WO2013132214A1

WO2013132214A1 - Holder for pods for use in a hot beverage making machine

Info

Publication number: WO2013132214A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sean Rones
Original assignee: SACH, Greg
Priority date: 2012-03-09
Filing date: 2013-03-11
Publication date: 2013-09-12

Abstract

A pods storage unit for storing multiple pods for use in a hot beverage making machine, the storage unit comprising pod- holders moveable as a chain around a circuit defined in the storage unit. The pod holders are arranged one after another around the circuit. The storage unit is embodied by a base unit upon which the hot beverage making machine is to stand. The storage unit comprises a drawer and a housing. The drawer is openable and closeable relative to the housing, wherein the pod holders are located in the drawer and moveable relative to the drawer.

Description

Holder for pods for use in a hot beverage making machine

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder for

multiple pods. The pods are for use in making drinks in a hot beverage making machine. In particular, the hot beverage making machine is a coffee making machine. Such pods sealingly contain coffee, tea, cocoa, milk and the like for brewing in the beverage making machine to make hot drinks. The pod is inserted in a pod receptacle of the hot beverage machine. The machine perforates the pod and a hot drink is automatically brewed and poured into a cup by the machine. These pods are also referred to in the. field- as capsules or cups.

Background to the invention

[0002] It is known to package the pods in an- end to endstack in an oblong shaped tube. These tubes are not

particularly aesthetically pleasing as a dispenser and holder of the pods, which is an important consideration particularly when the importance given to the design of the hot beverage making machine is accounted for. These machines are high-end consumer products for which a high quality, professional looking, sleek design is paramount. The cardboard box packaging of the pods is somewhat out of place next to the hot beverage making machine.

[0003] Proposals have been made for dealing. ith the above issues. In US design 609,075 a coffee pod tree carousel is disclosed having a cylindrical frame formed by individual pod holding rings. The rings are distributed circumferentially and axially around the cylindrical frame to provide 35 pod holding rings. The frame is rotatable to bring different columns of pod holding rings into a user's view, i.e. to bring a particular pod to a front of the tree carousel relative to a user. A stem is provided with a bulbous end for grasping by a user to rotate the f ame. This design is, in at least some respects, advantageous over the oblong shaped packaging described above in terms of looks and also because it allows a number of types of pods to be stored and easily accessed by a user. For example, a user could divide the pod holding rings so that one group held one type of coffee pods, another group held another type of coffee in the pods, another group held milk pods, etc.. The user would simply have to appropriately rotate the frame to access a desired pod type. [0004] The design of US 609,075 is not particularly

economical in terms of work area. It will form a certain footprint on a work surface in addition to the hot beverage making machine and also extends upwards from the work surface by a not insignificant amount. For, as an example, kitchens with limited space and work surface, the tree carousel of US 609,075 is not ideal. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a more space efficient design.

[0005] Further, the design of US 609,075 needs to be kept constantly filled or else the rings have an empty, non- functioning look. It has been found to be desirable to have a pod holder that is aesthetically pleasing irrespective of the fill state.

[0006] Another proposal is disclosed in US Design .628,444 of a countertop coffee pod drawer. A flat housing is provided having a height of marginally greater than one coffee pod. A tray-like drawer is disposed in the housing and is divided into six compartments extending from a front to a back of the drawer, each compartment having a width for holding a pod upright and having a length for holding multiple pods in a line from front to back. This design has the advantage of not taking up as much countertop space in a height direction as the tree carousel described above, but does take up a greater footprint on the work top. Another■ downside of this drawer design is that while the pods should be supported when the drawer is full, as the drawer empties, there is a

likelihood that the pods will fall over when the drawer is opened or closed. As. well as the undesirability of having the pods kept in an untidy way, if a pod tips onto its side, a user is not able to immediately see what type of pod it is. [0007] Further, in the design of US 628,444, pods that are in the back of the drawer are not easy to access.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for a number of pods that can save work space, particularly which is efficient in terms of countertop footprint and which may also have a low height profile.

