System for transferring the individual coffee bags from a container into the extraction chamber of an apparatus for preparation of coffee ESPRESSO

The invention relates to the transfer systems of the individual packets of coffee from the container in the extraction chamber of the coffee preparation apparatus.

It is known that the term "espresso coffee" refers to coffee which is drunk immediately after it has been prepared by filtering hot water under pressure, and the term "extraction chamber" refers to the part of the coffee preparation apparatus in which filtration is carried out by a package. individually by coffee or by a dose of coffee that is not dosed in a package.

The term individual coffee package refers to a package that in the usual language is called a package, capsule, catridge (cartridge) or other commercial terms. These packets contain о dose of roasted and ground coffee sufficient to make о cup or more of coffee.

The package is о dose of coffee compressed between two layers of paper or an equivalent material on which water-1 can easily pierce and, usually, form a disc with a о thickness of about 10 mm and diameter between 35 mm and 50 mm, creating о edge consisting of two layers of paper glued together, the edge may have a circular or polygonal shape. This package must be protected from contact with air from the time of manufacture to the time of use.

The capsule and cartridge represent doses of coffee packed in a box, usually in the form of a sectioned pyramid, cylinder or disc, usually made of plastic, aluminum foil or multi-layer material, thus being well protected from on contact with air. After the box has been passed into the appropriate extraction chamber, it is fixed up and down, so that hot water can penetrate through the coffee container.

In comparison with the packs, the capsules and the cartridges need more protection, but it is still desirable to ensure a long period of preservation through the system that is the subject of the present invention.

For simplicity in the description below, each individual dose of coffee will be conventionally called a package.

Currently, there are two types of espresso machines that operate with packages, namely a type in which each packet is transferred manually to the extraction chamber, after opening the container, which is usually sealed, and the second type, in that each package is included on the о-cord carrying о mulfime of the packages and stored in an airtight container that is open only at the time of use, it is transferred to the extraction chamber by means of a mechanical device.

The disadvantage is that in neither case is it possible to prevent the package from being taken by the operator, this means that all the packages in the container contact the surrounding air and are subject to alteration. In the first case, the user will have to remove the sealed package, open the container lid, take a packet and put it in the machine, then replace the lid. In the second case the taking takes place when the pachefel string is inserted into the device. In this operational phase, he needs a minimum of technical knowledge of the device as well as of the dependencies. In the second case, there is also a problem, namely that the organoleptic properties of the coffee will deteriorate rapidly because pachefelels are in close proximity to the system that heats the filtered water.

The closest solution is disclosed in the invention which represents an automatic dosing apparatus which is used in the preparation of various types of beverages. The drinks can be hot or cold, obtained from liquid or concentrated products, solid or powdered products which are confined in hermetically sealed pyramid-shaped capsules, placed in a row, superimposed in certain tubular containers. The dispenser is endowed with a number of container bundles, each of which confines a specific number of capsules to a particular product, so that the dispenser can be activated by the user for the delivery of the desired beverage. Regarding the structure and function of the dispenser, each cluster of containers is positioned on a rotating cylinder, provided with a passage for о capsule, and the mechanical device transfers a capsule to the direction of the mixing chamber, cutting the end of the capsule and turning the capsule into so that all his confinement falls into the so-called room. This dispenser pre-seals the sealed capsules that are loaded into the open containers [1].

The disadvantage is that the contents of any capsule fall into the mixing chamber where it is mixed with hot or cold liquid, then poured, and of course it is not suitable for boiling о espresso and does not have operational means to activate the apparatus, to check the extraction chamber, as well as the means for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

The problem that the present invention solves is the transfer of the individual packets of coffee from the container directly to the extraction chamber, the given container being sealed at the factory and opened only when the packets are used.

MD 3265 2B 2007.03.31

The result of the invention is the protection of the packages from the degrading influence of the air.

