RU2823330C2 - Coffee machine with device for loading portion of ground coffee - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: beverage preparation devices.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to an automatic coffee machine (1) comprising housing (5) having at least one side wall (9a), and brewing chamber (12) having upper opening (13) for receiving ground coffee from coffee grinder (50) or from device (20) for loading a portion of ground coffee, wherein said loading device (20) is located on at least one side wall (9a) and comprises dispensing container (21), made with possibility of rotation around axis Δ between a loading position in which a portion of ground coffee can be placed in said container (21), and an unloading position in which a portion of ground coffee is moved by gravity into brewing chamber (12). According to the invention, the axis Δ is parallel to at least one side wall (9a).

EFFECT: simplified loading of ground coffee and creation of automatic coffee machine, which is simple and ergonomic in manufacture.

13 cl, 7 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the general technical field of automatic coffee machines containing a brewing chamber into which ground coffee is supplied to prepare a beverage, and in particular to the field of automatic coffee machines containing a device for loading a portion of ground coffee.

From document EP2820982 there is known an automatic coffee machine comprising a housing having at least one side wall and a brewing chamber having an upper opening for receiving ground coffee from a coffee grinder or from a device for loading a portion of ground coffee, said loading device being located at on at least one side wall and contains a dosing container configured to rotate about an axis R between a loading position, in which a portion of ground coffee can be placed in said container, and an unloading position, in which a portion of ground coffee, under the influence of gravity, enters the infuser camera.

However, the procedure for loading a portion of ground coffee into the brewing chamber is complex. Indeed, the user must remove the dosing container by moving it progressively along the axis of rotation R, make sure that the opening of the dosing container is directed upwards in order to pour a portion of ground coffee into it, then insert the dosing container into place without rotating it relative to the body, and then rotate the dosing container container for pouring ground coffee.

Additionally, if the user does not fully rotate the dispenser at the end of the cycle, some coffee may remain in the dispenser and not enter the brewing chamber.

The technical problem solved by the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and provide an automatic coffee machine that is simple and ergonomic to manufacture.

Another technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide an automatic coffee machine that is simple in structure and economical in use.

These technical problems are solved by creating an automatic coffee machine containing a housing having at least one side wall, and a brewing chamber having an upper opening for receiving ground coffee from a coffee grinder or from a device for loading a portion of ground coffee, wherein said loading device is located at on at least one side wall and contains a dosing container configured to rotate about an axis Δ between a loading position, in which a portion of ground coffee can be placed in said container, and an unloading position, in which a portion of ground coffee is fed into the infuser under the influence of gravity a chamber characterized in that the Δ axis is parallel to at least one side wall.

When we refer to a brewing chamber having an upper opening for receiving ground coffee from a coffee grinder or from a device for loading a portion of ground coffee, we mean that the automatic coffee machine includes a coffee grinder and a device for loading ground coffee.

The ground coffee loading device allows the user to introduce a portion of coffee ground from coffee beans other than those loaded into the grinder. It is clear that a portion of ground coffee is manually poured into the loading device.

It is clear that the Δ axis may be slightly offset from the side wall or located in a plane extending the side wall.

By saying that the Δ-axis is parallel to at least one side wall, we mean that the Δ-axis is parallel to the plane in which the at least one side wall is located.

It is assumed that the user has access to the side wall. The side wall on which the device for loading a portion of ground coffee is located is preferably vertical.

In this way, the dosing container is only moved by the user between the loading position and the unloading position and vice versa with a simple movement: turning.

Preferably, the housing includes a base designed to be mounted on a work surface, and the Δ axis is parallel to the base.

Preferably, the dosing container has first and second lower walls connecting about the Δ axis, forming a line L.

The line L is preferably located above the Δ axis in the unloading position.

The first and second bottom walls create a V-shape to form the top opening. In the loading position, the top opening is partially located outside the side wall, which allows you to load a portion of ground coffee.

Preferably, the first and second lower walls form an angle greater than 90° in a section plane perpendicular to the Δ axis.

It is clear that the first and second walls are flat and each of them represents a line in the section plane perpendicular to the Δ axis.

Preferably, the first bottom wall in the discharge position is aligned with the inclined wall of the chute for loading ground coffee into the brewing chamber.

Preferably, the dispensing container has a lid that extends in a plane parallel to or coincident with a plane extending along the vertical wall when the dispensing container is in the discharge position.

This allows the user to easily determine the unloading position: the lid is aligned with the vertical wall.

The dosing container preferably has two side walls with rounded edges.

