RU2817345C1 - Coffee machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: beverage preparation devices.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a coffee machine having a coffee vessel attached from the outside for receiving freshly ground coffee. Closing and/or tamping system is provided for closing the coffee vessel and/or compaction of ground coffee in the coffee vessel by providing relative movement between the closing and/or tamping system and the coffee vessel. Vessel for coffee has an inlet hole for water passing through the side wall for supply of heated water into the inner volume of the vessel for coffee.

EFFECT: present invention relates to a hybrid type of machine for producing espresso coffee or a coffee machine, namely with an external portafilter, but with the portafilter closing and tamping performed by the coffee machine to obtain stable results.

13 cl, 5 dwg

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to coffee or espresso coffee machines and, in particular, to a closing and/or tamping system and a water supply system for use in such machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

It is well known that coffee made from freshly ground beans produces better quality than pre-ground coffee. Often fresh beans are used to make espresso coffee.

There are many different types of commercially available espresso machines for use at home or in bars, restaurants and hotels. The type of machine that is suitable for a particular application, for example, depends on the volume of use and budget.

In a manual espresso machine, the user fills the coffee receptacle, known as a portafilter, with ground coffee. The user must then tamp the ground coffee inside the portafilter with sufficient force, for example about 200 N, to create a so-called tablet. The portafilter is then installed into the coffee machine, usually using a bayonet connection. Next, the machine forces hot water through a tablet in the portafilter, and the resulting coffee is dispensed through a spout, which is usually built into the portafilter. After brewing, the user must remove and empty the portafilter, discarding the used coffee grounds.

In a bar setting, the manual process is carried out by a barista. In a home setting, manual process steps can make the user feel more involved in the coffee making process, and therefore can create a sense of fulfilling the role of a barista.

There are also manual espresso machines with a built-in grinder. The user switches the portafilter between the first position, in which it receives ground coffee, and the second position, in which the coffee is brewed. Tamping can be done manually or using a hand-operated lever.

In a fully automatic espresso machine, all the above steps are done automatically in the same machine. The machine contains a container for beans and a grinder for preparing ground coffee. This ground coffee is transported into the brewing chamber and compacted automatically by means of a piston, which can be driven hydraulically or by an electric motor. Hot water is then passed through the ground coffee in the brewing chamber, the coffee is brewed and poured, and the used coffee grounds are thrown out of the brewing chamber into a trash can inside the machine.

This process eliminates the manual steps required for a manual espresso machine and therefore saves time as well as providing more consistent results.

A manual espresso machine can be manufactured at a lower cost than a fully automated espresso machine since many of the transport steps do not need to be automated. However, results may be less uniform due to the user's involvement in the filling and tamping process, particularly the user's involvement in setting the volume or weight of the ground coffee, and the force and uniformity (straightness) of tamping the ground coffee into the tablet. A manual espresso machine requires less maintenance since the coffee tablet is removed after each brew by the consumer as part of the brewing process.

A fully automatic machine gives more consistent results but is more expensive. It also eliminates the barista feeling of using a manual espresso machine. A fully automatic coffee machine also requires more maintenance (filling with coffee beans, dispensing water, removing waste water, and disposing of coffee waste in the trash can). A fully automatic coffee machine can also be more bulky.

A third type of coffee machine has been proposed that combines elements of the two types described above. This type is described in this document as a hybrid espresso machine.

For example, US 9,125,519 discloses a coffee machine with a removable portafilter used in a manual espresso machine, but which also includes a bean container and a coffee grinder for delivering coffee powder to the inserted portafilter. The portafilter functions as a brewing chamber and a distribution filter (forming a piston) is used to automatically tamp and thus compact the coffee powder in the portafilter before pressurizing hot water into the portafilter through this distribution filter.

