HK1226270B - A coffee machine - Google Patents

Description

coffee machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a coffee machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coffee machine with improved beverage dispensing conditions. It is known that existing coffee machines can be roughly divided into three main categories, depending on the devices in the coffee machine and its intended use: automatic coffee machines, manual coffee machines, or semi-automatic coffee machines.

Existing technology

Manual coffee makers require the filter holder to be manually refilled each time coffee is made, whereas automatic coffee makers refill automatically.

A semi-automatic type of coffee machine allows both of the above operations.

Specifically, the operating systems of these coffee machines dictate that hot water follow a specific path as it contacts the ground coffee in order to be brewed. The resulting coffee beverage is influenced by various parameters used in the process, such as the quality of the coffee used, the particle size of the coffee used, the water temperature, and the water pressure during the brewing cycle.

There are coffee machines currently on the market comprising a filter holder which an operator manually connects to the brewing unit of the coffee machine.

The filter holder can be filled with ground coffee manually and subsequently connected to the brewing unit, or automatically only after the filter holder has been correctly positioned on the brewing unit.

In the latter case, the ground coffee is then compressed and the brewing unit then releases a predetermined amount of water at a temperature and pressure optimal for preparing coffee with optimal organoleptic characteristics.

In both cases, once the coffee has been prepared, the filter holder is manually separated from the coffee machine and the spent ground coffee is discarded.

The filter holder can then be reused for preparing another coffee.

Such a coffee machine may be equipped with one or more brewing units and therefore have several filter holders.

Typically each brewing unit is equipped with several filter holders, at least one for espresso and one for double espresso.

In these coffee machines, if the filter holder is at room temperature, for example when the first cup of coffee is made after some time and the filter holder is allowed to cool, the mass of the filter holder tends to cool the hot water during the brewing process, resulting in a reduction in the quality characteristics of the produced coffee.

In coffee machines made so far, the filter holder is kept hot by being connected to the brewing unit of the coffee machine. If there are several filter holders available in the machine for each brewing unit, it is obvious that only one filter holder will be kept at operating temperature, while the others will be at room temperature.

Summary of the Invention

The technical aim proposed by the present invention is to achieve a coffee machine in which the water of the brewing unit does not cool down during its transition through the filter holder.

As part of this aim, an object of the present invention is to achieve a coffee machine capable of preparing a coffee beverage using a filter-holder which always has an optimal temperature, independent of its frequency of use.

Another object is to achieve a coffee machine that heats the filter holder during its use, making it possible to standardize the quality of the coffee.

Another object of the present invention is to achieve a coffee machine in which the additional support assembly for the heated filter holder is located on the coffee machine at an ergonomic position for the user.

A not last object of the invention is to realize a coffee machine which primarily uses its components to heat the filter holder.

The above technical object as well as the above and other aims are achieved by a coffee machine having at least one brewing unit and at least one filter holder, which is manually connected to and disconnected from the brewing unit for preparing coffee, the coffee machine being characterized in that the filter holder of the coffee machine has at least one additional supporting component for keeping the filter holder connected to the coffee machine when the filter holder is disconnected from the brewing unit, the additional supporting component comprising a heating member for heating the filter holder to a predetermined temperature.

The heating support assembly is placed outside the coffee delivery space, i.e., in a position where the filter holder does not interfere with the normal operation of delivering coffee or other beverages during the heating of the filter holder. In one embodiment of the present invention, the heating support member can be used for a first filter holder, while the second filter holder is engaged, for example, on a brewing unit for dispensing beverages. Preferably, the heating support assembly (4) is arranged above or to the side of the at least one brewing unit (2).

According to one embodiment of the coffee machine according to the invention, the heating support assembly comprises a housing for the filter holder; the filter holder is partially or completely insertable into the housing. Preferably, at least a portion of the contour of the filter holder housing has a complementary shape to a corresponding contour of the filter holder, so as to improve heating of the filter holder.