The system according to the invention removes the disadvantages mentioned above in that it constitutes a system for direct transfer of the packet from the container into the extraction chamber attached to an espresso coffee maker and comprises:

- at least one tubular container which can be both rigid and semi-rigid, which confines о load of the overlapping packages and which, once it has been deprived of the hermetic packaging that closes its opening, is attached to the device so that its own attachment devices coupled with the appropriate reception devices, attached to the apparatus in a loading position, adjacent to the extraction chamber. The so-called container performs a dual function of container and loader, at the same time, in addition to the function of storing packages, it also fulfills the function of supplying the device with the required number of packages. To simplify, however, we will continue to call this part of the container system;

- a movable closing device which can be attached to the device for carrying out controlled movements from the position where the mouth of the container is closed (closed position) to the position where the mouth of the container is open (open position), as well as the last bottom package in the container be able to fall from it, after which the mouth of the container is immediately closed again by the mobile closing devices;

- о opening in the device in the connected position to allow the last bottom packet to pass from the container to the transfer means below, when the movable closing element is in the open position;

- a transfer means for transporting the packet that fell from the container into the loading position in the extraction chamber (the position of the transfer means, when it is below the mouth of the container in the loading position, will continue to be called the loading position);

- control means for activating consecutively the aforementioned means of movable closure and the transfer means and means for performing the closing phase of the extraction chamber after the pachefel has been transferred to it, returning the movable closure means to the initial position, the pump which pumps water to the loading device and the extraction chamber, coffee percolation, opening of the extraction chamber, throwing used pachefel, so that the system is ready for operation when the user needs, the same consecutive operations will be performed on the next packet transferred from the container.

When referring to the container, the term tubular should generally be understood as cylindrical and concave, but not only; the term tubular should be understood as a rectangular and concave container having an internal cross-section suitable for storing a certain number of overlapping pachefts and having the outer perimeter circular or polygonal, defined by the edge of the crown consisting of two layers of paper glued together . This container is made of food material capable of isolating the contents from the penetration of air and moisture from the outside, and which minimizes the transmission of heat through it.

The result of the present invention is that the transfer means comprise parts which will require the movable closing means to move from the mouth of the container, transfer the pachefel to the extraction chamber and return this part to the initial position! of rest; the movable closure means is a kind of stopper, the part that transfers the pachefel to the extraction chamber will be later called the positioning means, and will usually be an arm that transports by angular or rectilinear motion, the stopper and the arm being controlled by a single drive mechanism or, respectively, two drive mechanisms that can be controlled manually, electromechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically.

It is desirable that the movable closing means be a retractable stopper, capable of blocking the lid of the container positioned in the position of loading and controlled in such a way as to cause it to return vertically, then to become laterally transportable and thus to allow the positioning device which transfers the pachefel to the extraction chamber.

Alternatively, the positioning means may be in the form of a tape without end by rotating in the direction that starts from the loading position to the extraction chamber and provides with a large number of places, all with equal distances between them, each of places being available to receive a pachefel when the controlled movement brings a place, step by step, under the movable closure means, so that the pachefel reaches the place and is then transported to the extraction chamber. The tape also confines openings with the appropriate slits that allow the coffee to pass next to the tape, which may be delivered from the neck (sleeve) of the device.

In another embodiment, the system may confine a disk which is made to rotate in an intermittent manner by an engine and to carry with equal lengths, along the periphery, a number of rigid tabular containers, each of which confines о load of the packets are superimposed and are supplied with a coupling device which, after the container has been deprived of its hermetic sealing element, can be coupled with the corresponding coupling device provided on the disc, so that the containers can be placed one after the other in the loading position, adjacent to the extraction chamber, in this position, each time the consumer gives the appropriate order, the transfer means is activated to carry the bags,

MD 3265 2B 2007.03.31 one at a time, to the filter. A sensor or counter informs the control body when the container in loading position has used the last packet, after the engine causes the disk to rotate to bring the next container full of packets into the loading position.

