CN1913814A - Coffee machine and water container for coffee machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a coffee machine having a housing and a water container (18) which can be placed on the housing and removed from the housing, wherein the water container (18) has a niche (66) which is surrounded by a wall part of the container and in which the housing is partially embedded. In order to provide an economical and reliable method for removing and transporting the water container (18), it is proposed that the niche (66) is delimited from above by a short arm (68) which supports the water container (18) on the housing of the coffee machine and which forms a carrier handle. The invention also relates to a water container (18).

Description

Coffee machine and water container for coffee machine

The invention relates to a coffee machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a water container according to the preamble of claim 10 .

Prior art coffee machines work on different principles. The most popular form is the so-called stress-free coffee machine. In this coffee machine water flows from a storage container into an electrically heated tube. In particular by generating steam in this pipe heated water is forced through a riser pipe to an outlet through which heated water drips into a coffee filter. This coffee filter allows filter coffee to flow into a jug at atmospheric pressure.

In contrast to this, an espresso machine exhibits a high pressure at the coffee grounds, for example 15 bar. This is achieved by feeding water from a water container or other water supply to a motor-driven pump, which then sends the water under high pressure through a point that can be heated electrically to a coffee powder receiver device. The coffee powder receiving device generally includes a screen for receiving coffee. In order to generate a high pressure at the coffee, the coffee receiving device is arranged during operation in a location that is sealed from the atmosphere, which can be referred to as a pressure chamber or brewing chamber.

In coffee machines that operate according to another principle, it is provided that the water for preparing coffee is first conveyed from a water container to a heatable intermediate container. From this intermediate container the heated water reaches a motor-driven pump, which pumps it under high pressure, for example 2 to 3 bar, to a coffee powder receiver. It is provided here that, unlike an espresso machine, the coffee is not fed into the coffee powder receiver in the form of loose coffee powder, but in the form of a coffee pad, that is, placed in the A holding body inside. The holding body can form a sealed pressure chamber with a holding body cover through which water is fed. The holder for the coffee pad here has multiple functions. On the one hand, the holding body provides a sealing surface, whereby a pressure chamber can be formed. In addition, the holding body has an outlet from which coffee can escape. Furthermore, the coffee pad can be placed in the holding body in such a way that the flow through the coffee pad is not hindered. This coffee machine is between the usual non-espresso machine and the espresso machine.

There are different options for supplying water to the coffee machine. It is known, for example, to fill a water tank which is fixedly connected to a coffee machine, wherein this type is mostly used for coffee machines with a jug. In these coffee machines the jug can be used without problems as a conveying means from the tap to the water container of the coffee machine. Other solutions are often used for coffee machines in which coffee is dispensed cup by cup. For example, it is known to have a permanently installed water delivery device, which involves a very comfortable but also very expensive solution. Alternatively, the water container can be removed from the coffee machine. In this way, the water container can be filled directly from the tap and then placed on the coffee machine in the filled state.

For the latter economical and comfortable water supply, care should be taken to provide measures on the water container by means of which the water container can be removed and transported from the coffee machine in a simple manner. The larger the water container, the more important this is, since the transport of the water container is difficult without those support aids. As the volume of the water container becomes larger, the water container becomes more difficult to grasp, which may cause problems in transport due to the heavier weight also present for the larger volume. For this reason, common removable water containers are usually equipped with foldable handles, which are used for transporting the water container. However, such solutions are generally complex and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coffee machine with a removable water container which can be conveniently removed or placed and transported, wherein a simple and economical solution is aimed at.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on such a coffee machine, the alcove being delimited from above by a short arm which places the water container on the coffee machine housing and forms a tray handle. The niche (Nische) and the cutout of the water container provide a good grip (Zugriffsmöglichkeit), through which the housing of the coffee machine is enclosed. It is therefore advantageous to provide a short arm at this location, which can be gripped from below for conveying the water container therefrom.

It is particularly advantageous if the water container has a cover pivotable about an axis of rotation, which in its closed position covers not only the short arm but also the filling opening of the water container. The cover of the water container therefore not only covers the interior of the water container itself but also covers the short arm and a part of the upper side of the housing, so that the cover has multiple functions. The flap can be opened without hindrance by having a grip on the short arm on the hinge side of the flap. This is advantageous when filling the water container using a tap.

