The present invention relates to a compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans, in accordance with the preamble to claim 1.

In particular, an automated, compact machine capable of producing coffee capsules from roasted coffee beans is illustrated.

The coffee capsule is a small rigid container made of metal or plastic material, containing coffee, and is the most common form of coffee, and can be sized for single or multi-portions.

Coffee capsules are typically used in a non removable container on the brewing device and consist of an outer ring or rim that remains dry during use, allowing removal and disposal without the user's hands getting wet or sticky.

Unlike paper coffee pods which have the advantage of being a fully biodegradable product that can decompose naturally, plastic and metal capsules are not recyclable, in particular requiring an additional process to separate the plastic/metal container from the organic waste products.

It should also be pointed out that powdered coffee loses its aroma and freshness within a month of being ground, and the capsules available on the market take between 2 months and a year to reach the end customer, meaning that the coffee we drink is devoid of its characteristic aroma. The production of coffee capsules is a rather complex process requiring the use of complex industrial machinery of large size and weight, with costs that make them exclusive only to the giants of the coffee market, whereas small players such as roasters, shops, bars, restaurants and small businesses, do not have the possibility of producing coffee capsules themselves; the high costs are justified by the need to include in the encapsulation process measures that guarantee the quality of the final product.

The few examples of compact and small machines suitable for encapsulating coffee have several technical and quality limitations, such as not using a vacuum or not introducing an inert gas during the encapsulation phase: this compromises the fragrance of the coffee, which translates into a significant loss in quality compared to capsules produced by expensive industrial machines. Another technical limitation is the standard thermal welding between the edges of the capsule containing the ground coffee and the closure system, which does not guarantee an adequate production speed and significantly affects the quality of the final capsule.

Known technical solutions are therefore not able to ensure that small producers and roasters can produce top-quality coffee capsules due to the limitations mentioned above, to which we can also add the lack of freedom to customize coffee blends, as well as to preserve local blends and their aroma and provide fresh coffee capsules.

The main disadvantage of the Known Art is therefore cumbersome and expensive complex machinery, designed for use by large companies and lacking the possibility of use for small producers.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of prior art by means of a compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans, capable of ensuring quality levels fully comparable to those of an expensive and bulky industrial machine, and which can be used by small coffee sellers, specialty shops, coffee bars and roasters to serve fresh coffee, and to encourage the use of local blends. Another aim concerns the inclusion of steps in the production process that ensure the quality and goodness of the final product, namely: the introduction of an inert gas (nitrogen) to prevent oxidation of the ground coffee and so as not to compromise the fragrance of the freshly encapsulated coffee; the introduction of ultrasonic welding in place of standard thermal welding to ensure a higher production speed and also allow the use of biodegradable/compostable materials for the capsules.

The aforementioned and other purposes and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are achieved by a compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans such as that described in claim 1.

Preferred embodiments and non- trivial variants of the present invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of this description.

It will be immediately obvious that one can make numerous variations and modifications to what is described (e.g. relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as it appears from the appended claims.

The present invention will be best described by certain preferred embodiments, provided by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the capsule sorter (200) according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the system for grinding-metering and injecting an inert gas (300) according to the present invention;

FIG. 3a shows the inert gas delivery system (305) and the coffee powder stirring system (306) according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the capsule closure system (400) according to the present invention;

FIG. 4a shows the system for injecting the second dose of inert gas (406), according to the present invention.

FIG. 4b shows the vacuum suction system (403) for sealing films according to the present invention. - FIG. 5 shows the ultrasonic sealing system

(500) according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the capsule ejection system (600) according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the rotary station (700) according to the present invention.

The compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) is designed to produce biodegradable coffee capsules from roasted coffee beans. It is able to operate fully automatically in a small space and can therefore be used by small players in the coffee market, such as roasters, shops, bars, restaurants and small businesses, who do not have the possibility of producing coffee capsules themselves, as well as being able to ensure quality levels fully comparable to those of an expensive and bulky industrial machine, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

It comprises a capsule sorter (200), designed to contain and convey the capsules (201) in a seat metering and injection system of an inert gas (300), designed to grind the coffee beans and direct the coffee powder into said capsules (201) previously filled with an inert gas, a capsule closure system (400) designed for positioning the film of said capsules (201) previously filled with coffee powder and inhaling an inert gas before sealing, an ultrasonic sealing system (500) designed to ensure the tightness and repeatability of the closing process of said capsules (201) and a capsule expulsion system (600), designed to contain and convey the escape of said capsules (201).

