# US 10,499,761 B2 · Beverage-dispensing machine comprising a pivoting pod container equipped with a device for moving distribution needles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,761 B2 - Document ID: US10499761B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/075,017 - Filed: 2017-02-02 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-04 - Assignees: Seb S.A. - Applicants: Seb S.A. - Inventors: Quentin Dos Santos; Arnaud Riva; Matthieu Briere - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499761B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/3695: {Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet (cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673)} - A47J 31/407: {with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A machine for dispensing beverages from a pod, includes a frame, a container including a pod-receiving zone, a fluid-dispensing needle holder to hold fluid-dispensing needles and a moving system for moving the needle holder from a position released from the pod to a position engaged on the pod, the moving system including a control member mounted in rotation about a vertical axis on the frame, wherein the control member includes a body equipped with at least one spiral ramp which cooperates with at least one pin secured to a piston, the piston being secured to the needle holder and mounted in translation along the vertical axis, the at least one spiral ramp including at least two different slope zones, configured to correspond respectively to a zone where the fluid-dispensing needles approach contact with the pod and to a work zone where the fluid-dispensing needles are engaged on the pod. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine for dispensing beverages from a pod, comprising a frame, a container including a pod-receiving zone, a fluid-dispensing needle holder to hold fluid-dispensing needles and a moving system for moving the fluid-dispensing needle holder from a released position released from the pod to an engaged position engaged on the pod, and vice versa, the moving system comprising a control member mounted in rotation about a vertical axis on the frame, wherein the control member comprises a wheel and a body equipped with at least one spiral ramp which cooperates with at least one pin secured to a piston, the wheel and the body being configured for rotation about the vertical axis with respect to the frame, the piston being secured to the needle holder and mounted in translation along the vertical axis, said at least one spiral ramp comprising at least two different slope zones, configured to correspond respectively to a zone where the fluid-dispensing needles approach contact with the pod and to a work zone where the fluid-dispensing needles are engaged on the pod, wherein rotation of the wheel results in rotation of the body and movement of the at least one pin of the piston along said at least one spiral ramp of the body, thereby translationally moving the piston along the vertical axis and moving the fluid-dispensing needle holder between the released position and the engaged position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the work zone is configured to include a first phase of penetration of the fluid-dispensing needles in the pod and a second phase of sealing the pod by means of a gasket arranged on the fluid-dispensing needle holder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The machine according to claim 2, wherein the gasket is on a surface on the fluid-dispensing needle holder, said fluid-dispensing needles passing through the gasket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spiral ramp comprises two stopping protrusions at extreme rotation positions of the control member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spiral ramp is configured so that movement of the fluid-dispensing needle holder from the released position to the engaged position, and vice versa, is carried out by turning the wheel through an angle between 50° and 90°. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The machine according to claim 5, wherein the at least one spiral ramp is configured so that movement of the fluid-dispensing needle holder from the released position to the engaged position, and vice versa, is carried out by turning the control member through an angle of 65°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises three uniformly distributed ramps. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the moving system comprises means for assisting the lowering of the piston. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The machine according to claim 8, wherein the means for assisting the lowering of the piston comprise a spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a detection system for detecting the engaged position of the fluid-dispensing needles on the pod. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine according to claim 10, wherein said detection system comprises a switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-dispensing needles each comprise a sharpening with three slopes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-dispensing needles are of at least two different lengths. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for abutment against the pod with the container in a closed position with respect to the frame, configured to guarantee that the pod is held in position in the container during the release of the fluid-dispensing needle holder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising an opening/closing device arranged between the frame and the container to pivot the container about a vertical axis between a closed position permitting dispensing, and an open position permitting access to said container, and a locking/unlocking system configured to keep the container in the closed position with respect to the frame and, conversely, to release the container so that the container is pivotable into the open position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The machine according to claim 15, further comprising a system for deactivation of the locking/unlocking system configured to prevent activation of said locking/unlocking system as long as the moving system for moving the needle holder is in the engaged position on the pod. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The machine according to claim 15, further comprising a system for blocking the moving system, configured to keep the needle holder in the released position released from the pod as long as the container has not returned to the closed position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a load transfer means arranged between the frame and the container, configured to stabilize the container during operation of the machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the body is mounted such that the body is only configured for rotation about the vertical axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a circular throat for receiving one or more pins secured to the frame.