According to another embodiment of the coffee maker of the present invention, the heating support assembly includes a protrusion assembly protruding from the coffee maker, such protrusion assembly being heatable and the filter holder being positionable on the protrusion assembly such that when the filter holder is engaged with the heating support assembly, the heating protrusion assembly is at least partially received in the cavity of the filter holder. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the entire assembly (i.e., the filter holder and the heating assembly) is housed in the body of the coffee maker and does not interfere with the operation of the filter holder in use (i.e., those engaged with the brewing unit) to deliver a beverage.

The claims dependent from the main claim describe more particularly that the coffee machine according to the invention comprises automatic filling means for automatically filling the filter holder with a predetermined amount of ground coffee.

In particular, the automatic filling member comprises a grinder for producing coffee powder and a transfer assembly for transferring the powder from the grinder to the filter holder when the filter holder is connected to the brewing unit.

The heating means comprise at least one electrical resistance associated with the support assembly, the activation of which is independent of the operation of said brewing unit, or a pipe for delivering hot water associated with the support assembly and circulating said water while said brewing unit is in operation.

Conveniently, the additional support assembly comprises an engagement member for engaging with the filter holder, the engagement member being defined by a bayonet connection or a sliding connection or a magnet or an electromagnet activated by electrically activating said resistor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of a coffee machine according to the invention, which is given by way of illustration only in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG1A is a schematic front view of a coffee machine according to the invention, in which an additional support assembly of the filter holder according to the invention can be seen;

FIG1B is a schematic front view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1B ;

2 is a view of an additional support assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention and of each filter holder, the additional support assembly being heated by electrical resistance and having a bayonet connection;

FIG3 is a view of an additional support assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention having a connecting member connected to the filter holder and defined by a magnet or electromagnet;

Figure 4 is an additional support assembly heated by hot water according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of a filter holder in combination with an additional support assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing the corresponding filter holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1A and 1B , a coffee machine generally designated by reference numeral 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, one or more brewing units 2, to which corresponding filter holders 3 for preparing coffee beverages are manually connected or disconnected by an operator. The filter holders 3 are provided with a handle 13 in a manner known in the art.

Below the brewing unit 2 there is a space S, referred to as the working space, in which containers (not shown) for dispensed beverages are placed; these containers, typically cups or glasses of various sizes, rest on a shelf 15 below the brewing unit; the shelf 15 delimits the working space S from below. As will be better described below, the heating support assembly 4 is preferably arranged above the brewing unit (see, for example, FIGS. 1A and 1B ) and in any case outside the working space S, i.e., outside the beverage dispensing area.

The coffee machine described below is of the type comprising automatic filling means which fill the filter holder with a predetermined amount of ground coffee.

In particular, the automatic filling member comprises a grinder for producing coffee powder and a transfer assembly for transferring the powder from the grinder to the filter holder when the filter holder is connected to the brewing unit.

Neither the grinder nor the transport assembly, such as a delivery tube or other member of a telescopic or positionable type, is shown in the drawings.

Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity of description, the coffee machine of the above type will be described below, which has only two brewing units and their corresponding filter holders.

However, the number of brewing units and filter holders may be as desired.

As mentioned above, the filter holder may be filled automatically by a grinder, however, this does not exclude the possibility of manually filling the filter holder by an operator in case the coffee machine does not have a grinder.

In particular, the coffee machine 1 has at least one brewing unit 2 and at least one filter holder 3 which is manually connected to or disconnected from the brewing unit 2 by an operator for preparing coffee.

The filter-holder 3 of the coffee machine 1 has at least one additional supporting member 4 allowing to retain the filter-holder 3 in said coffee machine when the filter-holder 3 is not in use and is detached from the brewing unit 2 .

Obviously, the coffee machine can have as many support assemblies 4 as desired. The embodiment of FIG. 1A is provided with two support assemblies 4, while the embodiment of FIG. 1B has only one additional support assembly 4.

The additional supporting assembly 4 comprises heating means which bring the filter holder 3 to a predetermined temperature before filling the filter holder 3 with ground coffee 15 , either automatically or manually.