[0009]· Another object of the present invention is to provide a holder for a number of pods that allows the pods to be stored in an organised way. In particular when there is more than one type of pod, the user should be able to spatially group different types of pods and allow easy access to respective groups.

[0010] In another object of the present invention, the pods should be held in a secure way to prevent tipping of the pods .

Summary of the invention

[0011] A first aspect of the present invention provides a pods storage unit for storing multiple pods for use in a hot beverage making machine, the storage unit comprising pod holders moveable as a chain around a circuit defined in the storage unit. [0012] The above aspect of the present invention is

advantageous in that the storage unit offers a circuit so that the pods in the pod holders can move from a position farther away from a user to a position closer to a user by moving the chain of pod holders. .This allows a full capacity of the storage unit to be utilised, while also offering convenient access to a user to all of the pods. Yet further, the storage unit can be made low in profile because of the use of a moveable chain of pod holders moving in a circuit defined in the storage unit.

[0013] Put another way, the present invention provides in one aspect a pods storage unit for storing multiple pods for use in a hot beverage making machine, the storage unit comprising a series of pod holders moveable as one around, an elongated circuit defined in the storage unit. The series of pod holders may be a connected, flexible series of pod holders. The series of pod holders may be arranged one after another around the circuit. The elongated circuit may ^' comprise opposed 180 degree turns. This aspect of the present invention provides a storage unit that is able to be designed with flexibility in terms of a footprint shape.

[0014] The circuit may be embodied by a track. The pod holders may be laterally restrained in the track. The pod holders may additionally or alternatively vertically

restrained in the . track. Here, the lateral direction is in the plane of the circuit and the vertical direction is perpendicular to the plane. In an embodiment, the circuit is elongate. In an embodiment, the ^' circuit goes around a central area. In an embodiment, the, circuit is shaped so as to have opposed turning portions connected by elongated straight portions. Thus, the shape is a classic racetrack [0015] The unit may comprise one or more recesses, extending around the circuit over which moving parts associated with the pod holders ride as the pod holders move around the circuit. Put another way, the unit may comprise one or more ribs extending around the circuit upon which moving parts associated with the pod holders ride as the pod holder move around the circuit. The recesses and/or ribs provide reduced friction bearing surfaces.

[0016] The circuit may extend around a central platform. The central platform serves to restrain, in an inward direction, the pod holders. In an embodiment, there is provided an outer wall. The outer wall serves to restrain, in an outward direction, the pod holders.

[0017] In an embodiment, there are at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19 pod holders.

[0018] In an embodiment, the pod holders are sized and shaped to each hold and support a separate pod. In an embodiment, the pod holders are sized to receive and

laterally restrain the top (the end that will be pierced in the hot beverage making machine) of the pods. That is, the pod holders are designed so that the pods are loaded upside down, with the top for being pierced in the hot beverage making machine facing downwardly. In an embodiment, the pod holders include a side wall that is circular in shape for receiving the pods. In an embodiment, the pod holders define a pan shape with a bottom of the pan shape for supporting a pod in a vertical direction and the sidewall of the pan shape for laterally restraining the pod.

[0019] In an embodiment, the pod holders are arranged one after another around the circuit. In an embodiment, the pod holders ar.e linked to one another to form a connected

flexible series of pod holders extending around the circuit. This may be described as forming a linked chain extending around the circuit. Ά user is able to move the linked chain by pushing it around the circuit. In an embodiment, the pod holders are linked by arranging them one after another around the circuit in an abutting manner. In such an embodiment, each pod holder is a separate piece. In another embodiment, the pod holders are linked to one another by link pieces. The link pieces could, for example, be living hinges. The link pieces may be integrally moulded with the pod holders. The link pieces could be separate pieces from the pod holders that are pivotally mounted to the pod holders such as by way of having axle portions that extend into holes in adjacent pod holders.

[0020] In an embodiment whereby the pod holders are arranged one after another around the circuit in an abutting manner, the circuit is provided as a race around which the pod holders slide. The race may include ribs and/or recesses over which the pod holders slide.