Preferably, at least one side wall of the housing has a curved wall located above the dosing container, near the rounded edges of the side walls of the dosing container when the latter is in the unloading position.

The curved wall thus prevents the user from accessing the interior of the housing in the loading position. In addition, the curved wall directs a portion of ground coffee down into the brewing chamber in the discharge position.

The curved wall preferably has a recess which extends into the dosing container adjacent the side walls of the dosing container and engages the free end of the first bottom wall in a discharge position.

Thus, the first and second bottom walls and two side walls determine the volume of the dosing container in the loading position, which allows you to measure a portion of ground coffee. The recess in the curved wall also helps determine the volume of ground coffee in the loading position.

Preferably, the dosing container can move around the axis Δ between the loading position and the unloading position by an angle of at least 30°, preferably at least 45°.

This arrangement provides a short stroke when moving from the loading position to the unloading position.

The automatic coffee machine preferably comprises a system for holding the dosing container in a discharge position.

Preferably, the system for holding the dispensing container in the discharge position comprises at least one protrusion that cooperates with at least one socket located on at least one flexible tongue, wherein the at least one protrusion and at least one socket are located respectively on the dispensing container. containers and on the body or vice versa.

Thus, the user moves the dosing device from the loading position to the unloading position only by rotating the dosing container, while moving the ground coffee and holding it in the unloading position is performed automatically.

The automatic coffee machine preferably includes a control circuit and a device for detecting the loading and/or unloading position of the dosing container.

In this way, the automatic coffee machine can control user safety and/or outcome, for example by not allowing a portion of ground coffee to be loaded if a portion is already present in the brewing chamber.

Preferably, the detection device comprises a magnetic reed switch (ILS) and a magnet.

The invention will become better understood by reference to a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

in fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic coffee machine comprising a device for loading a portion of ground coffee in an unloading position, according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

in fig. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic coffee machine shown in FIG. 1, while the device for loading a portion of ground coffee is in the loading position;

in fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of the automatic coffee machine shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of the automatic coffee machine shown in FIG. 2;

in fig. 5 is an open top view in cross-sectional perspective in direction V of the automatic coffee machine shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 6 is an open cross-sectional perspective view in direction VI of the ground coffee portion loading device of the automatic coffee machine shown in FIG. 5, without a curved wall, and the device for loading a portion of ground coffee is in the loading position;

in fig. 7 is a perspective view in direction VII of a curved wall removed from the automatic coffee machine shown in FIG. 6.

It should be noted that in this document, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “bottom”, “top”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “high”, “low” used to describe the automatic coffee machine refer to this machine standing on the work surface in the position of use.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-7, the automatic coffee machine 1 contains a reservoir 2, which is a source of cold water, a brewing device 10, having a brewing chamber 12, into which ground coffee is supplied from a coffee grinder 50 (Fig. 5, 6), or a device 20 for loading a portion of ground coffee. The automatic coffee machine 1 also contains a dispensing unit 3 for dispensing coffee.

The infusion device 10 contains a housing 11 located in the longitudinal direction along the vertical axis and forming an infusion chamber 12 containing an upper hole 13. The infusion chamber 12 is configured to accommodate a pressure piston 14 installed to move along the vertical axis using a drive mechanism. The brewing device 10 also includes an electric pump (not shown in the figures) for circulating water and brewing, as well as a boiler 16 for heating water for preparing coffee in the brewing chamber 12. The housing 11 is located on the side of the single-acting hydraulic cylinder 17, containing the upper rod 18 (Fig. 5), the supporting arm 19, forming a console, the free end of which is connected to the pressing piston 14, thus, the stroke of the pressing piston 14 and the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 17 are performed in parallel directions. The pressure piston 14 moves between the upper position of the outlet, in which it is located above the brewing chamber 12, and the lower tamping position, in which it enters the brewing chamber 12 through the upper hole 13. In the lower tamping position, the pressure piston 14 compresses the ground coffee entering the brewing chamber chamber 12, and forms a tablet from compressed ground coffee.

The boiler 16 and the housing 11 are made in one piece from a heat-conducting material that contains an electric heating element; channels for the passage and heating of water, the inputs of which are connected through an electric pump to a cold water tank 2, and the ends are brought to the bottom of the brewing chamber 12. The pressure piston 14 contains a channel for the passage of the brewed drink, ending with an outlet 15, while the electric pump creates an upward circulation of water in the infusion chamber 12 towards the outlet 15 when the pressure piston 14 closes the infusion chamber 12. Such an infusion device 10 is described in more detail, for example, in PCT patent application WO99/12456.

