20. Spacer 15 may include or be associated with a part that is seizable by a user-hand or finger for pulling spacer 15 out of seat 20. For example, the seizable part is a handle or a support 17 for a user-recipient e.g. a cup or mug. Capsule collector 10 can include or be associated with a part that is seizable by a user-hand or finger from outside seat 20 for pulling spacer 15 out of seat 20 upon removal of spacer 15 from seat 20. For example, the seizable part is a handle. Seat 20 can have a ceiling 23 that extends between a bottom end of capsule evacuation passage 2 and a seat opening 25 via which capsule collector 10 and spacer 15 are removable by a user from seat 20. Ceiling 23 can be spaced above capsule collector 10 by a distance that is smaller than a maximum overall width of a largest capsule 100 suitable for beverage preparation by such machine 1 and evacuation by passage 2. For example, the distance is smaller than 50%, such as smaller than 25%, for instance smaller than 10% e.g. smaller than 5% of the maximum overall width. Space 22 freed below collector 10 may have a height that is larger than 5% of a maximum overall width of a largest capsule 100 suitable for beverage preparation by such machine 1 and evacuation by passage 2, such as larger than 10%, for example larger than 25%, e.g. larger than 50% of the maximum overall width. Capsule collector 10 may rest on spacer 15 in direct contact therewith when collector 10 is in the collecting position and spacer 15 is in the spacing position. Seat 20 may be delimited at bottom end 21 by a lower or bottom machine part, e.g. by a machine panel or housing part or frame part that is substantially horizontal when such machine 1 is in a beverage preparation orientation. Seat 20 may be delimited at bottom end 21 by an external support surface, e.g. a horizontal surface such as a table or shelf top, on which such machine 1 is placed to prepare beverage. Machine 1 typically includes a capsule extraction module 30 that delimits a capsule extraction chamber 31 during beverage preparation, such as an extraction chamber 31 that is stationary or rotated for capsule centrifugation, the capsule extraction module 30 being located above seat 20, the module 30 being configured to direct an extracted capsule 100 to passage 2. Such capsule can driven by gravity from module 30 into capsule collector 10. Capsule extraction module 30 can be fluidically connected to a beverage outlet 3 and to a liquid supply, e.g. water supply, such as a liquid tank 5 or an external liquid delivery line. The liquid supply and extraction module 30 can be fluidically connected together via a liquid driver, e.g. a pump 6, and / or a thermal conditioner for liquid, e.g. a heater and / or cooler, such as a thermoblock or thick film heater 7. The liquid supply and extraction module 30 may be configured to supply liquid at a pressure in the range of 7 to 25 bar, e.g. 10 to 20 bar, into extraction chamber 31 while extraction chamber 31 is substantially immobile or centrifuged. The liquid supply and extraction module 30 can be configured to supply liquid at a pressure in the range of ambient pressure to 10 bar, such as 1 to 7 bar, e.g. 2 to 4 bar, into extraction chamber 31 while extraction chamber 31 is centrifuged. Extraction module 30 can have a first part 32 and a second part 33 that are movable relative to one another between a distant position for inserting a capsule 100 into the chamber 31 and directing such capsule 100 from chamber 31 towards passage 2 and a proximate position for processing capsule 100 and prepare beverage, first and second parts 32,33 being relatively movable by an actuator such as a handle 8 or a motor. Further possible implementation details of machine 1 are for example disclosed in WO 2023 / 118244, WO 2023 / 118245, WO 2023 / 118246, WO 2023 / 118247, WO 2023 / 118248, WO 2023 / 118249, PCT / EP2023 / 059645, PCT / EP2023 / 059650 and PCT / EP2023 / 059657.

Claims

Claims 1. A machine (1) for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a capsule (100), comprising: - a passage (2) for evacuating such ingredient capsule (100) upon preparing a beverage from such capsule (100) in said machine (1); - a seat (20) positioned so that the evacuation passage (2) leads into the seat (20), the seat (20) having a bottom end (21); - a capsule collector (10) having a bottom (11) and sidewalls (12,12’) delimiting a cavity (13) with a cavity entry opening (14), such as a top opening, the cavity (13) being configured for storing such used capsules (100); and - a spacer (15); the capsule collector (10) having a collection position in which the capsule collector (10) is located in the seat (20) above the seat bottom end (21) for collecting in the storage cavity (13) capsules (100) delivered into the storage cavity (13) via the evacuation passage (2) and the entry opening (14), the spacer (15) having a spacing position in which the spacer (15) is located in the seat (20), e.g. at said seat bottom end (21) and below the capsule collector (10), the capsule collector (10) and the spacer (15) being removable by a user, such as for cleaning and / or servicing e.g. emptying collected capsules (100), from the seat (20), such as removable via a seat opening (25) e.g. a seat opening (25) on a machine dispensing side (3’) fitted with a beverage outlet (3), characterised in that the spacer (15) is removable from the seat (20) independently from the capsule collector (10) when the capsule collector (10) is blocked in the seat (20) by one or more capsules (100) protruding above the entry opening (14) of the collector (10), whereby a space (22) in the seat (20) is freed below the collector (10) to lower the collector (10) and said protruding capsule(s) (100) under the evacuation passage (2) so asto allow removal from the seat (20) of the collector (10) after removal of the spacer (15).