Preferably, the axis of rotation of the cover is arranged on the side of the water container facing the housing. In this way, the cover plate exposes a large hole for irrigation when it is opened.

It is advantageous if the water container consists essentially of plastic and the short arms are formed in one piece with the water container. This is a simple to process and economical solution.

In particular, it may be preferred to form the short arms in a U-shape in cross section. Here, the U-shaped legs are oriented substantially upwards, so that a high bending resistance of the jib results when the jib is gripped from below for transporting the water container.

It is advantageously provided that the short arm is used to fasten a water container placed on the coffee machine to the housing. As a result, the water container is securely positioned on the housing and a further function is added to the short arm in addition to its function as a handle.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the water container has a constriction in the lower container section and that the lower container section of this constriction can be inserted into a recess in the housing. This also serves for a defined and stable insertion of the water container into the housing.

In this context, the coffee machine according to the invention is particularly advantageously improved in that a transition section between the constricted part and a non-constricted part of the water container forms a lower container section of the water container along the water container on both sides. Inclined ascending steps. As a result, the surface of the water container can be aligned with the surface of the housing located below it. Rising from the rear to the front via the steps allows for a comfortable introduction of the water container, since no precise vertical movement is required for the introduction, but a movement from behind or obliquely from behind at different angles is carried out to successfully place the water container.

In a further embodiment of the coffee machine according to the invention it can be provided that a handle on the cover protruding into the cavity of the water container is preferably arranged on the end of the cover opposite the axis of rotation. This provides additional possibilities for removing and supporting the water container.

The invention is based on such a water container, on which at the upper part of the alcove there is at least one short arm overlapping the alcove as a bracket handle. In this way, the advantages and specificities of the coffee machine according to the invention can also be transferred to any purpose water container.

The idea of the invention is that a water container can be transported in a comfortable and reliable manner by means of a short arm formed on the water container, wherein said short arm also serves to securely fix the water container in particular together with other measures. On the coffee machine, therefore, in particular, a play-free connection of the water container to the coffee machine is provided for use.

The invention is described below by way of example with the aid of particularly preferred exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a coffee machine according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a coffee machine according to the invention,

3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a water container with a closed lid according to the invention,

4 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a water container with an open lid according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a water container with an open lid according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a detailed sectional view of a water container according to the invention at the axis of rotation of the cover.

The same reference numerals denote the same or similar components in the following description of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a coffee machine according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a coffee machine according to the invention. The coffee maker 10 includes a flat front section 12 and a post-style rear structural assembly 14 . Arranged on the front part 12 is a cup from which the coffee is taken out through the outlet 16 . A water container 18 is inserted into a recess 82 of the housing in the rear structural unit 14 . The rear subassembly 14 also includes a brewing chamber 20 which is formed by a coffee pad holder 24 fed with a drawer and an elastic holder cover 28 . In order to seal the coffee pad holder 24 and the holder cover 28 against one another after being pushed into the drawer 22 , a lever mechanism including a lever 26 is provided. In the state shown, the lever mechanism pulls the coffee pad holder 24 against the holder cover 28 . If the lever 26 is turned back by 90°, the coffee pad holder 24 is lowered so that it can be removed from the coffee machine 10 together with the drawer 22 .

Inside the housing formed by the front part 12 and the rear structural component 14 there are components for conveying the water, heating the water and for controlling these processes. Arranged on the lower part of the housing at the border between the front part 12 and the rear structural component 14 is a pump 32 which delivers water from the water container 18 via a hose 34 . The pump 32 is connected to a through-flow heater 38 via a further hose 36 . The main components of this through-flow heater 38 are a pipe 40 for conveying water and two heating rods 42 , 44 . The heating rods 42 , 44 each have two electrical connections 46 , 48 , to which a heating voltage is applied. On the front part 12 of the coffee machine 10 there is a keypad 50 which is connected to a circuit board 52, wherein the circuit board 52 preferably controls all functions of the coffee machine, in particular the functions of delivering and heating water. The front housing part 12 and the rear housing part 14 are closed downwards by a common bottom plate 54 .

It can be seen that a cover plate 56 is located not only on the upper part of the water container 18 but also on the actual rear housing part. The pivot axis 58 forming the hinge here is arranged on the side of the cover plate 56 pointing forward.