[0021] In an embodiment, a drive chain is provided to which the pod holders are mounted. The drive chain extends around the circuit. In an embodiment, the unit comprises sprocket gears at opposed turns of the circuit over which the drive chain passes.

[0022] In a ^■ embodiment , a user actuation interface · is provided that is actuatable by a user to get the pod holders to move as a chain around the circuit. The user actuation interface may an electrical switch or a knob or a.rotatable knob. In the rotatable knob embodiment, transmission means is provided to transmit rotation of the knob to movement of the pod holders around. the circuit .

[0023] In an embodiment, the unit comprises a drive chain to which the pod holders are mounted, and a drive gear over which the drive chain passes. The drive gear may be rotatedby manual force, such as by operation of a knob, in

particular rotation of the knob, or by non-manual force such as an electrical motor. [0024] In an embodiment, the storage unit is embodied by a base unit upon which the hot beverage making machine is to stand. In an embodiment, the base unit is designed to stand on a countertop and includes a planar upper surface upon which the hot beverage making machine stands.

[0025] The base unit is required to be able to withstand the weight of a hot beverage making machine. This implicitly requires a certain strength of the load carrying components of the base unit so that the base unit is not structurally or functionally compromised by the weight of the hot beverage making machine. For example, the Nespresso Pixie coffee making machine weighs about 5kg without water and has a 1 litre water tank, while the Keurig B40 weighs about 7kg and has a 1.5 litre water tank. So as to be compatible with at least these machines, the base unit should be able to support a hot. beverage making machine having a full tank that together weighs at least 8.5kg.

[0026] Of relevance here is the fact that US Design 628,444 is not described as being suitable for having a hot beverage making machine placed on it and thus is not described as being suitable for forming a base unit upon which a hot beverage making machine is able to stand. The images in this design patent suggest that a wire frame is used to make the drawer which would buckle and bow under the weight of a hot beverage making machine, preventing the drawer from being opened such that this cannot be described as structurally and functionally withstanding the weight of a hot beverage making machine.

[0027] In an embodiment, the storage unit includes- a housing for the pod holders.

[0028] In an embodiment, the storage unit includes an opening and closing mechanism to provide access to the pods when open and to enclose the pods in the housing when closed. [0029] This feature allows the pods to be stored in a protected and potentially concealed way, preferably beneath a coffee machine. When it is desired to use the pods, the mechanism can be opened to reveal one or more pods for removal .from the storage unit and insertion in the hot beverage making machine.

[0030] In an embodiment, a drawer is included that is openable and closeable relative to the housing and the pod holders are held in the drawer. In particular, the pod holders are provided as a connected series of pod holders that are located in the drawer. There is only so much space available in the footprint of a hot beverage making machine and thus in the base unit of the present invention. A drawer solution, however, allows this space to be filled with pods and these pods can be easily accessed depending upon the degree to which the drawer is opened. In an embodiment, the drawer is openable to reveal pod holders in the circuit and the pod holders are moveable around the circuit relative to the opened drawer. In an embodiment, the drawer is openable to reveal part of the circuit and the pod holders in that part of the circuit, with another part of the circuit and the pod holders in the another part of the circuit disposed within the housing. The pod holders are moveable around the circuit to move the pod holders in the another part of the circuit into the part of the circuit revealed by the open drawer.

[0031] In an embodiment, a runner and guide mechanism is provided for enabling the opening and closing movement of the drawer .

[0032] .In an embodiment, the pod holders are provided to inhibit or prevent the pods from falling over. This feature is particularly advantageous in combination with the above drawer feature, since the opening and closing movement of the drawer could otherwise cause the pods to tip. One form for the pod holders is to provide a wall that majorly, substantially or entirely surround a pod to support the pod from most, substantially all or all sides to prevent tipping. As the pod holders are individualised for each pod, the pods are prevented from falling over irrespective of how full the storage unit is.

