DE102004004835B4 - Coffee machine with height-adjustable spout - Google Patents

Abstract

Coffee machine, in particular espresso machine with a brewing chamber (12) arranged in a housing, on which at least one outlet opening (16) for coffee is provided, and a height-adjustable outlet (14) for the removal of coffee, characterized in that at least one in the outlet ( 14) guided outlet pipe (18, 20) by means of a knob (22) is height adjustable.

Description

The invention relates to a coffee machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Coffee machines of the prior art work on different principles. The most common models are the so-called non-pressure coffee machines. In these, water flows from a reservoir into an electrically heated tube. In particular, by steam in this tube heated water is then pressed through a riser to an outlet, through which the heated water then drips into a coffee filter. From this coffee filter, the filter coffee at atmospheric pressure then flow into a pot.

In contrast, in espresso machines there is an increased pressure in the area of the ground coffee, for example 15 bar. This is achieved by water from a water tank or other water supply to an electric motor driven pump is supplied, which then supplies the water under high pressure over an electrically heated area of a coffee grounds receiving device. This coffee grounds receiving device generally comprises a sieve for receiving the coffee. In order to generate the high pressure in the region of the coffee, the coffee grounds receiving device is arranged during operation in a region sealed off from the atmosphere, which can be referred to as a pressure chamber or brewing chamber.

In another coffee machine operating in a fundamentally different way, it is provided to first transfer the water for preparing the coffee from a water container into a heatable intermediate container. From this intermediate container, the heated water passes to an electric motor driven pump, from which it is supplied under elevated pressure, for example 2 to 3 bar, a coffee grounds receiving device. It is provided that the coffee, unlike the espresso machine, is not introduced in loose form as ground coffee in the coffee grounds receiving device, but in the form of a coffee pad, that is surrounded in a compacted form with filter paper, is inserted into a holder. The holder can form a sealed pressure chamber with a holder cover, over which water is supplied. The holder for the coffee pods come to several functions. On the one hand, the holder provides a sealing surface, so that a pressure chamber can be formed. Furthermore, the holder has an outlet opening from which the coffee can escape. Furthermore, the coffee pad should be mounted in a manner in the holder, so that the flow through the coffee pad is not hindered. Such a coffee maker occupies an intermediate position between a conventional pressureless coffee machine and an espresso machine.

For espresso machines and coffee makers that use coffee pods to make coffee, the coffee is usually fed directly into a cup via a spout. It should be noted that the distance between the spout and an area for setting up the cups is large enough to allow the possibility of placing large cups under the spout. On the other hand, when removing coffee with a small cup, a not too large distance should be selected, so that the coffee reaches the cup as accurately as possible and with as little temperature loss as possible. To meet these conflicting requirements, for example, in the DE 298 10 291 U1 already proposed to provide a height-adjustable outlet device that can be moved linearly upwards and downwards. In order to avoid tilting of such an outlet when moving, sufficiently long guides are required, which require a corresponding space.

From the DE 71 20 645 U is a coffee machine with a height adjustable by a disc carrier known, which moves with the carrier of the outlet.

From the DE 34 25 943 C1 a coffee machine is known in which a mutual distance from outlet openings is adjustable by means of an adjusting ring.

The object of the invention is to provide a coffee machine with a conveniently operated height adjustable spout available.

This object is achieved with the features of the independent claim.

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

The invention is based on the generic coffee machine in that at least one outlet nozzle of the outlet by means of a knob is height adjustable. This is a particularly convenient solution for adjusting the outlet height. The knob can be arranged so that it does not heat up or only slightly due to the expiring hot coffee. Scalding in the height adjustment of the outlet nozzle are therefore excluded.

Usefully, it is provided that the outlet has at least one outlet nozzle, which cooperates with a longitudinally extending toothing, and that the rotary knob is provided with a toothed wheel, which cooperates with the elongate toothing, so that a rotational movement of the rotary knob can be converted into a linear upward or downward movement of the outlet nozzle. The spout can for example be provided directly on its outside with a toothing, so that it can be moved directly from the gear. It is also possible that the outlet nozzle is in communication with a toothed rack, so that a displacement by means of the toothed wheel can take place as well.

It is further preferred that the outlet has two outlet ports which are arranged on opposite sides of the gear, so that moves during the rotational movement of the knob one of the outlet nozzle upward and the other outlet nozzle downwards. In this way, the spouts can be brought to different heights, so that different sized cups can be filled simultaneously, for example, an espresso cup and a cappuccino cup.

In a further embodiment it can be provided that a vertical guide is provided in which the rotary knob can be moved together with the outlet nozzle. In this way, the opposite height adjustment of the spout can be superimposed by a vertical movement. This increases the number of ways to place cups of different heights under the spout.

