초록 ▼

A pod disposal system has a pod holder for holding a coffee pod; a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector operably connected to the engager for disengaging the coffee pod from the engager, An actuator moves the moveable chamber between an engag

A pod disposal system has a pod holder for holding a coffee pod; a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector operably connected to the engager for disengaging the coffee pod from the engager, An actuator moves the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engager engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engager, thereby disposing the coffee pod.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pod disposal system including: a pod holder for holding a coffee pod;a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector moveable relative to the engaging member for disengaging the coffee pod from the engaging member;a connector having a guiding tra

1. A pod disposal system including: a pod holder for holding a coffee pod;a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector moveable relative to the engaging member for disengaging the coffee pod from the engaging member;a connector having a guiding track for guiding movement of the ejector towards and away from the engaging member,an actuator for moving the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engaging member engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engaging member, thereby disposing the coffee pod,wherein the ejector includes a first guiding member that engages with the guiding track of the connector, such that movement of the first guiding member in a first direction effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and movement of the first guiding member in a second direction effects movement of the ejector away from the engaging member; anda side wall and wherein the moveable chamber includes a second guiding member and the side wall includes a first guiding track, wherein the second guiding member engages with the first guiding track, and wherein movement of the second guiding member along the first guiding track effects movement of the moveable chamber along a height of the side wall. 2. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the engaging member includes a steam nozzle. 3. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the ejector is an ejector ring. 4. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the ejector is an ejector plate with openings to allow the engaging member to pass through. 5. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the ejector is moveable relative to the engaging member. 6. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the ejector is in contact with the engaging member in the engaging and intermediate position. 7. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the ejector is separated from the engaging member in the disengaged position. 8. A pod disposal system according to claim 1, wherein the moveable chamber includes a lock for locking the ejector in a position in which the ejector is in contact with the engaging member. 9. A pod disposal system according to claim 8, wherein the lock is a channel which intersects the guiding track of the connector at an angle, wherein movement of the first guiding member from the guiding track of the connector to the channel locks the ejector in a position in which it is in contact with the engaging member. 10. A pod disposal system according to claim 1, wherein the first guiding track is substantially parallel to the height of the side wall. 11. A pod disposal system according to claim 1, wherein the side wall includes a second guiding track. 12. A pod disposal system according to claim 11, wherein the second guiding track is inclined at an angle relative to the first guiding track. 13. A pod disposal system according to claim 11, wherein the first guiding member engages with the second guiding track, wherein movement of the first guiding member of the ejector along the second guiding track effects pivotal movement of the moveable chamber relative to the actuator. 14. A pod disposal system according to claim 12, wherein the second guiding track further includes a parallel portion, wherein the parallel portion is parallel to the height of the side wall. 15. A pod disposal system according to claim 14, wherein the parallel portion of the second guiding track is substantially aligned with the first guiding track along the height of the side wall. 16. A pod disposal system according to claim 1 wherein the actuator effects movements of the first and the second guiding members simultaneously. 17. A pod disposal system according to claim 14, wherein movement of the first guiding member along the second guiding track towards the parallel portion effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and wherein movement of the first guiding member along the parallel portion of the second guiding track towards a base of the side wall locks the ejector in a configuration in which the ejector is in contact with the engaging member. 18. A pod disposal system including: a pod holder for holding a coffee pod;a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector moveable relative to the engaging member for disengaging the coffee pod from the engaging member;an actuator for moving the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engaging member engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engaging member, thereby disposing the coffee pod;a side wall which includes a first guiding track and a second guiding track;wherein the second guiding track is inclined at an angle relative to the first guiding track;wherein the second guiding track further includes a parallel portion, wherein the parallel portion is parallel to the height of the side wall; andwherein the ejector includes a first guiding member and wherein movement of the first guiding member along the second guiding track towards the parallel portion effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and wherein movement of the first guiding member along the parallel portion of the second guiding track towards a base of the side wall locks the ejector in a configuration in which the ejector is in contact with the engaging member. 19. A pod disposal system including: a pod holder for holding a coffee pod;a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector moveable relative to the engaging member for disengaging the coffee pod from the engaging member;a connector having a guiding track for guiding movement of the ejector towards and away from the engaging member, andan actuator for moving the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engaging member engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engaging member, thereby disposing the coffee pod,wherein the ejector includes a guiding member that engages with the guiding track of the connector, such that movement of the guiding member in a first direction effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and movement of the guiding member in a second direction effects movement of the ejector away from the engaging member;wherein the moveable chamber includes a lock for locking the ejector in a position in which the ejector is in contact with the engaging member; andwherein the lock is a channel which intersects the guiding track at an angle, wherein movement of the guiding member from the guiding track to the channel locks the ejector in a position in which it is in contact with the engaging member. 20. A pod disposal system including: a pod holder for holding a coffee pod;a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector moveable relative to the engaging member for disengaging the coffee pod from the engaging member;a connector having a guiding track for guiding movement of the ejector towards and away from the engaging member, andan actuator for moving the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engaging member engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engaging member, thereby disposing the coffee pod,wherein the ejector includes a guiding member that engages with the guiding track of the connector, such that movement of the guiding member in a first direction effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and movement of the guiding member in a second direction effects movement of the ejector away from the engaging member;a side wall which includes a first guiding track and a second guiding track;wherein the second guiding track is inclined at an angle relative to the first guiding track;wherein the second guiding track further includes a parallel portion, wherein the parallel portion is parallel to the height of the side wall; andwherein the parallel portion of the second guiding track is substantially aligned with the first guiding track along the height of the side wall. 21. A pod disposal system including: a pod holder for holding a coffee pod;a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector moveable relative to the engaging member for disengaging the coffee pod from the engaging member;a connector having a guiding track for guiding movement of the ejector towards and away from the engaging member, andan actuator for moving the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engaging member engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engaging member, thereby disposing the coffee pod,wherein the ejector includes a guiding member that engages with the guiding track of the connector, such that movement of the guiding member in a first direction effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and movement of the guiding member in a second direction effects movement of the ejector away from the engaging member;a side wall which includes a first guiding track and a second guiding track;wherein the second guiding track is inclined at an angle relative to the first guiding track;wherein the second guiding track further includes a parallel portion, wherein the parallel portion is parallel to the height of the side wall; andwherein the ejector includes a first guiding member and wherein movement of the first guiding member along the second guiding track towards the parallel portion effects movement of the ejector towards the engaging member, and wherein movement of the first guiding member along the parallel portion of the second guiding track towards a base of the side wall locks the ejector in a configuration in which the ejector is in contact with the engaging member.