[0033] The storage unit may be a separate module relative to the hot beverage making machine. Alternatively, the hot beverage making machine may have such a storage unit supplied and made therewith as a base unit of the hot beverage making machine. In the latter case, the base unit will be an integrated module that is not intended to be readily

separated from the hot beverage making machine.

[0034] In an embodiment, the hot beverage making machine is a coffee making machine, which may also have additional hot drinks making functionality such as hot chocolate, tea, etc..

[0035] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the storage unit described above in combination with the pods, perhaps in which the pod holders are loaded with the pods. [0036] The above embodiments are all combineable with any one or more of the other embodiments.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present

disclosure, a drive chain is provided. The drive chain comprises links pivotally connected by pins. In one

embodiment, the pins are connected to holders- for holding objects. In this way, the drive chain can · be used to convey objects. In an embodiment, the pins respectively extend from an underside of a holder. In an embodiment, the pins and the holder are integral components, preferably integrally

injection moulded components. In an embodiment, the drive chain is an injection moulded drive chain in that all of the parts are injection moulded. In an embodiment, the links respectively comprises first and second plates having inner ends and outer ends, wherein the inner ends are aligned and the outer ends are aligned and the aligned inner ends of the plates of one link are positioned between the aligned outer ends of an adjacent link in the chain and connected by a pin In an embodiment, the holder is a coffee pod holder. In an embodiment, the drive chain is arranged in a conveyance circuit.

Brief description of the figures [0038] Figure 1 shows a storage unit for multiple pods according to one embodiment of the invention. The storage unit includes a drawer that is openable and closeable relative to a housing and the drawer is shown in the closed state. The storage unit is adapted to stand on a countertop and serve as a base unit upon which a coffee machine stands.

[00393 Figure 2 shows the storage unit of figure 1 with the drawer in the open position. The drawer includes multiple pod holder arranged one after another around a circuit. The pod holders are moveable as a chain around the circuit from a position hidden within the housing to a position revealed to a user by the partly open drawer. The pod holders are each designed to hold a single coffee pod.

[0040] Figure 3 shows the storage unit of figures 1 and 2 with a coffee making machine stood thereon. [0041] Figure 4 shows a drawer that can be disposed within the housing of figures 1, 2 and 3. The pod holders in this embodiment are arranged one after another in- abutting relation around a race. The pod holders are each separate pieces. The pod holders move around the race as a chain by sliding.

[0042] Figure 5 shows^' various modular parts of the drawer of figure 4 split apart [0043] Figure 6 shows a track in which the pod holders are restrained. In particular, inner and outer lips vertically restrain the pod holders and- inner and outer walls laterally restrain the pod holders. The pod holders ride on a rib and ride over recesses to reduce sliding friction.

[0044] Figure Ί shows an alternative embodiment of the drawer for receipt in the housing of figure 1 to 3. In this embodiment, pod holders are mounted to a drive chain and a rotation knob is provided to move the chain to move the pod holders around a circuit.

[0045] Figure 8 shows the drive chain in more detail at a part where it passes over a sprocket.

[0046] Figure 9 shows various parts of the drive chain split apart. There are shown a sprocket, chain links and pod holders respectively having pins -extending thereform for pivotally connecting the chain links by passing through a bushing of the chain links.

[0047] Figure 10 shows chain links and a pod holder fitted together . [0048] Figure 11 shows parallel plates and a bushing making up. one of the chain links.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention [0049] Referring to figure^' 1, there is shown a storage unit 1 for storing multiple pods, preferably for insertion in a coffee making machine. The pods sealingly enclose coffee. The storage unit 1 is adapted to function as a base unit that is placed on a countertop and upon which a coffee machine 9 stands. In particular, the storage unit 1 includes a planar upper surface 3 for supporting a coffee machine 9 thereon. W

12

Figure 3, shows the storage unit 1 with a coffee machine 9 positioned on it.