3 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a water container according to the invention with a closed lid. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a water container according to the invention with an open lid. The water container 18 according to the invention has substantially planar sides 60 , 62 and a rounded rear portion 64 . The outer contour of the water container encloses a recess 66 in addition to the volume 70 intended to hold the water, so that the water container 18 can enclose a housing area of the coffee machine. This gap is bridged at the top by a short arm 68 which acts as a bracket handle. Due to the clearance 66, this short arm 68 can be clamped outwards from the side of the rotation axis 58 from below. In the lower part of the water container 18 there is a constriction 72 which transitions via a step 74 into the upper non-constriction. This step rises from the rear to the front, so that the water container 18 can be inserted into the housing obliquely from the rear or from above. The water container 18 is secured securely in the housing by means of this constriction 72 . This is supported by the fact that the short arm 68 provides a further connection to the coffee machine housing, thereby ensuring that the water container rests on the housing without play.

5 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a water container according to the invention with an open lid. The embodiment shown here differs from the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in that a further handle 76 is formed on the outer edge of the cover plate 56 by a handle socket. When the axis of rotation 58 of the water container 18 is arranged stably, the water container 18 can be easily removed from the coffee machine by means of this handle 76 and filled with water under a tap.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed sectional view of a water container according to the invention at the axis of rotation of the cover. An edge 80 is formed on the housing part partially covered by the cover 56 of the water container. In the assembled state of the water container, a short arm formed on the water container is fastened behind the edge 80 . This prevents the water container from tipping out of the coffee machine and ensures that the water container rests on the coffee machine without play.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims can be used not only independently but also in any desired combination for the realization of the invention.

List of reference signs

10 coffee machine

12 front end components

14 rear structural components

16 exit

18 water container

20 brewing chamber

22 drawers

24 coffee pad holder

26 leverage

28 Holder cover

30 Top of brewing chamber

32 pumps

34 hose

36 hose

38 Through-flow heater

40 tubes

42 heating rod

44 heating rod

46 electrical connector

48 electrical connector

50 keypad

52 circuit board

54 Bottom plate

56 cover

58 axis of rotation

60 side

62 side

64 Rear of water container

66 void, alcove

68 short arm

70 water receiving volume

72 Contraction part

74 steps

76 handle

80 edge

82 voids

Claims (10)

1. coffee machine, the water receptacle (18) that it has shell and can be placed on the shell and can take out from this shell, wherein this water receptacle (18) has the alcove (66) that is partly surrounded by chamber wall, be embedded in wherein housing parts, it is characterized in that, described alcove (66) limits by galianconism (68) from top, and this galianconism makes water receptacle (18) place on the shell of coffee machine and constitutes the carriage handle.

2. coffee machine as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described water receptacle (18) has the cover plate (56) that can center on rotating shaft (58) swing, and cover plate not only hides galianconism (68) but also hides the fill orifice of water receptacle (18) in its closed position.

3. coffee machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that, the rotating shaft (58) of described cover plate (56) is arranged on facing on the side of shell of water receptacle (18).

4. as each described coffee machine in the above-mentioned claim, it is characterized in that described water receptacle (18) is made of plastics substantially and galianconism (68) constitutes integratedly with water receptacle (18).

5. as each described coffee machine in the above-mentioned claim, it is characterized in that described galianconism (68) U-shaped ground in cross section constitutes.

6. as each described coffee machine in the above-mentioned claim, it is characterized in that described galianconism (68) is used to make the water receptacle (18) that is placed on the coffee machine to be fixed on shell.

7. as each described coffee machine in the above-mentioned claim, it is characterized in that described water receptacle (18) has the bottom container section of constriction (72) and this contraction and can put into inside the space (82) of shell in the bottom container section.

8. as each described coffee machine in the above-mentioned claim, it is characterized in that the changeover portion that is positioned between water receptacle (18) part that constriction (72) and do not shrink constitutes the step (74) that tilts to rise along water receptacle (18) in both sides from the bottom container section of water receptacle (18).

9. each described coffee machine as in the above-mentioned claim is characterized in that, on the cover plate (56) put in handle (76) in water receptacle (18) void space be preferably disposed on the opposed patch ends of rotating shaft (58) on.

10. be particularly useful for water receptacle as each described coffee machine in the above-mentioned claim, it has part and encloses the alcove (66) of card coffee machine housings, it is characterized in that upward having galianconism (68) of at least one overlap joint alcove (66) as the carriage handle on the top of alcove (66) at this water receptacle (18).

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