This arrangement prevents the entire filter holder 3 from cooling the brewing water in the event that the filter holder 3 has cooled down since the last coffee was prepared.

In this way, the organoleptic characteristics of the prepared coffee are fully preserved, regardless of the time that has elapsed between each preparation of the coffee.

In a preferred solution, said heating means comprise at least one electrical resistance 5 associated with the support assembly 4 , said resistance being activated independently of the operation of the brewing unit 2 .

The resistor 5 is inserted into a socket 6 which can be easily replaced in the event of a malfunction or failure. Obviously, there can be several sockets 6 in the support assembly 4, with means suitable for optimally transferring heat to the filter holder 3.

In the construction variant shown in FIG. 4 , the heating means comprise a pipe 7 for conveying hot water, said pipe being integrated with the support assembly 4 .

The circulation of the hot water can be performed simultaneously with the operation of the brewing unit, so that existing components of the coffee machine can be used for circulation and heating, thereby controlling costs and construction complexity.

The additional support assembly 4 comprises an engagement member, generally indicated by the reference numeral 8 , said filter holder allowing the engagement member to be connected to the support member 4 during heating in the same way as with the brewing unit 2 .

For example, if the filter holder 3 is connected to the brewing unit by means of a bayonet fastener, the coupling means comprising bayonet connection parts 9, 9', a rotational and translatory movement of the filter holder 3 allows the support assembly 4 to be connected to the filter holder 3. This solution is illustrated in Figures 1A and 2. Figures 1A and 2 depict the support assembly 4 with a male portion, i.e., two protrusions 9 of the bayonet fastener. The female portion 9' of the fastener is located on the filter holder 3.

In the example of the embodiment of Figures 1B and 1C, the filter holder 3 is provided with a protrusion 9 for bayonet mounting in the brewing unit 2. In this case, the support assembly 4 is provided with two guides 16 that accommodate the protrusion 9 of the filter holder 3 and is formed by a space inside the body of the coffee machine 1 that can accommodate the filter holder 3 for heating it, for example when it is not engaged with the brewing unit; preferably, the support assembly 4 is at least partially shaped to complement the filter holder 3. The filter holder 3 is inserted into the support assembly 4 by a translation movement; in fact, the protrusion 9 and the guides 16 form a sliding connection between the coffee machine 1 and the filter holder 3.

Generally speaking, two types of support assemblies 4 are provided. Referring to Figures 1A and 2 to 5, the support assembly shown in the figures provides a protrusion assembly 4a that is shaped to be at least partially received within the interior of the filter holder. In the embodiment described, a majority of the surface heated by the support assembly will be in contact with the interior surface of the filter holder, thereby transferring heat to the interior surface of the filter holder by conduction.

In another embodiment type exemplified by the support assembly, shown in Figures 1B and 1C, the support assembly 4 has a structure that is inverted from that discussed above; in effect, the support assembly houses the filter holder 3 therein. In this embodiment, the housing is preferably shaped to complement the filter holder; the outer walls of the filter holder may come into contact with the walls of the support assembly. In any case, an advantage of this embodiment is that the filter holder is primarily housed within the support assembly, and heating also occurs through convection of heat within the support assembly (i.e., the housing), as can be readily seen in Figures 1B and 1C.

In the embodiment of Figures 1B and 1C, the filter holder is preferably inserted into the housing of the support assembly 4 by means of a sliding member, similar to the description made with reference to Figure 5. The sliding insertion member suitable for the present invention is, for example, the sliding insertion member described in WO 2015/055557 proposed in the name of the applicant of the present application, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Preferably, as described on page 5 and the accompanying drawings of WO 2015/055557, the sliding member includes two opposing coplanar guide rails arranged parallel to each other. Each of the two guide rails may preferably have an entrance area, which is defined by at least one inclined surface, in particular by two inclined surfaces (a lower inclined surface and an upper inclined surface) so that the protrusions 9, 10' can be easily introduced into the guide rails 16, 10".

Preferably, the guide rail has an end position defined by a wall for blocking the protrusion and correctly positioning the filter holder.