Thus, this hybrid espresso machine combines the elements of a manual espresso machine and a fully automatic espresso machine. Thus, in this type of machine, the user only needs to connect the empty portafilter to the machine. Grinding, dosing of ground coffee in the portafilter, tamping of ground coffee, supply of hot water and dispensing of coffee are then automated as in a fully automatic machine. After brewing, the user must remove the portafilter and empty the coffee waste in the same manner as when using a manual espresso machine.

This invention generally relates to this hybrid type of espresso machine or coffee machine, namely with an external portafilter, but with portafilter closure and tamping (if necessary) carried out by the coffee machine to obtain consistent results.

In existing proposed designs, providing water through the piston via a distribution filter complicates the hydraulic connections in the sense that a movable fluid connection is required to the distribution filter as it moves with the piston.

In addition, the dispenser filter requires careful cleaning as it has many holes that can become clogged with stuck coffee particles.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the claims.

In the examples, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a coffee machine comprising:

a main body having an outer mounting hole;

water tank;

water heater;

water pump;

a coffee receptacle for removable attachment to the outer mounting hole, adapted to receive freshly ground coffee;

a closing and/or tamping system for closing the coffee container and/or compacting ground coffee in the coffee container by allowing relative movement between the closing and/or tamping system and the coffee container;

wherein the coffee container comprises a base and a side wall defining an internal volume and an open top, wherein the coffee container includes a water inlet opening through the side wall to supply heated water to the internal volume of the coffee container.

This machine delivers heated water directly into the coffee vessel (which forms the brewing chamber and therefore functions as a portafilter) rather than through a distribution head that moves down the coffee vessel. Thus, it is possible to create a more compact water supply system with fewer channels for the moving fluid.

By eliminating the water distribution function from the closure and/or tamping system, a smooth surface (instead of multiple distribution holes) can be achieved that will remain clean, thereby reducing the user's cleaning effort and limiting the amount of stale old coffee particles in the brew area.

The coffee container is preferably designed to be removably attached to the outer mounting hole by means of a bayonet mount. This is a well-known connection design for attaching a coffee container, such as a portafilter, to a coffee machine.

The main body may include a water supply hole for supplying heated water to the coffee vessel, wherein the water supply hole is in fluid communication with the water inlet hole (of the coffee vessel) when the coffee vessel is attached to the outer mounting hole.

Thus, attaching a coffee receptacle, such as a portafilter, automatically implements the required fluid connections to allow heated water to flow into the coffee receptacle.

The closing and/or tamping system, for example, includes a tamping piston.

The tamping piston may have an annular groove that communicates with the water inlet. The groove serves to distribute the water around the coffee container and thus functions as a dispensing head. In this case, the water inlet may comprise a single passage on the inner surface of the side wall. Thus, the water inlet may be a simple channel passing through the side wall of the coffee container. An annular groove in the tamping piston distributes the water.

Instead, the annular groove may be around the circumference of the inside of the coffee container (below the maximum insertion depth of the tamping piston).

In another embodiment, the water inlet includes a plurality of passages on the inner surface of the side wall. Therefore, a distributed arrangement of passages can be achieved by arranging the channels within the body of the coffee container.

A coffee machine, for example, includes a hydraulic actuator, the closing and/or tamping system being driven by the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is configured to, for example, move the closing and/or tamping system up and down. In this way, the coffee receptacle remains static, which simplifies fluid connections to the coffee receptacle. Rigid fluid connections may be used that interact with each other when the coffee container is attached to the coffee machine.

The closing and/or tamping system is, for example, operable between an upper position and a lower position, wherein the coffee machine includes a chute for supplying ground coffee to the coffee receptacle through a space between the closing and/or tamping system and the coffee receptacle, when the closing and/or tamping system is in the up position.

In this way, coffee can be dispensed into a coffee machine with a coffee receptacle installed, thereby reducing the number of steps for the user. A coffee grinder may be provided to supply ground coffee to the chute. A bean container may also be provided to transport the coffee beans to the grinder.