[0050] The storage unit.l includes a drawer 2 that is openable and closeable relative to a housing 8, with the closed position shown in figure 1 and the open position shown in figure 2. The drawer 2 has pod holders 4 supported on it, as shown in figure 2. The pod holders 4 move with the drawer 2. In particular, the pod holders 4 are enclosed within the housing 1 when the drawer 2 is in the closed position and are revealed for access by a user when the drawer 2 is in the open position. A handle or hand graspable recess may be included for a user to grasp and open the drawer 2.

[0051] The drawer 2 defines a circuit 10 extending around a central platform 5. The circuit 10 has an elongated oval shape, as can be seen more clearly in figures 4 and 7. The pod holders 4 are arranged one after another all the way around the circuit and are moveable relative to the drawer around the circuit 10. Means allowing this relative movement are discussed below with respect to figures 4 to 11. A user is able to apply a pushing force to the pod holders 4 to move the pod holders 4 around the circuit. ■ In this way, when the drawer 2 is in the open or partly open position, part of the circuit 10 and the associated pod holders 4 are revealed to a user and part of the circuit 10 and the associated pod holders 4 are enclosed by the housing 8 so cannot be accessed by a user. The pod holders 4 can be- moved as a chain of movement in order to bring the hidden pod holders 4 into the open part of the drawer 2 for access by a user.

[0052] A conventional drawer opening and closing mechanism can be provided to enable the drawer movement, such as convention drawer runners and drawer slides. In a particular embodiment, the mechanism is disposed beneath the drawer 2 in order to save countertop footprint. [0053] One function of the central platform is to provide a support beam for the housing 8 to take some of the weight of the coffee machine 9.

[0054] In figure 2, the pod holders 4 are of an egg-cup form, supporting the pods 7 both laterally and vertically. The egg-cup shape is designed to fit with the pods 7 when they are placed right way up. Right way up here is to be understood as the membrane side or the side that is pierced' by the coffee machine or the larger profile end facing upwardly and the inwardly tapering depending portion pointing downwardly. The opposite configuration is described herein as upside down. The embodiments of figures 4 to 11 have differing forms for the pod holders 4 in which the pods 7 are held upside down. [0055] Referring to figures 4 to 6, an embodiment of the drawer ^' 2 is shown in which a conveying mechanism for moving the pod holders ^■ around the circuit 10 is detailed. In this embodiment, the pod holders 4 are arranged one after another around the circuit 10 in abutting relation. The pod holders 4 are separate pieces that slide around the circuit 10, such that the circuit 10 essentially provides a race for the pod holders 4.

[0056] The drawer 2 Includes an outer wall 6 and a central platform 5 between which the pod holders 4 are located. . The outer wall 6 and the central platform 5 function to provide lateral constraints for the pod holders 4, thereby forming a track for the pod holder. The pod holders 4 slide over a race provided by outer bearing surfaces 27, a central bearing rib 15 and recesses 16 separating the rib 15 from the bearing surfaces 27, as shown in figure 6. This provides a low sliding friction race for the pod holders 4 to move around. The pod holders 4 are vertically constrained on opposed sides by an inner lip 12 extending around the central platform 5 and an outer lip 11 extending around an inside of the outer wall 6. [0057] Referring to figure 5, the drawer 2 is shown to be modularly formed with a drawer base 14, the pod holders 4, an outer wall part 14 and a central platform part 13 all separately formed. The outer wall part 14, clips on to an inside of the outer wall 6 of the drawer base 14 in order so that a bottom edge of the outer wall part 14 forms the outer lip 11. The central platform part 13 clips on to the central platform.5 so that a bottom edge of the central platform part 13 forms the inner lip 12. The central platform part 13 includes a push release button 17 that allows the central platform 13 part to be removed, thus removing the inner lip 12, to allow the pod holders 4 to be removed and cleaned. The modular construction allows the pod holders 4 to be formed as separate pieces that can be vertically constrained in an easy to manufacture manner.