In order to trigger the heating of the support assembly 4 , a detection member may be provided which detects the presence of the filter holder in the guide rails 16 , 10 ″ or on the support assembly 4 .

In the construction variant shown in FIG5 , as in the embodiment of FIG1A and FIG2 to FIG4 , the support assembly 4 is arranged above the body of the coffee machine; in this embodiment, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG1B and FIG1C , the coupling member 8 comprises a sliding connection part in order to simplify the connection between the support assembly and the filter holder without causing fatigue to the operator by the rotational movement.

In another construction variant shown in FIG3 , the coupling member 8 comprises a magnet or electromagnet 11 which is activated by the same electrical activation resistor 5. This embodiment provides that at least a portion of the filter holder comprises a magnetic material (e.g., magnet steel) or is made of a magnetic material in order to secure the filter holder in place. In this case, the operator only needs to move the filter holder 3 close to the coupling member 8, which will attract the filter holder to the coupling member 8 itself by means of magnetic attraction. If the filter holder is made of non-magnetic material, metal parts will achieve the same effect in order to allow the filter holder to be connected.

If the support member 4 is assembled on the upper part 12 of the coffee machine, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1A , where the support assembly 4 is housed in a suitable seat 14 , the filter holder can also be held in the seat solely by gravity, by resting its handle 13 directly on the upper flat surface 12 of the coffee machine 1 .

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of several modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all the details may be replaced by technically equivalent components.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any, depending on the requirements.

Specifically, the heating system of the filter holder can be made into an independent component and therefore will not be connected to the coffee machine. In addition to having a system for controlling the temperature independent of the coffee machine, such a heating system has the characteristics of the aforementioned heating system.

Claims (13)

1. A coffee machine (1) having at least one brewing unit (2) and at least one filter holder (3), the filter holder (3) being manually connected to and disconnected from the brewing unit (2) to prepare coffee, characterized in that the filter holder of the coffee machine (1) has at least one additional support assembly (4) for maintaining the filter holder connected to the coffee machine (1) when the filter holder is not connected to the brewing unit, the additional support assembly (4) including heating members (5, 6; 7) for heating the filter holder to a predetermined temperature, wherein the additional support assembly (4) includes engagement members (8) for engaging with the filter holder (3). 2. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the additional support component (4) is disposed above or on the side of the at least one brewing unit (2). 3. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional support assembly (4) includes a housing for the filter holder (3), the filter holder being at least partially inserted into the housing. 4. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the engaging member of the additional support assembly (4) includes a protruding component (4a) protruding from the coffee machine, the protruding component being at least partially accommodated in the filter holder (3). 5. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein the protruding component (4a) is disposed on the upper wall (12) of the coffee machine (1) and is at least partially positioned in a cavity (18) that accommodates the filter holder, wherein the protruding component is accommodated in the filter holder (3) when the filter holder is engaged with the additional support component (4). 6. The coffee machine (1) of claim 2 further includes an automatic filling component, the automatic filling component comprising a grinder for producing coffee powder and a conveying component for conveying the powder from the grinder to the filter holder when the filter holder is connected to the brewing unit. 7. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element includes at least one resistor (5) combined with the additional support assembly (4). 8. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein the activation of the resistor (5) is independent of the operation of the brewing unit. 9. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating element includes a pipe (7) for conveying hot water, the pipe being coupled to the additional support assembly (4), preferably circulating the water while the brewing unit is operating. 10. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes bayonet connecting parts (9, 9'). 11. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a sliding connecting component (10). 12. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein the connecting member comprises a magnet or electromagnet (11), the magnet or electromagnet being activated by electrically activating the resistor (5). 13. An additional support assembly (4) for a filter holder (3) for a coffee machine, characterized in that the additional support assembly (4) is an integral assembly and is located away from the coffee machine (1), and the additional support assembly (4) includes a heating member for heating the filter holder to a predetermined temperature, wherein the additional support assembly (4) includes an engagement member (8) for engaging with the filter holder (3).