The advantages of the system are the following:

- the packages to be placed in the appliance are located in at least one sealed tubular container, which can be designed to contain any number of packages desired, for example о dozen for a family or small office appliance, or thirty-six for one automatic apparatus located in a public place, or there may be a large number of such containers including a larger number of packages, packing is carried out simply by removing the sealed lock of the container and inserting the coupling device into the protective sleeve of the device;

- exempts the operator from handling the product or touches it in any way, whether the machine is manual or automatic;

- the container remains closed, even when the seal has been removed and loaded into the appliance;

- all the packages in the container inserted in the device remain well protected from the heat sources, so they do not lose its organoleptic properties;

- each used package is automatically removed after the extraction of coffee and this is an advantage even for the manual operation of the appliance, because in the known devices from the previous stage the package was often forgotten in the extraction room, where it will tend to stick to the lining, so that the subsequent attempt to remove it will lead to paper breakage and coffee leakage;

- cleaning operations of the extraction chamber together with a possible filter and with a filter holder, the parts of the room in contact with the extracted coffee, are very simple, and very different compared to what happens in the known appliances, in which the whole unit coffee extraction must be disassembled.

The invention is explained by the drawings in fig. 1 ... 8, which represents:

FIG. 1, the first view from the perspective;

FIG. 1A, the perspective view of a detail in figure 1;

FIG. IB, о sequence of views from the profile;

FIG. 1C, the second view from the perspective of the invention;

FIG. 2, partial view of the first plan;

FIG. ЗА and ЗВ, additional profiles (which appear partially sectioned);

FIG. 4, о another profile view;

FIG. 4 / 1-4 / 9, о sequence of the profile views illustrating the successive phases of operation;

FIG. 5, о plan view;

FIG. 6, о another profile view;

FIG. 7, a perspective view;

FIG. 8, another view from the perspective.

Figure 1 represents the construction 1 of the coffee machine which serves as a support for the conventional means and means according to the invention, said structure is composed of an upper plate 12, an intermediate plate 13 and a lower plate 14; a conventional heat exchanger 2, which is capable of providing instantaneous heating of the water contained in a tank which is not shown in the figures, о conventional cams for extracting coffee from the coffee pack; a conventional flat support 4 on which is placed the coffee cup 5 equipped with о tray for capturing drops under the gratings. A rigid tubular cylindrical container 6 contains 36 round coffee packs, and, being only the sliding lid sealed, are attached to its mouth, it is presented here coupled with an adapter 7 fastened to the apparatus by two parallel guide pieces 8 in the loading position. adjacent to the extraction chamber. The operation of the system for transferring individual packages will now be described in general terms and subsequently described in detail with reference to the subsequent figures. In the loading position of the movable container under the top plate 12, at the end of the arm, there is a stopper which is hinged on the intermediate plate, below it, the stopper intended for closing the lid of the container and for supporting the lower package inside it; a manual control lever 10 can be pushed to the left, thus causing the plug and the means for positioning the package to move simultaneously, where the positioning means, bringing the package down to the inside of the container lid, comes to rest to the left from the position of load and the package, which in this time has already fallen from the lid of the container and came to rest on the intermediate plate 13; the positioning means couple the package, which has the profile of the corresponding convex ends.

It will be easy to understand that the adapter capable of being attached to the device is provided with an opening located in the charging position, so that it can work with the transfer device below it. In this situation the operator will hold the adapter with one hand, using the other to grasp the container and couple it with the coupling device located on the adapter, which he will then raise to the correct position on the upper plate 12.