[0058] The pod holders 4 are in the form of ringlets with an inwardly extending lip. The pods 7 are placed upside down in the pod holders so that the ring shaped wall laterally supports the pods 7, while the lip of the ringlet shape vertically supports the pods 7. This upside down placement of the pods 7 can be seen in the alternative embodiment of figure 7. The pod holders can be described as being pan shaped as given above, since functionally,^' there is a base for vertical support and a surrounding upstanding wall for lateral support.

[0059] In operation, the drawer 2 is slid in the housing 8 of figures 1 to 3 and is openable and closeable relative thereto by a conventional drawer mechanism. The drawer 2 may be partly opened to reveal just part of the circuit 10, thereby revealing only some of the pod holders 4 and

associated pods 7 held in the pod holders. The user can slide the pod holders 4 by applying a force thereto so that the pod holders 4 can move around the circuit 10 as a chain, with the pod holders moving by sliding along the race defined in the drawer base 14. The central platform part 13 may be released and the pod holders 4 removed to clean the drawer • base 14 and the pod holders 4.

[0060] Figures 7 to 11 show an alternative embodiment of the drawer 2 having a different mechanism for conveying the pod holders 4 around the circuit 10. In particular, the pod holders 4 are arranged one after another around the circuit 10 and mounted to a drive chain 20 that also extends around the circuit 10. The central platform 5 and the outer wall 6 provide inner and outer lips 12, 11 as described above for vertically restraining the pod holders 4. The present embodiment also offers a rotation knob 18 to drive the drive chain 20 around the circuit 10 to move the pod holders 4 around the circuit 10 relative to the drawer 2.

[00613 Figure 8 shows a drive gear 19 over which the drive chain 20 passes. The drive gear 19 is connected to the rotation knob 18 so that user rotation is transmitted to the drive gear 19 to move the drive chain 20 around the circuit 10. The elongated oval or racetrack formed circuit 10 has opposed turns at either end of the elongated central platform 5. The drive gear 19 is provided at a turn at a user end of the drawer, i.e. the furthest end in the drawer opening direction. A corresponding idle gear is provided at the other opposite turn to where the drive gear 19 is located. The gears include teeth 2.6 as shown in figure 9(f) that mesh with links 25 of the drive chain 20.

[0062] The drive chain 20 is made up of links 25 pivotally connected to one another. In particular, the links 25 are pivotally connected by way of a pin 21 depending from the pod holder 4 as shown in figures 9(c) and 9(d) or at least some of them are. In this way, the pod holders 4 are fixed to the drive chain 20 and move around the circuit 10 as the drive chain 20 moves around the circuit 10.

[0063] The links 25 comprise first and second plate pieces that are kinked so that when the plate pieces are arranged parallel to one another, outer plate portions 23 are more spaced apart than inner plate portions 22, as shown in figure ^' 9€ and in figure 10. To connect links 25, the inner plate portions 22 of one link are placed inside outer plate portions 23 of an adjacent link so that through holes therein are aligned and a bush 24 (figure 9(b), figure 10 and figure 11) are disposed through the through holes and the pin 21 of a pod holder is resiliently snap fit into the bush 24. The plate pieces, the bush 24, and the pod holder and connected pin are separately injection moulded pieces. In this way, a drive chain 20 made entirely of injection moulded pieces can be manufactured in which an integrally moulded holder 4 for conveying an object also serves as a pin 21 for pivotally connecting links 25 so that the holder 4 must move with the drive chain 25 but follows the circuit 10 in a smooth moving way .

[0064] The pod holders 4 of the present embodiment are pan shaped with a solid base (i.e. without the through hole as with the embodiment of figures 4 to 6) . The solid base is provided for the purpose of integrally moulding the pin 21 to an underside of the pan base.

[0065] In operation, the drawer 2 of figures 7 to 11 is loaded in the housing 8 of figures 1 to 3. The drawer 2 can be opened to access the pod holders 4 and the associated pods 7 held therein. Some of the pod holders 4 will not be accessible as they are enclosed in the housing 8 as a result of the drawer 2 only being partly open. The rotation knob 18 can be rotated by a user to rotate the^' drive sprocket 19 to cause the drive chain 20 to move around the circuit 10. The pod holders 4 are fixed to the drive chain so that rotation of the rotation knob 18 causes pod holders 4 located within the housing 8 to move into the open drawer part so that they are now accessible by a user for loading with fresh pods 7 or for dispensing a pod 7 held in a pod holder 4 for use in the coffee making machine 9. [0066] Various alternative embodiments would be conceived by the skilled person within the scope of the present invention.