Furthermore, it may be useful that below a coffee outlet opening of the brewing chamber a baffle is arranged at a fixed distance to the coffee outlet opening, which is incident on the emerging from the coffee outlet coffee and from which the coffee is directed to the outlet. In particular, in coffee machines that prepare coffee under high pressure in a brewing chamber and in which this coffee then emerges from a small coffee outlet for cream formation, the distance between the coffee outlet and the baffle has a great influence on the coffee quality. If this distance is kept constant but a height adjustable spout is still provided, both the high coffee quality requirements can be met and the ability to fill different height cups at the optimum distance from the spout can be provided.

The invention is based on the finding that by providing a rotary knob and thus a height-adjustable spout a particularly convenient way is created to place different sized cups under the spout. In particular, the invention may be useful further developed by the spout can be brought to different heights by operating the knob.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of particularly preferred embodiments. Showing:

1 a sectional view of a coffee machine according to the invention;

2 a perspective view of a coffee machine according to the invention;

3 a perspective view for explaining the operation of an outlet;

4 a perspective view of a coffee machine according to the invention; and

5 a perspective view for explaining the operation of an outlet.

In the following description of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar components.

The 1 to 5 will be described together for a better understanding of the invention. The coffee machine 10 includes a water tank 38 pointing to a rear columnar assembly 36 is attached. This water tank 38 is by electrical actuation of a pump 40 Taken from water. The water becomes a water heater 42 then fed from above through the Brühkammeroberteil 30 in the brewing chamber 12 to get. The brewing chamber 12 is through a coffee pad holder 28 and a brewing chamber shell 30 educated. The coffee pad holder 28 is by means of a drawer 26 in the coffee machine 10 used. In the coffee pad holder 28 is a coffee outlet 16 provided over the coffee under high pressure to cream formation and then on a baffle floor 44 incident. This baffle floor 44 has a constant distance to the coffee outlet opening 16 , From the baffle floor 44 the coffee then reaches an outlet 14 , From this outlet 14 the coffee can be in on the front part 34 the coffee maker parked cups arrive.

The spout 14 has a knob 22 as well as two outlet spouts 18 . 20 on. These spouts 18 . 20 are by turning the knob 22 height-adjustable. This succeeds in that, as in the 3 and 4 is shown, the knob with a gear 24 communicates, which with serrations on the outsides of the spout 18 . 20 combs. By turning the knob 22 Thus, the outlet nozzle can be adjusted in height in the opposite direction, so that different heights cups can be accommodated under the spout.

The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential to the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

coffee machine

12

brewing

14

outlet

16

Coffee outlet

18

outlet connection

20

outlet connection

22

knob

24

gear

26

drawer

28

coffee pad

30

top part

32

guide

34

front

36

rear assembly

38

water tank

40

pump

42

Heater

44

impact surface

Claims (10)

Coffee machine, in particular espresso machine with a brewing chamber arranged in a housing ( 12 ), at least one outlet opening ( 16 ) for coffee, and a height-adjustable spout ( 14 ) For the removal of coffee, characterized in that at least one (in the outlet 14 ) guided outlet nozzle ( 18 . 20 ) by means of a rotary knob ( 22 ) is height adjustable. Coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary knob ( 22 ) is provided on the housing of the coffee maker. Coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary knob ( 22 ) for height adjustment of the at least one outlet nozzle ( 18 . 20 ) at the outlet ( 14 ) is provided. Coffee machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the spout ( 14 ) at least two height-adjustable outlet spouts ( 18 . 20 ), and by turning the knob ( 22 ) of a spout ( 18 ) with respect to the other outlet nozzle ( 20 ) is height adjustable. Coffee machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the two outlet nozzles ( 18 . 20 ) by turning the knob ( 22 ) are height-adjustable in opposite directions. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rotary knob ( 22 ) with the at least one outlet nozzle ( 18 . 20 ) is connected via a gear that controls the rotational movement of the rotary knob ( 22 ) in a translational movement of the outlet nozzle ( 18 . 20 ). Coffee machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the transmission with a knob ( 22 ) connected gear ( 24 ), which in one with the at least one outlet nozzle ( 18 . 20 ) engages connected rack. Coffee machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the spout ( 14 ) two outlet nozzles ( 18 . 20 ), each of which has a rack, which on opposite sides of the gear ( 24 ) intervene. Coffee machine according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the rotary knob ( 22 ) for the simultaneous height adjustment of at least two outlet spouts ( 18 . 20 ) in a guided tour ( 32 ) at the outlet ( 14 ) or is mounted vertically displaceable on the housing, and the at least two outlet spouts ( 18 . 20 ) by turning the knob ( 22 ) are height-adjustable in opposite directions. Coffee machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that below a coffee outlet opening ( 16 ) of the brewing chamber ( 12 ) an impact floor ( 44 ) at a fixed distance to the coffee outlet opening ( 16 ) is arranged, on which the from the coffee outlet opening ( 16 ) escaping coffee and from which the coffee to the spout ( 18 . 20 ).

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