Figure 1 shows a more detailed view of the adapter 7 with hinges (репе) 8a which have the function of coupling with the guide pieces fixed on the plate 12 and shown in figure 1. The circular opening 7a passing through the adapter consists of the upper part and the part lower; the upper part has a larger diameter than the lower part and carries a circular number 7b to support the mouth (lid) of the container, which is

MD 3265 2B 2007.03.31 held in position by two locking devices 7 c, and has a second diameter that allows the packet to pass through it on its way from the container to the extraction chamber, a 7d lock closes the mouth (lid) the container during the operation of applying the container to the adapter to prevent the packages from falling; the sequence of this operation is shown schematically in figure IB, where not all reference numbers define different parts of the composition of the figure that was represented, thus avoiding the inopportune complications of the drawing and where:

- Bl represents a container 6 filled with the packages 34 upright, when an operator removes the seal of the packing S from the mouth (lid) of the container; the latter is surrounded by a radial edge 9 sufficiently wide to engage with the corresponding coupling device;

- B2 represents the adapter 7 which has already been described in figure 1A intended to support the open lid of the container 6 in the opposite direction; switch 7d is in the closed position;

- B3 represents the adapter 7 applied to the mouth (lid) of the container 6; margin 9; the latter is now coupled to the adapter by means of the locking device 7c;

- B4 represents the inverted adapter and applied to the device; the hinges 8a of the adapter are coupled with the guide pieces 8; switch 7 is still in the closed position;

- B5 represents the switch 7d in the open position, thus allowing the lower package to fall into the plug 18 of the system in the lower position of the container.

Figure 1C represents another embodiment of the adapter 7 illustrated in Figure 1; with a view to allowing container 6 to be applied to the apparatus, the upper plate of the apparatus is endowed with a pair of parallel guide pieces 8 which are combined into a semicircular loop 8a in the loading position; the edge 9 surrounding the mouth (lid) of the container becomes coupled between the guide pieces 8 and 8a and is also endowed with о slide, whose terminal part 8bb, projected above the top plate 12, is bent vertically downwards. The seal that closes the mouth (lid) of the container is removed when the container is held with the lid up, then the container is tilted until the lid rests in the opposite direction of the vertical part 8bb of the slide 8b, prevented so that the packages fall from the container, then the container 6 is pushed along the slide 8b between the guide pieces 8, as the loading position is shown in the figure.

Taken together, Figures 2, ЗА and ЗВ, illustrate the manual device for transferring to the extraction chamber the lower package contained in the container.

Fixed to a vertical bolt 15 projected from the upper front of the intermediate plate 13 are superimposed on each other, the following three pieces which in figures are presented in a resting position:

- the first arm 16 bearing on its free end о cup 17 in which it can slide in an upright position о closing piece or a stopper 18 which at the exit is endowed with a cylindrical rod 19 extending down through the central hotel, in the cup 17 ;

- the second positioning arm 20 is provided on the right side, at the exit, with a concave 21 which corresponds to the convexity of the packages used in the system;

- the control with lever 10 which is coupled under the positioning arm 20, designed from the perimeter of the intermediate plate so as to allow it to be applied by the operator and is connected to the positioning arm 20 by a boh close to the bolt 15.

The container 6 is in position for loading on the plate 12, coupled with the guide pieces 8, above the plug 18. In addition, at the three pieces 16, 20, 10, the intermediate plate 13 is also endowed with a curved notch 23 in which it can slide the rod 19 of the stopper 18 when the arm 16 rotates around the bolt 15; a shock absorber bolt 24 to bring the positioning arm 20 to a stop at the right side, at the rest position, that is, when it is opposite the filter 28 in which the package (not shown in the figures) must be inserted; a helical spring 25 having an end fixed by the lever control 10 and another one fixed by the arm 16, which provides the return force for the lever control and brings the stopper 18 to the closing position and so the positioning arm 20 is in the rest position ( the lever control 10 can be returned to the idle position and manually); о opening 26 which the package falls after it has been used; о opening 27 for receiving the lower part of the extraction chamber carrying the filter 28 at the level of the intermediate plate; an unlocking device 29 capable of sliding vertically between the guide pieces not shown in the figure and which are in contact with the intermediate plate 13 by means of an elastic clip 30, the device having an upper end extending through an opening to the intermediate plate 13 and so is located just under the control with lever 10 rests you, while the lower end extends to form an arm 32 which inclines towards the stem 19 of the stopper 18, at the end of the arm 32 is an organ with о oscillatory staple 31 which can be coupled with о cavity 33 of the rod. The upper part of the extraction chamber 3 is controlled by the up and down movement in the direction of arrow F, so that it can close after the package has been inserted and then open again after the coffee has been percolated.