[0067] In one alternative, the mechanism for conveying the pod holders around the circuit could be a belt mechanism. In particular, the belt could slide around the central platform acting as a bearing surface with the pod holders connected to the belt by outwardly extending links. The belt and holders could be integrally injection moulded.

[0068] In another alternative, the pod holders could move around a race like in the embodiment of figure 4 to 6, but they could be connected not by abutment, but by way. of living hinges so that the whole chain of pod holders could be integrally injection moulded.

[0069] In another alternative, the rotation knob of figure 7 could be optional. The pod holders 4 could still be moved around the circuit without the rotation knob by a user applying a force to a pod holder to cause the drive chain to move around the circuit as it passes over the opposed sprocket gears. [0070] In another alternative, an electric drive could be provided for moving the pod holders around the circuit of any of the embodiments described herein. For example, an electric motor could be operatively connected to the drive sprocket in the embodiment of figures 7 to 11. A user actuation would be provided to commence conveyance of the pod holders around the circuit.

[0071] The conveyance mechanisms disclosed herein do not much add to the height of the pods, meaning that the storage unit can be made low profile, which is an important advantage of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pods storage unit for storing multiple pods for use in a hot beverage making machine, the storage unit comprising pod holders moveable as a chain around a circuit defined in the storage unit.

2. The pods storage unit of claim 1, wherein the circuit is embodied by a track, and wherein the pod holders are laterally restrained in the track and/or the pod are vertically restrained in the track.

3. The pods storage unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit is elongate.

4. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein the circuit extends around a central platform and is defined in a track between the central platform and an outer wall, wherein the pod holders are held in the track between the platform and the outer wall.

5. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein

there are at least 10 pod holders arranged in the circuit.

6. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein the pod holders define a pan shape with a bottom of the pan shape for supporting a pod in a vertical direction . and the sidewall of the pan shape for laterally restraining the pod.

7. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein the pod holders are arranged one after another around the circuit.

8. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein the pod holders are linked to one another to form a linked chain extending around the circuit.

9. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein the pod holders are linked_. by arranging them one after another around the circuit in an abutting manner.

10. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, wherein the circuit is provided as a race around which the pod holders slide.

11. The pods storage unit of any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a drive chain to which the pod holders are mounted .

12. The pods storage unit of any one of claims 1 to 8 or 11, wherein the pod holders are mounted to a drive chain that extends around the circuit.

13. The pods storage unit of any one of claims 1 to 8, 11 or 12, wherein the unit comprises a drive chain to which the pod holders are mounted, and a drive gear over which the drive chain passes.

14. The pods storage unit of claim 13, wherein the drive

gear is rotatable by user operation of a knob.

15. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, comprising a user rotatable knob and transmission means to transmit rotation of the knob to movement of the pod holders around the circuit.

16. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, the

storage unit is embodied by a base unit upon which the hot beverage making machine is to stand.

17. The pods storage unit of any preceding claim, comprising a drawer and a housing, the drawer openable and closeable relative to the housing, wherein the pod holders are located in the drawer.

18. A pods storage unit for storing multiple pods for use in a hot beverage making machine, the storage unit comprising a series of pod holders moveable as one around an

elongated circuit defined in the storage unit.

19. The pods storage unit of claim 18 in combination with the features of any one or more dependent claims 2 to 17.

20. The storage unit of any preceding claim for use with a coffee making machine in combination with coffee pods.

21. A coffee machine comprising a storage unit according to any preceding claim as an integrated or separate module.

22. A method comprising supplying coffee pods for loading in the pod holders of the storage unit of any preceding claim .