DE102004046456B4 - Coffee machine with height-adjustable spout - Google Patents

Abstract

Coffee machine, in particular espresso or coffee pod machine, with a brewing chamber (24) having at least one outlet opening through which coffee flows into a spout pot (30) having at least one height-adjustable spout (32) for the removal of coffee, characterized in that the outlet pipe (32) has a pipe socket (56) fixedly connected to the outlet pot (30) and an axially displaceable end pipe (58) arranged coaxially therewith, wherein the end pipe (58) can be locked in several height settings.

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 supplying water from a water tank or other water supply to an electric motor driven pump, which then supplies the water under high pressure over an electrically heatable area of a coffee grounds receiving means. This coffee grounds receiving device generally comprises a sieve for receiving the coffee. To produce the high pressure in the area of the coffee, the coffee grounds receiving device is arranged during operation in a region sealed off from the atmosphere, which is 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, provided in a sealed brewing chamber coffee grounds receiving device.

In a particular, referred to as so-called. Coffee pod machine form of coffee machines with a brewing chamber, it is provided that the coffee 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 in a holder. The holder is arranged in a brewing chamber, which is formed from a Brühkammeroberteil and a sealingly connectable with this Brühkammerunterteil. About the Brühkammeroberteil heated water or steam is fed into the brewing chamber. The holder for the coffee pads can be part of the Brühkammerunterteils or used as a separate part in this. The Brühkammerunterteil has an outlet opening from the prepared coffee can escape. The holder can be designed so that the heated water or steam can flow through the coffee pads largely unhindered.

From the DE 298 10 291 U1 a coffee machine is known, the outlet pot is together with a rigid outlet pipe as a unit height adjustable. Sliding angles are provided on the rear wall of the spout pot and slide without clearance into corresponding U-profile rails which are fastened to the machine body of the coffee machine. Laying down the spout pot in a designated height permanent magnets are provided by the magnetic force of the spout is to be kept in the intended height.

A disadvantage of the known coffee, that with the unit from the spout and spout a relatively heavy part must be moved, so that the guides must be designed accordingly strong in order to allow a user-friendly handling. This is costly. Despite the strong design of the guides, a play-free sliding of the sliding angle in the U-profiles can be disturbed by contamination - for example due to dried coffee splashes. Finally, the locking by means of permanent magnetic elements is not very accurate.

The object of the invention is to improve a generic coffee machine such that an easily manageable and positionally accurate height adjustment of the outlet pipe is guaranteed.

This object is achieved with the features of independent claim 1.

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

The invention is based on the generic coffee by the fact that the outlet pipe has a fixedly connected to the outlet pot pipe socket and a relative to this axially displaceable tailpipe, the tailpipe can be locked in several height settings by locking a spring element with a locking projection.

In this invention, two basic ideas for advantageous interaction are combined and implemented. First, the size of the moving parts has been reduced to a minimum. Only the tail pipe is movable relative to the pipe socket fixed to the outlet pot. This significantly reduces management and storage problems. In addition, there is the further advantage that the bottom of the spout always in the same Distance is positioned to the outlet opening of the brewing chamber. The prepared coffee is therefore always within the machine, regardless of the height adjustment the same way back, whereby a consistently fine-grained crema is always achieved.

The second idea underlying the invention is to lock the tailpipe by latching a spring element with a latching projection at the desired height. As a result, special handling or complicated magnetic devices are unnecessary. The setting can be easy, one-handed, reproducible and precise. Also, the leadership of the tail pipe must not be free of play relative to the pipe socket. Smooth running even in dirty condition is the beneficial result. In the locked state, however, a possible play is compensated by the spring force, so that no loss of precision results.

Advantageously, it is provided that the outlet pot and the pipe socket of the outlet pipe are surrounded by an outlet housing, in or on which the spring element is fixed. The outlet housing can be designed according to designerischen points of view and conceal the exposed at maximum extension of the tailpipe pipe socket.

In a favorable embodiment, the spring element is configured as a bending pressure spring. In particular, if at the same time the tailpipe or a part connected to the tailpipe is provided with latching projections, a large height adjustment range can be realized with a low space consumption in the region of the outlet pot or the outlet casing.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that with the tailpipe an axially aligned start-up rib is connected with wave profile, represent the individual waves latching projections for locking with the spring element. This embodiment leads to a smooth locking and unlocking without additional elements for releasing the locking would be required.

For more precise guidance of the end tube relative to the pipe socket, provision can be made for the pipe socket to have on its outer surface axially aligned guide ribs, which are enclosed in a form-fitting manner by the correspondingly designed inner surface of the end pipe. As a result, a rotation of the tail pipe is prevented.

In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the outlet pot, outlet housing and outlet pipe can be decoupled as a unit from the rest of the coffee machine. This is z. B. for cleaning purposes particularly favorable.

For reasons of hygiene, it may be advantageous if the tailpipe is made of stainless steel at least in the region of its outer wall. This allows easy and thorough cleaning. In addition, this variant is also advantageous in terms of design.

