음료 배출 수단을 갖춘 음료 준비 장치.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the field of beverage preparation in a beverage preparation device using doses containing ingredients. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for use in vehicles such a car or boat for example. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The beverage preparation devices using doses containing beverage ingredients such as ground coffee are very popular for their convenience, the consistent quality and quick preparation.

[0003] Certain beverage devices have been developed more specifically for being installed in a low voltage vehicle such as the one described in EP1277428B1. The device is an espresso coffee machine designed for a vehicle using a low power source, comprising a reservoir for the water which is connected to a pump to convey the water to a heating element, which itself is connected to an extraction head for a portion of coffee, a mobile fastener for the said head with a means which makes it possible to displace the said fastener from a position of opening to a position of closure and vice versa.

[0004] WO2014086915A1 relates to a beverage preparation device comprising a brewing unit for receiving the capsule and preparing the beverage from the ingredients by injecting liquid into the capsule, a receptacle support means, beverage delivery means and injection means adapted to selectively open a portion of the outlet wall of the receptacle (e.g., bottom of the receptacle) and to establish fluid communication between the beverage delivery means and the receptacle. The advantage is that beverage can be filled from the bottom of the receptacle thereby avoiding beverage spilling on the surface of the device or vehicle.

[0005] The device of WO2014086915A1 further comprises emptying means designed for evacuating residual liquid from the beverage delivery means. The emptying means comprises a junction element connected to the beverage delivery means and movable by drive means for moving the emptying means in emptying position. However, a risk is that the activation of the emptying means is not well coordinated with the removal of the receptacle from the injection means. In such case, there could be a safety risk of a jet of residual hot beverage out of the injection means that could cause as well as safety issues (e.g., risk of burns). Furthermore, this system is relatively complicated and subject to failures and aging.

[0006] WO2015173128A1 relates to a beverage capsule device comprising beverage dispensing means with safety outlet valve adapted to selectively open a fluid communication from the beverage brewing unit to the outlet dependent on the presence and/or proximity of a receptacle being equipped with activation means for the outlet valve. More particularly, the beverage injection is closed by the outlet valve as soon as the activation means of receptacle are no longer acting with the device such as when the receptacle is removed. However, a small residual amount of beverage can sit between the brewing unit and the tip of the injector causing potential hygiene issues and/or forcing the reduction of the distance between the injector and the brewing unit.

[0007] The present invention aims at solving the inconvenients of the prior art by proposing a simple solution that resolves both the safety and hygiene issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] For this, the invention relates to a beverage preparation device for preparing a beverage from a beverage dose comprising: a brewing unit for receiving the dose and preparing a beverage from the ingredients contained within the dose and pressurized liquid injected in the dose, a pressure pump for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit, beverage dispensing means connected to the brewing unit and comprising a beverage injector arranged for dispensing the beverage through a bottom of a beverage receptacle;wherein the beverage dispensing means comprises a residual beverage draining valve, between the beverage injector and the brewing unit, which is arranged to be moved between a beverage dispensing position and a residual beverage draining position,wherein the residual beverage draining valve and/or the beverage receptacle comprise valve activation means arranged to move the draining valve between a beverage dispensing position in response to the engagement of the bottom of the receptacle with the beverage injector and a residual beverage draining position in response to the removal of the receptacle from the beverage injector.

[0012] Therefore, the main principle of the invention lies in the selective activation of a beverage draining valve which depends on the relative position of the beverage receptacle and the beverage injector. In particular, when the receptacle is disengaged from the beverage injector, the residual beverage contained in the dispensing means can automatically start being drained thereby both releasing the overpressure and cleaning the beverage dispensing means from the residual beverage. Therefore, the draining valve when activated by the activation means prevents hot beverage from splashing thereby ensuring safety and hygiene to the device.

[0013] In a preferred mode, the valve activation means comprises magnetic activation members complementarily arranged on the valve and receptacle respectively for moving by magnetic effect the draining valve from the beverage residual draining position to the beverage dispensing position. A magnetic activation provides a simple, reliable and quick changeover of the position of the valve. It also allows constant operation over time, without wear, and it is insensitive to humidity, temperature changes and dusts. Preferably, the magnetic activation members comprise a series of alternating magnetic poles arranged about the circumference of the bottom of the receptacle and a series of alternating magnetic poles arranged circumferentially in the residual beverage draining valve.

[0014] The valve activation means may comprises elastic return means for urging the draining valve back into the residual beverage draining position.

[0015] This system is particularly simple and requires neither control nor electrical connection or wires. Therefore the draining of residual beverage occurs even if the device is no longer under power thereby providing increased safety for the user.

[0016] The beverage dispensing means may comprise a first draining line connecting the beverage injector via the draining valve to a residual beverage reservoir when the draining valve is in the residual beverage draining position. Therefore, as soon as the beverage receptacle is removed, the liquid column contained in the beverage injector is instantaneously drained thereby immediately releasing the overpressure in the injector and avoiding spillage on top of the device.

[0017] Furthermore, the device may comprise a second draining line for draining residual beverage contained between the draining valve and the brewing unit. The second draining line may be opened to a residual beverage reservoir by effect of the opening of the brewing unit. Therefore, the full removal of the residual beverage from the beverage dispensing means can be obtained by the second draining line when the brewing unit is opened. The system can be kept simpler since it does not need additional mobile mechanical parts to provide the draining of the residual beverage. The opening of the brewing unit for full draining can also be controllably delayed from the immediate pressure release taken care by the draining valve. As a result, a smoother pressure release with lower risk of spillage can be noticed.

[0018] Preferably, the device may comprise control means arranged for immediately interrupting the pressure pump and/or opening of the brewing unit when the receptacle is removed from the beverage injector. The pressure pump may be stopped before the second draining line is opened so that pressure is released sooner and spillage can be fully avoided. The volume of residual beverage drained in the residual beverage reservoir is also consequently decreased.