Advantageously, as can be seen from FIG. 2, said capsule selector (200), connected to a rotating station (700), consists of a container of biodegradable capsules (202) and an actuator (203), connected to a pusher (204), designed to administer a linear movement back and forth to said pusher (204) adapted to convey said capsule (201) from said container (202) into a seat (701) of said rotating station (700), said pusher (204) shaped as a "U" necessary to facilitate the placement of said capsules (201) in a seat (701) of said rotating station (700) and the subsequent positioning of said

7 capsules (201) from said capsule container (202) in said pusher (204).

The compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) is provided with a grinder-metering and injection system of an inert gas (300), as shown in FIG. 3, which is necessary to provide fresh coffee capsules after grinding the coffee beans prior to the encapsulation process, as well as to allow customization and selection of blends in a capsule free from oxidation by external agents; said grinder-metering and injection system of an inert gas (300) consisting of a grinder (302) suitable for containing and grinding the coffee beans, said grinder (302) being cylindrical in shape with a system of metal and/or ceramic blades or other material necessary for the grinding process, and equipped with a grinding regulator necessary to vary the granulometry and/or size of the coffee powder, actuated by an actuator (301) of electrical and/or hydraulic and/or piezoelectric and/or electroactive polymeric base and/or electromagnetic type connected thereto, and by a dispenser (303) able to introduce a specific dose of coffee powder into said capsule (201) a specific dose of coffee powder which may vary from 5 to 7 grams for a single dose, or may be customized according to use or demand, said actuator (301) connected to the upper part of a bracket (307), said metering device (303) connected to the lower part of said bracket (307).

Furthermore, said grinding-metering and injection system of an inert gas (300) being provided with an inert gas container (304) able to introduce in said capsule (201) a quantity of inert gas necessary to avoid oxidation of the coffee powder, by means of a gas nozzle (305) connected to said dispenser (303): this process is essential since ground coffee is hygroscopic and in the event of contact with the air it is subject to oxidation due to the humidity and oxygen present in the atmosphere, which impoverishes and degrades the blend, i.e. the oxygen causes oxidation of the aromatic substances and especially of the fatty and oily ones, with consequent rancidity of the product.

In addition, said grinding-metering and inert gas injection system (300) is provided with an agitator (306) adapted to prevent the formation of asymmetrical volumes of powder in said capsule (201) during the filling of coffee powder, said container of inert gas (304) operatively connected to said compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) by means of a tube (308), said stirrer (306) connected to the lower part of said capsule (201), as evidenced by FIG. 3a.

The system for grinding-metering and injecting an inert gas (300) is also provided with a solenoid valve (309) connected to said nozzle for gas (305) and to said container of inert gas (304), said solenoid valve adapted to activate the introduction of gas into said capsule (201) necessary to prevent formation of oxides inside said capsule (201), said solenoid valve managed by an HMI man-machine interface (101). Referring to FIGG. 4 and 4b, the compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) is provided with a capsule closed system (400) consisting of a sealing film collector (401) connected to the upper part of a bracket (407) by means of a nut screw (402) connected therein, said sealing film collector (401) necessary to seal said capsules (201) filled with coffee powder through a linear actuator (405) and/or electrical and/or hydraulic and/or piezoelectric and/or electroactive polymer-based and/or electromagnetic actuator, adapted to direct the bearings in a linear movement along said nut screw (402), said linear actuator (405) connected to the base of said bracket (407).

Moreover, said capsule closed system (400) being provided with a suction cup (404), connected to said nut screw (402) and operated by said linear actuator (405), said suction cup (404) necessary to withdraw the sealing films from said sealing film collector (401) with the aid of a vacuum suction system (403), connected to the rear part of said bracket (407), and place them on said capsules (201) filled with coffee powder, after injecting a second dose of inert gas by means of a nozzle (406) operated by said solenoid valve (309) necessary to prevent formation of oxides inside said capsule (201), said nozzle (406) connected to the lower part of said bracket (407) and said solenoid valve (309) managed by an HMI man-machine interface (101), as evidenced by FIG. 4a.