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the spacer (15) provides a further function related to handling and / or operating such machine (1), for instance the spacer (15) defining a storage space for at least one of: - a liquid, e.g. so as to form a liquid reservoir (19), for instance a drip tray for collecting waste liquid from the capsule collector (10) and / or from a beverage outlet (3) or a liquid supply tank e.g. a water tank; - ingredients, e.g. spare ingredient capsules and / or other flavouring ingredients, such as milk, cream and / or sugar; - maintenance items, such as one or more of a brush, sponge, cloth, descaling agent and a cleaning agent; and - machine accessories, such as an electric cord (9), an electric adaptor and / or a user-manual.

3. The machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein spacer (15) includes: - an upright panel (16) that covers the seat (20) when the spacer (15) is in the spacing position, optionally the panel (16) extending: beyond the seat (20) for instance vertically beyond the seat (20); and / or flush with a fixed outside machine surface (4); and / or - a support (17) for supporting a user-recipient, such as a cup or a mug, under a beverage outlet (3) when the spacer (15) is in the spacing position, optionally the support (17) or a further support being placeable at different heights under the beverage outlet (3) for accommodating user-recipients of different heights.

4. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the spacer (15) is reversibly fastened to the capsule collector (10) such that the collector (10) is removed from the seat (20) by the removal of the spacer (15) from the seat (20) when the capsule collector (10) spaced by the spacer (15) above the seat bottom end (21) is not blocked in the seat (20) by any capsule (100) protruding above the entry opening (14).

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the spacer (15) is reversibly fastened to the capsule collector (10) e.g. by at least one of friction, elastic retainer e.g. elastic clip, form-shape retainer such as a hook or protrusion matching a facing hook-retainer or recess, and magnetic constraint.

6. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the spacer (15) is configured to slide under the capsule collector (10) out of the seat (20) when the collector (10) is blocked in the seat (20), optionally: - the capsule collector (10) and spacer (15) having one or more rails (18) and one or more cooperating grooves (18’) forming corresponding sliding interface(s); and / or - the spacer (15) and the seat (20) being configured for the spacer (15) to slide translationally and / or rotationally out of the seat (20).

7. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the spacer (15) comprises or is associated with a part that is seizable by a user-hand or finger for pulling the spacer (15) out of the seat (20), for example the seizable part being a handle or a support (17) for a user-recipient e.g. a cup or mug.

8. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the capsule collector (10) comprises or is associated with a part that is seizable by a user-hand or finger from outside the seat (20) for pulling the spacer (15) out of the seat (20) upon removal of the spacer (15) from the seat (20), for example the seizable part being a handle.

9. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the seat (20) has a ceiling (23) that extends between a bottom end of the capsule evacuation passage (2) and a seat opening (25) via which the capsule collector (10) and the spacer (15) are removable by a user from the seat (20), the ceiling (23) being spaced above the capsule collector (10) by a distance that is smaller than a maximum overall width of a largest capsule (100) suitable for beverage preparation by such machine (1) and evacuation by the passage (2), optionally the distance being smaller than50%, such as smaller than 25%, for example smaller than 10% e.g. smaller than 5% of said maximum overall width.

10. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein said space (22) freed below the collector (10) has a height that is larger than 5% of a maximum overall width of a largest capsule (100) suitable for beverage preparation by such machine (1) and evacuation by the passage (2), such as larger than 10%, for example larger than 25%, e.g. larger than 50% of the maximum overall width.

11. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the capsule collector (10) rests on the spacer (15) in direct contact therewith when the collector (10) is in the collecting position and the spacer (15) is in the spacing position.

12. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the seat (20) is delimited at the bottom end (21) by: - a lower or bottom machine part, e.g. by a machine panel or housing part or frame part that is substantially horizontal when such machine (1) is in a beverage preparation orientation; and / or - an external support surface, e.g. a horizontal surface such as a table or shelf top, on which such machine (1) is placed to prepare beverage.

13. The machine of any preceding claim, which comprises a capsule extraction module (30) that delimits a capsule extraction chamber (31) during beverage preparation, such as an extraction chamber (31) that is stationary or rotated for capsule centrifugation, the capsule extraction module (30) being located above the seat (20), the module (30) being configured to direct an extracted capsule (100) to the passage (2), optionally such capsule being driven by gravity from the module (30) into the capsule collector (10).

14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the capsule extraction module (30) is fluidically connected to a beverage outlet (3) and to a liquid supply, e.g. water supply, such as a liquid tank (5) or an external liquid delivery line, optionally the liquid supply and the extraction module (30) being:- fluidically connected together via a liquid driver, e.g. a pump (6), and / or a thermal conditioner for liquid, e.g. a heater and / or cooler, such as a thermoblock or thick film heater (7); and / or - configured to supply liquid at a pressure in the range of 7 to 25 bar, e.g. 10 to 20 bar, into the extraction chamber (31) while the extraction chamber (31) is substantially immobile or centrifuged; and / or - configured to supply liquid at a pressure in the range of ambient pressure to 10 bar, such as 1 to 7 bar, e.g. 2 to 4 bar, into the extraction chamber (31) while the extraction chamber (31) is centrifuged.

15. The machine of claim 13 or 14, wherein the extraction module (30) has a first part (32) and a second part (33) that are movable relative to one another between a distant position for inserting a capsule (100) into the chamber (31) and directing such capsule (100) from the chamber (31) towards the passage (2) and a proximate position for processing said capsule (100) and prepare beverage, the first and second parts (32,33) being relatively movable by an actuator such as a handle (8) or a motor.

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