For simultaneous filling of two cups, two parallel outlet pipes can be provided in an advantageous development of the invention, the tail pipes are connected together to form a jointly displaceable pair of tailpipes. Both tailpipes are adjusted together in this way, with only a common spring / locking device is required. This is conveniently arranged as arranged between the individual tailpipes of the tailpipe pair, axially aligned start-up rib with wave profile, represent the individual waves locking projections for locking with the spring element.

Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a plurality of end pipes, each with its own spring / detent device, so that a separate adjustment of the individual tailpipes is made possible.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. Show it:

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

2 a sectional view of the coffee maker of 1 ;

3 a perspective, partially sectioned view of the outlet housing of the coffee machine of 1 in the area of the outlet pot and the outlet pipes.

1 shows a perspective view of a coffee machine 10 , The coffee machine 10 includes a flat post section 12 , a columnar storage and operating part 14 and a coffee-making section 16 , The coffee preparation part 16 is above the Ständerils 12 arranged on the storage and operating part. In the front area of the post section 12 is a control panel with several control buttons 18a . 18b and 18c and a warning light 19 arranged.

2 shows a sectional view of the same coffee machine 10 , The storage and operating part essentially comprises a water tank 20 , a water heater 22 , a pump, not shown, as well as various connecting lines between said elements. The coffee preparation part 16 includes a brewing chamber 24 comprising a Brühkammerunterteil 26 and a Brühkammeroberteil 28 , Below the brewing chamber 24 is an outlet pot 30 provided in which prepared coffee from the brewing chamber 24 running. The spout pot 30 has an outlet pipe 32 on which prepared coffee in one on the stand part 12 provided collecting container, z. As a cup, runs. The spout is from an outlet housing 31 surround.

3 shows a perspective, partially sectioned view of the outlet housing 31 in the area of the spout pot 30 and the outlet pipes 32 , The outlet pipes 32 include pipe socket 56 and relative to these movable tailpipes 58 , The pipe socket 56 are with the spout pot 30 connected, leaving coffee from the spout into the pipe socket 56 can run. In their lower part have the pipe socket 56 axially oriented guide ribs 60 on, which can also be described as raised or lowered cylinder sections on the nozzle outer wall. The inner wall of the tailpipes 58 has a corresponding structure, so that the tailpipes 58 in an axial relative movement to the pipe socket 56 rotatably guided. In the illustrated embodiment, two pipe sockets 56 and two tailpipes 58 provided, the latter via a connecting web 62 are connected to a common component. On the jetty 62 is a start-up rib 64 applied or elaborated with wave structure. In the contact area between the tailpipes 58 and the outlet housing 31 the latter has a spiral spring 66 on which with the waves of the starting rib 64 can lock formed projections. The shape of the individual waves of the starting rib 64 and the shape and spring force of the spiral spring 66 are coordinated so that in the dormant state, a secure locking of the outlet pipes 58 is given, a manual adjustment of the height of the outlet pipe 58 However, without too much effort remains possible.

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

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

coffee machine

12

stand Body

14

Storage and operating part

16

Coffee making part

18

a-c control buttons

19

indicator light

20

water tank

22

Heater

24

brewing

26

brewing chamber

28

top part

30

spout pot

31

outlet housing

32

outlet pipe

56

pipe socket

58

tailpipe

60

guide rib

62

connecting web

64

start rib

66

bending spring

Claims (10)

Coffee machine, in particular espresso or coffee pod machine, with a brewing chamber ( 24 ), which has at least one outlet opening, through the coffee in an outlet pot ( 30 ), the at least one height-adjustable outlet pipe ( 32 ) for the removal of coffee, characterized in that the outlet pipe ( 32 ) one with the spout ( 30 ) connected pipe socket ( 56 ) and a coaxially arranged to this, axially displaceable tailpipe ( 58 ), wherein the tailpipe ( 58 ) can be locked in several height settings. Coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the tailpipe ( 58 ) by latching a spring element ( 66 ) with a latching projection ( 64 ) is lockable. Coffee machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spout pot ( 30 ) and the pipe socket ( 56 ) of the outlet pipe ( 32 ) from an outlet housing ( 31 ) are surrounded, in or on which the spring element ( 66 ). Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spring element as a bending pressure spring ( 66 ) is configured. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that with the tailpipe ( 58 ) an axially aligned start-up rib ( 64 ) is connected to wave profile whose individual waves latching projections for locking with the spring element ( 66 ). Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pipe socket ( 56 ) on its outer surface axially aligned guide ribs ( 60 ), which of the correspondingly shaped inner surface of the tailpipe ( 58 ) are positively included. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that spout pot ( 30 ), Outlet housing ( 31 ) and outlet pipe ( 32 ) can be decoupled as a unit from the rest of the coffee machine. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tailpipe ( 58 ) is made of stainless steel at least in the region of its outer wall. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that two parallel outlet pipes ( 32 ) are provided, the tailpipes ( 58 ) are connected together to form a mutually displaceable pair of tailpipes. Coffee machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein (between the individual tailpipes 58 ) of the tailpipe pair an axially aligned start-up rib ( 64 ) is arranged with wave profile whose individual waves latching projections for locking with the spring element ( 66 ).

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