With reference to FIG. 5, the compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) is provided with an ultrasonic sealing system (500) consisting of a linear actuator (501), connected to a bracket (504) and to an ultrasonic transducer (502) operatively connected to a support (505), said ultrasonic transducer (502) adapted to seal said capsules (201) filled with coffee powder by transmitting the vibratory energy to a welding base or horn (503), connected to said ultrasonic transducer (502), said welding base or horn (503) necessary to increase the amplitude of the mechanical vibrations and to transmit the vibrational energy to said capsules (201).

The linear actuator (501) converts low-voltage electricity at 120-240 V into high-frequency (20-40 kHz), high-voltage (13 kV) electrical energy; the electrical current then enters the transducers, which contain piezoelectric ceramic crystals that expand and contract when excited by the electrical energy being converted into mechanical energy, and the transducer expands and contracts at the frequency of the crystals. The ultrasonic transducer (502) then transmits the vibratory energy to said welding base or horn (503) made of aluminum and required to further increase the amplitude of the mechanical vibrations. The induced vibrations generate heat at the junction interface between the coffee capsule (201) and the cover to be welded, resulting in melting of the biodegradable materials and formation of the weld after cooling, in a time of about 3s.

The ultrasonic sealing system (500) is advantageously provided with welding base or horn (503) made to connect to said sealing films and said capsules (201), and designed by calculating the resonance length of said sealing base or horn (503) from the formula derived from Webster's equation: d ² (x,t)/dx ² +du(x,t)/dx ( d/dx (lnS _* )) = 1/c ² ( d ² u(x,t)/dt ² ) and on the basis of frequency analysis such as modal analysis and natural frequency; the resonance length is equal to half the wavelength of the system.

The compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) is provided with a said capsule ejection system (600) consists of a lifting device (602) necessary to imprint and an upward force to lift said capsule (201) from a seat (701), from an ejection device (601) designed to impart a displacement force to said capsule (201) and convey it towards a container device (603) adapted to collect said capsules (201), said lifting device (602), ejection device (601) and container device (603) operatively connected to a rotating station

(700), as evidenced by FIG. 6.

In addition, said elements constituting said compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100), that is, said capsule sorter (200), said grinding-metering system and injection of an inert gas (300), said capsule closed system (400), said ultrasonic sealing system (500) and said capsule ejection system (600), are operatively connected to said rotating station (700) designed with 5 seat

(701) suitable to contain said capsules (201) and to move them to the subsequent systems during the encapsulation phases of said capsules (201), as shown in FIG. 7. Advantageously, said compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100), is provided with a human-machine interface HMI (101), comprising a control panel (101), touch screen or manual, designed to manage capsule presence, distance and load cell sensors, positioned in said rotating station (700), said sensors required to send immediate feedback inherent in the status of the process to an operator, said control panel (101) positioned in the upper surface of said compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100), said control panel (101) designed to manage the solenoid valve (309). Further, said human-machine interface HMI

(101) is designed to manage on/off settings, setting of coffee grind size in said grinder (301), setting of desired coffee weight in said capsule (201), setting of desired raking/leveling using said agitator (306), changing capsules with different adapters, changing of sealing mechanism with ultrasound and/or heat, setting of number of capsules required in a cycle.

With reference to the figures of the present invention, said compact encapsulating machine for coffee beans (100) is capable of making ground coffee capsules according to the following steps: selecting said capsules (201) by moving from said capsule selector (200) into a seat (701) of said rotating station (700); grinding coffee beans and dosing coffee powder and inhaling an inert gas in said capsules (201) after rotation of said seat (701) in said rotating station (700) in the direction of the grinder-dosing and injection system an inert gas (300); positioning sealing films from a sealing film collector (401) into said capsules (201) after rotation of said seat (701) in said rotating station (700) in the direction of said capsule closing system (400) and inhaling a second dose of inert gas; sealing said sealing films in said capsules (201) by means of an ultrasonic sealing system (500), after rotating said seat (701) in said rotating station (700) in the direction of said ultrasonic sealing system (500); expelling said capsules (201) into said container (603), after rotation of said seat (701) in said rotating station (700) in the direction of said capsule ejection system (600).