Parts 10, 29, 30, 31, 32 intervene to implement the various phases of the manual transfer of packages, one after another, from container 6 to filter 28, and in particular removing plug 18 from the mouth (lid) of the container, moving the lid from the position loading, to the left, the drop of the package 34 on the intermediate plate 13, the coupling of the concave part 21 by the positioning arm 20 with the left side of the package,

MD 3265 2B 2007.03.31 pushing the positioning arm 20 by means of a control lever 10, and pushing the package into the loading position on the intermediate plate 13, towards the filter 28, with the author of the positioning arm 20.

When the pack 34 has to be transferred from the container 6 to the filter 28, the operator drops the control lever 10 and then to break the resistance of the elastic clip 30, causes the unlocked means 29 to be lowered with their own arms 31 and the swing hooks 32, which, at in turn, place the plug 18 at the end of the cup 17 so that it is pulled down, as a result of this action, end the top of the plug is located below the level of the top plate 12 (see figure 3B); at this point the operator pushes the control lever 10 to the left, so that the arm 16 and the position of the arm 20 are respectively pushed and lowered until the rod 19 is brought to a stop by the end of the left side of the arched notch 23 so that the positioning of the arms is located to the left of the loading position; at this point, in addition, the pack 34 falls on the intermediate plate 13 with the left side coming into contact with the cavity 21 of the positioning arm 28. If the operator now pushes the control lever 10 to the right, the lever will pull the arm 16 with the cups of 17 until it eventually reaches the arched notch 32, so it will remain at the loading position where the cup 18 is pushed to the elastic clip 30, acting through parts 29 and 31 towards the opening of the container, while the control lever 10 continues the movement of pushing the positioning arm in the opposite direction 20 of the pivoting shock absorber 24, position in which packet 34 is inserted in the filter. As a consequence, the control lever 10 and the positioning arm 20 are brought into their initiated position. When all the packages in container 6 have been used, an operator will have to replace it and insert a full container into its block; Before it can replace the empty container, the operator will have to remove plate 18 from the mouth of the container by lifting the control lever 10.

Summarizing this first operation meant to trigger the system of opening the small door that protects the space in which the cup of coffee is placed and о places under the opening by letting the coffee flow from the appliance. While this door is open, the first shock absorber prevents the саге command activating the means for selecting and positioning the packages. After the cup has been placed in this space and then closed again, this damper is moved so that the control lever is first pushed down and then to one side. This operation causes the movable closure of the means so that the plate is moved consistently from the mouth of the container and pushed to the о part of the loading position, in accordance with the positioning arm which is thus pulled to the о part, in such a way as to allow the package to drop from the container on the intermediate plate through the side of the control lever. This movement was brought to the position of the lateral end, the control lever is pushed to the opposite position, so as to push the positioning arm that brings the packages into the extraction chamber. During the second lateral movement of the control lever, the plate is brought back to the initiated position to close the mouth of the container that will remain in the closing position, due to the action of a mechanism that exerts upward pressure. When the control lever reaches the extreme position relative to the shock absorber, the package is inserted into the extraction chamber and the control lever will perform the third movement that will bring the control lever into the initiated position. The appropriate mechanism or electromechanical means will ensure that the protective door is opened while the control lever is switched on. At the end of the third movement, the return of the control lever to the initiated position is performed by means of an electric switch that will cause the extraction chamber to be closed and the pump to be activated, thus initiating the coffee flow. When the extraction is completed, the extraction chamber will open again, after which the protective door may be opened to move the cup of coffee. When this door is opened, the rotation through the first 20 ° sets in motion the corresponding system of the lever - a conventional means capable of moving the used package from the extraction chamber causing it to fall into a collecting container. When the control lever is brought to its initial position (third movement) and the leak is completed, it will be possible to start another extraction cycle. When the protective door is open, the filter fixer and funnel can be removed for washing.