The outlet 15 of the channel for passing the brewed drink of the pressing piston 14 is connected to the channel located in the dispensing unit 3 by a flexible tube (not shown in the figures). The channel located in the dispensing unit 3 is divided into two parts to form two holes for the coffee to exit. The dispensing unit 3 is located above the cup tray 4 and can be moved vertically so that the user can adjust the position of the coffee outlet holes according to the height of the cup.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 and 2, the automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a housing 5 containing a base 6 designed to rest on a work surface, from which extend a front wall 7, a rear wall 8 and two side walls 9a, 9b. The device 20 for loading a portion of ground coffee is located on the side wall 9a having an opening 40. The device 20 for loading a portion of ground coffee contains a dosing container 21, configured to rotate around an axis Δ between the loading position (Fig. 4), in which the portion of ground coffee can be placed in the dosing device 21, and a discharge position (Fig. 5), in which a portion of ground coffee is moved by gravity into the brewing chamber 12. The axis Δ is parallel to the side wall 9a, in particular parallel to the lower edge 41 of the hole 40 made in side wall 9a. The Δ axis is parallel to the horizontal plane passing through the base 6.

The dosing container 21 contains first 22 and second 23 lower walls, which are connected near the Δ axis, forming a line L (Fig. 3 and 4) parallel to the Δ axis. The lower walls, the first 22 and the second 23, are essentially flat. The dosing container 21 includes two side walls 24a, 24b, each of which has a rounded edge 25a, 25b. The first 22 and second 23 lower walls form an angle equal to 100° in the section plane perpendicular to the Δ axis.

As shown in FIG. 3, 4 and 6, the dosing container 21 contains a cylindrical groove 28, which runs along the Δ axis, and the side wall 9a contains two bearings 43a, 43b (Fig. 6), located along the Δ axis, on one side and the other of the hole 40 at the level of the lower edge 41. The axis 44 is located in the bearings 43 and the cylindrical groove 28, allowing rotation of the dosing container 21. The dosing container 21 contains a cover 27, which, in the unloading position, is aligned with the vertical wall 9a and closes the opening 40. The cover 27 contains an upper free end 29, which fits the upper edge 42 of the opening 40. A recess 49 is formed in the side wall 9a (FIGS. 3, 4) so that a user's finger can rest on the free end 29 to move the dispensing container 21 from the unloading position to the loading position. In the unloading position, the first bottom wall 22 is aligned with the inclined wall 46 (FIG. 6) of the chute 45 for transporting ground coffee into the brewing chamber 12. The inclined wall 46 of the chute 45 forms an angle of 40° with the vertical axis.

As shown in FIG. 3, 4, 5 and 7, the side wall 9a includes a curved wall 32 located above the dispensing container 21. The curved wall 32 is located adjacent to the rounded edges 25a, 25b of the side walls 24a, 24b of the dispensing container 21 in the unloading position. A curved wall 32 extends from the top edge 42 of the opening 40 down to the free end 33. The free end 33 is located adjacent to the pressure piston 14 (Figs. 3 and 4) when the latter occupies the upper position of the outlet, in which it is located above the brewing chamber 12. Curved wall 32 contains two side walls 37a, 37b, which are located on either side of two side walls 24a, 24b of the dosing container 21. The curved wall 32 contains a recess 34. In the unloading position, the recess 34 extends into the dosing container 21 adjacent to the side walls 24a, 24b and interacts with the free end 31 of the first bottom wall 22. Thus, the curved wall 32 containing the recess 34 prohibits user access to the interior of the housing 5. In the loading position, the first 22 and second 23 bottom walls and two side walls 24a, 24b, a Also, the curved wall 32 containing the recess 34 forms the volume of the dosing container 21, which receives a portion of ground coffee.

A curved wall 32 is located above the transfer chute 45. In the discharge position, the curved wall 32 directs a portion of ground coffee downward toward the transfer chute 45 and toward the upper opening 13 of the brewing chamber 12.

