Check valve, injection assembly, and beverage preparation machine
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a check valve 10 , an injection assembly 60 , and a beverage preparation machine 100 , which is integrated in the injection assembly 60 . The check valve 10 of the present invention is made of a body with a first fluid outlet 21 , and a plug member 30 that is movable inside the body 20 . The plug member 30 has a fluid inlet 32 and a second fluid outlet 31 into a first cavity 11 , wherein the fluid can exercise a pressure on a first surface 381 of the plug member 30 opposing the first fluid outlet 21 . The fluid pressure can overcome the force of an elastic element 40 , which biases the plug member 30 into a closed position. If the force of the elastic member 40 is overcome, the plug member 30 is moved into an open position. In the closed position a fluid path from the cavity 11 out of the first fluid outlet 21 is closed, whereas in the open position said fluid path is open. To move the plug member 30 from its initial closed position to its open position, a fluid pressure on the first surface has to be equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold.
1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a fluid reservoir configured to store a fluid;
a heater configured to heat the fluid received from the fluid reservoir;
an injection assembly comprising (i) a check valve to receive the fluid from the heater and (ii) a piercing needle configured to penetrate a capsule containing beverage ingredients and to inject the fluid into the capsule,
the check valve comprising
(1) a body defining a cylindrical chamber presenting an upper wall and a lower wall, the upper wall comprises a first central opening, and the lower wall presents a first shoulder around a first bore, the end of the first bore comprising a second central opening and forming a seat of the check valve,
(2) a plug member housed inside the cylindrical chamber, the plug member comprising a tube with a second bore, the tube extending through the first central opening in the upper wall of the cylindrical chamber, and a cylindrical sealing element around the tube, the cylindrical sealing element dividing the cylindrical chamber in an upper cavity and a lower cavity and sealing the upper and lower cavities one from the other, the second bore inside the tube of the plug member extends through the plug member and emerges in the lower cavity of the cylindrical chamber,
(3) a valve member comprising a protruding part configured to fit inside the first bore of the lower wall of the cylindrical chamber, a lower surface of the cylindrical sealing element facing the lower cavity presents a second shoulder around the protruding part,
and
(4) an elastic element housed in the upper cavity of the cylindrical chamber and configured to press the protruding part against the seat of the check valve,
the piercing needle attached to the second central opening in the first bore of the lower wall of the cylindrical chamber; and
a dispensing chamber configured to receive and hold the capsule containing the beverage ingredients and to dispense as a beverage the fluid injected into the capsule by the injection assembly.
2. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , further comprising an air separator configured to remove air from the fluid heated in the heater, wherein the check valve is connected to receive the fluid from the air separator, and the fluid from the air separator is substantially airless.
3. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the plug member comprises the cylindrical sealing element.