Vertical stand for dispensing hot beverage capsules that is actuated by a rocker arm

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule-dispensing stand for machines for preparing hot beverages such as coffee, tea or soup, designed to be suspended from or glued, anchored or screwed to a vertical surface. The capsules are manually inserted by means of a slot (4) formed by a base (5) and side rails (6), the capsules being stacked vertically in the dispensing stand (1). By pressing an actuating surface (22) of a rocker arm (2), the first capsule inserted falls under gravity into the same hand that actuated the rocker arm. The rocker arm (2) simultaneously blocks any remaining capsules (3) stored in the channel, which is understood as the assembly of elements for storing a vertical column of capsules (3) and subsequently dispensing same. With each press of the rocker arm (2), the next capsule (3) is released in order of insertion.

Description

Rocker-operated vertical dispenser stand for hot beverage capsules

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of beverage preparation systems and, more particularly, to dispensing mechanisms for single-use capsules.

[0002] The invention relates to a capsule dispenser holder for hot beverage preparation machines, such as coffee, tea or broth, designed to be hung, glued, anchored or screwed onto a vertical surface.

[0003] Following the commercial success of these machines, a wide variety of capsule storage and dispensing systems have appeared on the market, either storing them in slotted drawers that open horizontally or stacking them vertically in vertical racks. Many existing dispensers do not follow the FIFO (first in, first out) principle; that is, the first one in is the first one out. This can leave a capsule forgotten at the bottom of a dispenser drawer, with the consequent risk of exceeding its expiration date. Brief description of the invention

[0004] This invention solves that problem and, moreover, offers a substantial ergonomic improvement: with a simple press on a manually operated lever, the first capsule inserted into the dispenser falls by gravity into the same hand used to activate it. Each time the lever is pressed, the next inserted capsule, if any, is released.

[0005] Current capsule dispenser designs often require the use of both hands, incorporate unnatural movements, or lack proper ergonomics during use. Furthermore, many of these systems do not adhere to the FIFO principle.

[0006] The invention solves these problems by means of a vertical capsule dispensing stand equipped with a manually operated rocker. The design ensures that each capsule is released one by one in the same order in which it was inserted. Furthermore, the rocker mechanism allows for one-handed operation, so the user can collect the dispensed capsule with the same hand that operates the lever, thus offering improved ergonomics and ease of use.

[0007] According to the invention, this is achieved by means of a rocker arm driven by a small spring and located at the lower end of the slotted channel where the capsules are stored vertically between the side rails, as explained in claim 1.

[0008] The invention offers several advantages, including a compact design and the elimination of the need to open drawers or manually slide capsules along rails—whether vertical or horizontal—to retrieve them. Furthermore, it allows the capsules to be dispensed in the same order in which they were inserted with a simple manual gesture.

[0009] In order to better illustrate a practical and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings: Fig.1

[0010] It is an axonometric view of the invention with capsules stacked inside with the rocker arm in a resting state. Fig.2

[0011] It is a partial detailed view of a longitudinal section of the invention with capsules and the rocker arm in actuated or pulsed mode. Fig. 3

[0012] It is a view of a longitudinal section of the invention with the rocker arm at rest. Fig.4

[0013] It shows an isolated orthogonal view of the base of the invention. That is, without the rocker arm, without the spring, and without the side support rails.

[0014] With reference to the drawings, a capsule dispenser (1) is shown, in which the rocker (2) prevents the capsule(s) (3) from falling out when inserted through the upper slot (4). This slot (4) is formed by the base (5) and the side rails (6).

[0015] The rocker arm (2) has two positions: rest (Figs. 1 and 3) and activated. In the rest position, the rocker arm (2) rests on the initial position stop (7). When the actuating surface (22) is pressed, the rocker arm (2) rotates about its axis (8) until it makes contact with the final position stop (9). When released, the rocker arm returns to its rest position thanks to a spring (10) located between the rocker arm (2) and the base (5), housed in a cavity (21).

[0016] In its resting state, the first capsule (3) inserted through the upper slot (4) descends by its own weight between the side rails (6) and the base (5) until it rests on a locking stop (11). At this point, the capsule (3) rests on three points of contact: the locking stop (11) of the rocker arm and the two lower inner corners (16) of the side rails. To ensure these three points of contact and prevent accidental release, the capsule (3) must remain centered, which is achieved by centering surfaces (13). Subsequent capsules (3) inserted rest on top of the previous one. Only when the rocker arm (2) is pressed does the first capsule fall, while the rocker arm's retaining stop (12) holds the next capsule (and the others stacked on top of it).

[0017] The distance between the inner edges of the side rails (6) is slightly less than the diameter of the capsule flange (14), except in the lower area to allow the capsule (3) contained in the rocker arm (2) to be released when the lever is pressed. The rocker arm incorporates an inclined surface (15) next to the locking stop (11), which allows the capsule to slide and fall out just after the next capsule, if present, is locked by the retaining stop (12).

[0018] To prevent excessive speed in the descent of the first capsule (3), which could cause it to bounce against the rocker and be ejected from the dispenser, one or more side stops (17) have been included that force the capsule to descend in a zigzag motion.

[0019] The base (5) has a central longitudinal depression (18) that helps the capsules (3) to stack consistently with the same orientation, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Similarly, the rocker arm (2) has its own central depression (19) to prevent the lower film (20) of the capsule from breaking, thus preventing unwanted release of its contents when the device is actuated.

Claims

Vertical dispenser support (1) for hot beverage capsules (3) operated by a rocker arm (2), comprising one or more parallel channels, where "channel" means the set of components necessary to store a vertical row of capsules (3) and subsequently dispense them; characterized by: a base (5) with at least one channel; one or more rockers (2); two or more side rails (6) which, together with the base (5), form the upper groove (4) through which the flanges (14) of the capsules (3) are inserted into the dispenser support (1) and guided in their descent towards the rocker arm (2);and at least one spring (10) for each rocker (2), wherein, when the rocker (2) is pressed, the lowest capsule (3) is released from the channel and falls by gravity into the user's hand, while the next capsule, if any, is retained by the retaining stop (12), and wherein the geometry of the dispenser allows manual activation of the rocker (2) and sequential dispensing of the capsules in the same order in which they were inserted. Dispenser support (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a pressing surface (22). Dispenser support (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a pivot axis (8). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a locking stop (11). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has an initial position stop (7). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a final position stop (9). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a retaining stop (12). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has an inclined surface (15) next to the locking stop (11). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has centering surfaces (13). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a central depression (19). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its rocker arm (2) has a cavity for the spring (21). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its base (5) has a cavity for the spring (21). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its base (5) has a longitudinal central depression (18). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that its base (5) has one or more side stops (17). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by having corners (16) on the rails (6) at the end of the slot (4), where the distance between rails (6) exceeds the diameter of the flap (14) of the capsule (3) to allow its exit when the rocker arm (2) is actuated. Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rails (6) may or may not form part of the base (5). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has more than one lane. Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail located between two rails belongs simultaneously to both adjacent rails. Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring (10) can be an integral part of the rocker arm (2). Dispenser support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring (10) can be an integral part of the base (5).

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