The manual mechanism shown in Figures 2, ЗА and ЗВ can be replaced by an automatic mechanism as shown in Figure 4 and the operating sequence of Figures 4/1 .. .4 / 9. This mechanism is controlled by an electrical circuit board that activates four different levers (hereinafter referred to as the simplified lever name) to implement these phases which aim to remove the seal including the mouth of the container and the manual attachment phase of the one in followed the device, the interval from opening the plug to removing the empty packages and returning the device to the position where a new sequence of operation can be started. The levers can be of electromechanical, hydraulic or oleo-hydraulic type. The reference numbers shown in figure 4 comprise all the parts described in the operational sequence of figures 4/1 ... 4/9 so that the analysis of the latter example is very brief.

Figure 4 represents the container 6 attached to the coffee machine by contacting the radial edge 9 in the guide pieces 8 ... 8a in the lifting position, adjacent to the extraction chamber 3; the lower package 34, the support of the plate 18, when the bottom and top movement of the base of the plate is controlled by the positioning means Pl in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, which, like other positioning means P2, P3, P4 of the mechanism, is controlled о electric circuit board which is not shown in the drawing, aiming to push the main mechanism (which in the case of Pl is plug 18) into a desired position thus bringing it back from this position; located between plates 12 and 13 where there is a separating blade 50 which separates

MD 3265 2B 2007.03.31 the remaining package on stopper 18 from the following packages, where the blade is gripped by the axis 51 capable of performing a horizontal movement under the control of the positioning means P2, pushing the remaining package from stopper 18 to filter 28; the positioning means P3 controls the vertical movement of the upper movable part of the extraction chamber 3; the positioning means P4 controls the movement of the horizontal plate 53 which is responsible for removing the empty packages from the filter 28, which will be illustrated in the reference to figure 5. It will be readily understood that the positioning means can be electromechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic.

Figure 4/1 shows the container 6 which is now loaded in the guide piece 8, but which is not yet in the loading position.

Figure 4/2 essentially reproduces the situation shown in figure 4; container 6 in the loading position and the device that has not yet received the command to start the operating cycle.

Figure 4/3 shows the phases in which, after the operator has activated the 'ON (which is not shown in the figure) button to start the operation, the positioning means Pl receives an impulse which causes the plug 18 to drop and the pack to lower into the container to the point where the lowest package 34 comes to be located in axis 51. ''

Figure 4/4 shows the phase in which the positioning means P2 receive an impulse which causes the axis 51 to move to the right until the package 34 will be located in the filter 28 and the separation blade 50 will be located between the package and the axis 51.

Figure 4/5 shows the phase in which the positioning means P2 receives an impulse which causes the axis 51 and the blade 50 to move back, to the left.

Figure 4/6 shows the phase in which the positioning means Pl receives a pulse which causes the plug 18 to lift until the mouth of the container is closed again.

Figure 4/7 shows the phase in which the positioning means P3 receives an impulse which causes the upper part of the extraction chamber 3 to be left, which thus comes to press in the opposite direction to the lower part of the chamber with the pack 34 tightly between the bottom and the from above.

Figure 4/8 shows the phase in which the positioning means P3 receives an impulse which causes the upper part of the extraction chamber 3 to rise upward, as a result the used package remains uncovered.

Figure 4/9 shows the phase in which the positioning means P4 receives an impulse which causes the plate 53 to move horizontally, coming into contact with the front end of the filter 28, thus pushing the package used in the extraction chamber.

Following the examples illustrated in the lines above, the machine is ready to repeat the following sequence until it receives another command from the ON button and so on.

