Systems and processes for preparing beverages with enhaced regulation of motorized actuation

Abstract

Systems and process for preparing beverages, in particular espresso coffee and similar aromatic beverages, based upon a beverage preparation apparatus that has a beverage preparation device adapted to be actuated between open and closed positions by an actuation disposition that includes an electric motor whose operation can be regulated by a control mechanism, whereby the actuation disposition includes an actuation monitoring mechanism adapted to provide monitoring of the circular movement of a driving cam so that the control mechanism can therewith better regulate the electric power supplied to said electric motor.

1 . Apparatus comprising a beverage preparation device presenting at least one mobile part adapted so that can be driven by an actuation disposition that includes an electric motor and that can be regulated by control means in a movement path between open position, where the beverage preparation device can collect an individual portion of edible substance, and closed position, and in the reverse movement path,
 wherein   the actuation disposition includes actuation monitoring means adapted so that can provide monitoring of at least one movement parameter associated with the circular movement of a driving came along an angular extension smaller than 360°, whereby the control means are configured so that can identify the movement path and regulate the operation of the electric motor in each movement path, based upon the data of movement parameter apprehended by said actuation monitoring means.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuation disposition includes a movement generating device, in particular in the form of an electric motor, a velocity and torque conversion device, preferentially in the form of a gear set, and a driving transmission disposition of final rotation movement to a mobile part of linear movement of the beverage preparation device, whereby the actuation disposition is preferentially adapted so that the linear movement path between initial and destination positions, that is, between open and closed positions of the beverage preparation device, and vice-versa, only requires a rotation movement by the driving came in angular extension of at most 110°, preferentially at most 95°, in the clockwork direction and reverse.   
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuation monitoring means are configured so that can monitor at least one of, preferentially at least two parameters associated with the circular movement of the driving came, in a quadrant interval associated with the movement quadrant thereof, along an angular extension of at least 110°, preferentially of at least 100°, particularly preferentially comprised between 90° and 100°.   
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuation monitoring means are configured so that, in each movement path, can apprehend at least one of the following movement parameters: rotation direction, number of rotations between the edges of movement path and rotation velocity of the driving came.   
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuation disposition includes an electric motor operatively connected by means of direct movement transmission to a single gear set that presents a movement exit preferentially oriented in an orthogonal direction relative to the driving axis of electric motor, whereby the gear set is adapted for direct transmission of the rotation movement of driving came that drives at least one mobile part of the beverage preparation device, and whereby all components of the movement transmission of the actuation disposition are provided encapsulated so that they are not exposed to dusts or corrosive agents, whereby the single gear set is preferentially provided inside of a respective gear box, and the driving came is provided inside of a respective driving sleeve, and   the actuation disposition includes a driving came adapted so that provides direct movement transmission between a transmission exit of gear set and an actuation part of the beverage preparation device, whereby the driving came preferentially extends along the whole width of the actuation disposition and along at least most part of a transversal extension of the beverage preparation device.   
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuation monitoring means include a first monitoring mobile part provided so that can be moved together with the driving came and that presents a plurality of openings arranged along an angular alignment, as well as a second monitoring fixed part provided so that can emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation, for example in the infrared, said beam being oriented so that intersects said angular alignment of openings of the mobile part, and   the actuation disposition includes position monitoring means adapted so that can detect at least one end of path, for example in the form of an electro-mechanic switch, or similar, including the end of path corresponding to the beverage preparation device in the open position.   
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuation disposition includes a first fixation support arranged laterally with relation to the movement path associated with the actuation disposition, whereby only the gear box is fixed to said first fixation support, preferentially by fixation means of mechanic type provided on one side only of the gear box, and whereby the beverage preparation device is preferentially supported by a structural support different from the first fixation support, and   the actuation disposition includes a second fixation support, whereby said actuation monitoring means are preferentially fixed directly to said second fixation support.   
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control means are configured so that can regulate at least one of: actuation of said actuation device and actuation of said flow pressurization device, as well as display of operative conditions to the user, based upon at least one of:
 the correct entry and exit of the individual portion, in particular an eventual jamming of the individual portion at the entry of the beverage preparation device; 
 the positions of start and end of movement path of said actuation disposition, thereby inferring the condition of total opening or total closure of the beverage preparation device. 
   