The dosing container 21 is designed to rotate around the axis Δ between the loading position and the unloading position through an angular stroke of 70°. Thus, in the loading position, the second bottom wall 23, two side walls 24a, 24b and the upper edge 42 of the opening 40 form an opening 30 (FIG. 4) for loading a portion of ground coffee. Automatic coffee machine 1 contains a measuring spoon (not shown in the figures), which allows you to take a portion of ground coffee and load it into the dosing container 21 through hole 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, 6 and 7, the automatic coffee machine 1 includes a system for holding the dosing container 21 in the unloading position. The holding system consists of two projections 35a, 35b (Fig. 6), located respectively on the side walls 24a, 24b of the dispensing container 21. The projections 35a, 35b cooperate, respectively, with sockets 38a, 38b (Figs. 4 and 7), located on the side walls 37a, 37b of the curved wall 32. The sockets 38a, 38b are located on flexible tabs 39a, 39b. In the loading position, the projections 35a, 35b abut the side wall 9a to form a stop (Fig. 6).

Automatic coffee machine 1 contains a control circuit 60 (Figs. 1 and 2) for monitoring and controlling the preparation cycles of brewed drinks, in particular coffee. The control circuit 60 includes a detection device 61, 62 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the loading and/or unloading position of the dosing container 21. The detection device 61, 62 includes a reed type magnetic switch (ILS) 61 and a magnet 62.

During operation, a user who wishes to load a portion of coffee ground from coffee beans other than the coffee beans in the grinder rotates the dosing container 21 around the axis Δ from the unloading position to the loading position. He fills the dosing container 21 through the opening 30 with a portion of ground coffee using a measuring spoon. He then pushes the cover 27 along the side wall 9a to move the dosing container 21 to the discharge position. The first bottom wall 22 is aligned with the inclined wall 46 of the transfer chute 45. Thus, the portion of ground coffee slides along the first bottom wall 22 and along the inclined wall 46 to enter the brewing chamber 12. The control circuit 60 determines through the detection device 61, 62 that the dosing container 21 is in the discharge position and that the portion of ground coffee coffee is transferred to the brewing chamber 12. After which the user can start preparing coffee.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which are given by way of example only. Modifications remain possible, in particular with regard to the composition of various elements or by substitution with technical equivalents, without going beyond the scope of protection of the invention.

In another embodiment, the dispensing container includes a graduated scale designed to assist the user in determining the serving size of ground coffee.

Claims (13)

1. An automatic coffee machine (1) containing a coffee grinder (50), a device (20) for loading a portion of ground coffee, a housing (5) having at least one side wall (9a), and a brewing chamber (12) having an upper opening (13) for receiving ground coffee from a coffee grinder (50) or from a device (20) for loading a portion of ground coffee, said loading device (20) being located on at least one side wall (9a) and containing a dosing container (21 ), made with the possibility of rotation around an axis Δ between the loading position, providing the possibility of placing a portion of ground coffee in the specified dosing container (21), and the unloading position, in which a portion of ground coffee moves under the influence of gravity into the brewing chamber (12), characterized in that that the Δ axis is parallel to at least one side wall (9a). 2. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing container (21) contains first (22) and second (23) lower walls, which are connected near the Δ axis. 3. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first (22) and second (23) lower walls form an angle of more than 90° in the section plane perpendicular to the Δ axis. 4. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 2, 3, characterized in that in the unloading position the first lower wall (22) is aligned with the inclined wall (46) of the chute (45) for moving ground coffee into the brewing chamber (12). 5. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 2-4, characterized in that the dosing container (21) contains two side walls (24a, 24b) having rounded edges (25a, 25b). 6. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the side wall (9a) includes a curved wall (32) located above the dosing container (21) next to the rounded edges of the side walls (24a, 24b) of the dosing container (21 ) when the latter is in the unloading position. 7. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the curved wall (32) contains a recess (34), which, in the unloading position, extends into the dosing container (21) next to the side walls (24a, 24b) of the dosing container and interacts with the free end (31) of the first lower wall (22). 8. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, characterized in that the dosing container (21) is designed to rotate around the axis Δ between the loading position and the unloading position by an angular stroke of at least 30° 9. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, characterized in that the dosing container (21) is designed to rotate around the axis Δ between the loading position and the unloading position by an angular stroke of at least 45°. 10. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, characterized in that it contains a system (35a, 35b, 38a, 38b) for holding the dosing container (21) in the unloading position. 11. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the system for holding the dosing container in the discharge position comprises at least one projection (35a, 35b) which cooperates with at least one seat (38a, 38b), located on at least one flexible tongue (39a, 39b), with at least one protrusion (35a, 35b) and at least one socket (38a, 38b) located, respectively, on the dosing container (21) and on the housing ( 5) or vice versa. 12. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-11, characterized in that it contains a control circuit (60) and a device (61, 62) for detecting the loading and/or unloading position of the dosing container (21). 13. Automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the detection device (61, 62) contains a reed-type magnetic switch (61) and a magnet (62).