Figure 5 explains the phase illustrated in figure 4/9: the used package 34 remains with its edge 34a on the filter 28, and the impulse received by the positioning means P4 causes the plate 53 to move in the direction of arrow F; thus the plate penetrates between the front of the filter edge and the edge of the package, which is thus lifted and pushed to the opening 26 provided in the intermediate plate 13, so that it may fall into a container placed below (not shown in the figure); the plug 18, the positioning means P2, the separating blade 50 and the axis 51 can also be seen in the figure.

Figure 6 shows the positioning means that carry the package in the extraction chamber being a conveyor belt 40 which rotates clockwise F over the two opposite drums, one of which is driven to operate between the lifting position and the filter 28, where the conveyor belt is provided with equal opening spaces 42, each of which can receive the packet 34 when a controlled movement brings each of the openings mentioned, step by step, under the container 6 and under the separating blade 41 capable of moving in the direction of the arrow Fl. Each package is positioned on the opening о of the conveyor 40, being held there by its edges 34a. When the apparatus is activated to make coffee, the blade 41 is pulled from the position at which the mouth of the container 6 closes, thus allowing the package to fall to the opening of the conveyor 40 below it and immediately to the conveyor 40 moved, which then moves. is brought to its initial position, after a package has been inserted into the filter 28 of the extraction chamber 3; when the conveyor belt is moved, the separating blade 41 is brought back to the closing position shown on the figure, after the programmed command causes the upper movable part of the extraction chamber to be left in the lower fixed part 33 of the chamber thus causing coffee to leak; at the end of the leak, the top of the extraction chamber returns to its original position, and the belt conveyor continues the next movement, thus causing the packet to fall into the reservoir 44 where the belt conveyor returns them to the end of its path. The conveyor belt also includes the spaces of the close openings 42A that allow the coffee to pass to be delivered to the port of the appliance.

In another embodiment, each of the openings 42 may carry a filter 28 to replace the filter mounted at the bottom of the extraction chamber 3; this solution offers the advantage of allowing additional protection of the packet during the time between the packet falling on the belt conveyor 40 and the moment it enters the extraction chamber. The problem of crossing the filter over the D-drums is solved in several ways: executing the surface of the concave drums or using a flexible material for the construction of the filters.

MD 3265 2B 2007.03.31

Figure 7 represents a group of containers 6 equally positioned along the periphery of the disk 45 which rotates in the direction of the arrow F2 around the central axis 46 of the fixed platform 47, the containers, each of which confines the load of the packets superimposed on each other. , lacking the hermetic elements that close them, being coupled with their own coupling means 9, properly receiving the means 8 provided on the rotating disc, so that one by one they are brought by controlled means of movement in the loading position 48, which is adjacent! with the extraction chamber, where the retractable plug 18 is located, which can be controlled by means of the mechanism after! as described in reference to FIGS. 2, ЗА, ЗВ or 4 to transfer a pachefel into the extraction chamber. In order to make it easier! understanding the drawing, the container in the loading position was not shown in the figure!

Figure 8 represents! an example other than that described in Figure 7; a linear support 45a can be moved, step by step, under the aegis of a controlled means of pushing (not shown in the figure!) in the direction of the legs F3, along a guide 54 fixed on the top plate 12 a coffee machine; the support can confine five containers 6 (of which only two! are shown in the figure!) in the five cells 60 (the receiving means 8 are located in the five cells so as to receive the coupling means 9 of their container); the container brought to a stop above the retractable plug 18 in the loading position 48a adjacent! to the extraction chamber they provide! a pachefel after! another, by the means described above, up! emptying; at the same time the means of pushing put a movement, step by step, the support 45a, thus bringing the next container into the loading position, and so on. When all containers have been emptied, they are manually replaced by other containers that follow! to be released from the airtight packaging at their head. To better understand the drawing, the container in the loading position was not shown in the figure!