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control means are configured so that can regulate the operation of said flow pressurization device according to at least one of the following conditions:
 cannot be initiated in case of not being detected placement of a drinking recipient on a respective placement disposition, and/or in case that the beverage preparation device is not in the completely closed position, even in case that there is detected and/or inferred the presence of an individual portion inside thereof, and 
 can be initiated even in case that there is not detected or inferred the present of an individual portion inside of the closed beverage preparation device; 
 can be interrupted and/or terminated in case of detection of a removal of drinking recipient from said placement disposition, and can be suspended in case of detection of manipulation of a drinking recipient on a respective placement disposition. 
   
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control means are configured so that can regulate the operation of said actuation disposition based upon the relative position of the individual portion in relation to the beverage preparation device, and based upon the relative position of the actuation disposition with relation to the movement path, including based upon the positions of start and end of movement path thereof, and   the control means are configured so that can infer the relative position of the individual portion and eventual jamming thereof at the entry of the beverage preparation device based upon the determination of a previously defined reduction of rate of reduction of the displacement speed associated with the actuation disposition, in particular the driving came, or stop thereof.   
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control means are configured so that can infer the following events based upon the following respective means:
 presence of individual portion: based upon the actuation of portion detection means, preferentially a first and a second portion sensors associated with said beverage preparation device, 
 position of the beverage preparation device: based upon the actuation of position sensors, for example of optical type and of electro mechanic switch type, associated with at least one of the edges of movement path of said actuation disposition and corresponding to the total opening and total closure of said beverage preparation device; 
 an eventual jamming of the individual portion on the beverage preparation device: based upon a variation of the displacement velocity of driving came. 
   
     
     
         12 . Process for preparing a beverage including:
 providing a beverage preparation apparatus;   switching the apparatus on, so as to provide operational readiness,   optionally, in each beverage preparation cycle associated with an individual portion, confirming the position of the beverage preparation device and functional connection of the control means with operative components of the actuation disposition, including operating condition of the electric motor operatively associated with a driving came;   and, in each movement path of the beverage preparation device, between open and closed positions, and vice-versa:   monitoring by actuation monitoring means at least one parameter associated with the circular movement of the driving came along an angular extension of less than 360°, and   regulating by control means the operation of the electric motor, including the supply of electric power hereto, based upon data of at least one parameter, supplied by the actuation monitoring means and as a function of the relative position in the movement path determined based upon said data.   
     
     
         13 . Process according to  claim 12 , wherein
 further includes in each movement path:
 providing data relating to at least one of, preferentially at least two of the following parameters associated with the circular of the driving came: rotation direction, number of rotations and speed of rotation of the driving came; 
 determining the direction of the movement path and the relative position of the beverage preparation device with relation to the movement path. 
   
     
     
         14 . Process according to  claim 12 , wherein
 at least in the case of closing movement path, further includes the step:
 reduction or interruption of supply of electric power to the electric motor after detection of a reduction of actuation velocity, for example rotation velocity of the driving came or immobilization thereof, at least in the region adjacent to the closed position. 
   
     
     
         15 . Process according to  claim 12 , wherein
 in case of detection of a jamming of individual portion in the entry/exit region of said beverage preparation device, further includes the step of controlling the actuation disposition according to at least one of:
 driving at least 1 and up to 3 consecutive movements of partial opening and attempt of closing of said beverage preparation device, in case of apprehension of a supply of an individual portion, for example by means of actuation of a first portion sensor, and no apprehension of total closure of the beverage preparation device, in a previously defined time interval after command of closure thereof; 
 driving at least 1 and up to 5 consecutive movements of closing and opening of said beverage preparation device, in case of apprehension of opening of the actuation device and no apprehension of total exit of the individual portion, for example by means of actuation of a second portion de sensor, in a previously defined time interval after command of opening thereof, 
   so as to unjam an individual portion from the entry/exit region of said beverage preparation device.