A coffee machine, for example, includes a controller adapted to control at least one of:

heating water;

grinding coffee beans;

dispensing ground coffee into a coffee container;

displacement of the closure and/or tamping system relative to the coffee container and

supplying hot water to the coffee container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and a clearer idea of how it may be carried out, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

in fig. 1 shows the general design of a coffee machine to which various embodiments of the invention can be applied;

in fig. 2 shows one example of a possible hydraulic circuit;

in fig. 3 shows an example of a coffee container according to the present invention;

in fig. 4 shows the use of a coffee vessel when dispensing ground coffee; And

in fig. Figure 5 shows the use of a coffee vessel while dispensing heated water.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, although illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems, and methods, are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are schematic only and are not depicted to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar elements.

The invention relates to a coffee machine having an externally attached coffee container (eg a portafilter) for receiving freshly ground coffee. A closing and/or tamping system is provided for closing the coffee container and/or compacting ground coffee in the coffee container by allowing relative movement between the closing and/or tamping system and the coffee container. The coffee vessel has a water inlet extending through the side wall to supply heated water to the interior of the coffee vessel.

In fig. 1 shows the general structure of a coffee machine to which the invention can be applied. The invention relates in particular to a hybrid espresso coffee machine as described above.

The coffee machine 10 includes a main body 12 having an outer mounting hole 14 for receiving a coffee container 16. The illustrated machine also includes a steam nozzle 24.

The coffee container 16 may include a filter or filter basket 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). It may also include a support 18 for housing the filter or filter basket. The coffee container 16 may also include a lower spout 20 for dispensing brewed coffee, and a cream valve may be located in line with this lower spout. The coffee container has a handle 19 to facilitate attachment to the mounting hole 14. Thus, the coffee container 16 may fit a conventional portafilter as illustrated in the drawings. In use, the coffee container 16 is attached to the outer mounting hole 14, for example, by means of a bayonet connection.

The term "coffee vessel" as used herein is used generally to refer to a container that is filled with ground coffee and then closed to form a brewing chamber in which coffee is brewed.

In this hybrid type machine, the brewing chamber can be considered at least partially external, since it is formed by an external removable part. However, the ground coffee is fed into the brewing chamber from the inside. Unloading of the tablet after brewing is carried out by the user from outside.

The main body 12 includes a hydraulic circuit providing fluid connections between a water source (typically a water tank), an internal water heater, and a water supply system having a water supply head for supplying heated water to the coffee vessel 16 (functioning as a brewing chamber). .

In fig. Figure 2 shows an example of a possible hydraulic circuit. In fig. 2 shows an example of a hydraulic circuit with an internal grinder but an external coffee container and is therefore suitable for use in a hybrid type coffee machine.

It should be noted that FIG. 2 taken from application PCT/EP2020/087481, which is referenced for further information. In particular, alternative hydraulic circuits are described in PCT/EP2020/087481, which can be similarly taken and which are only briefly described below.

In fig. 2 shows a water reservoir 30, a flow meter 32 (to control flow and dosing), a water heater 34, a water pump 36, and a controller 38. The flow meter 32 may provide a flow measurement for the controller 38, and the controller 38 may control the heater and pump to perform the coffee brewing process. . The water heater can be, for example, a flow-through heater, for example a thermoblock. Flow meter 32 is optional. Alternatively, dosing and flow control may be accomplished by suitable control of pump 36 (eg, power level and pump run time).

As will be clear from the following description, the coffee machine according to the present invention provides a fluid path for supplying heated water directly to the coffee container, rather than to a water supply head forming part of the tamping system, as previously proposed and as described in PCT/EP2020 /087481. A known design uses a water supply head which contains a water distribution disc. The water distribution disc provides a water supply area for the ground coffee.

A closing and tamping system is provided to compact the ground coffee in the coffee container by allowing relative movement between the tamping piston 40 and the coffee container 16 . This relative displacement closes the coffee container to form a closed chamber, i.e. brewing chamber. In addition, it ensures that force is applied to the ground coffee to perform tamping. Relative movement is carried out by moving the tamping piston 40.

The closing and tamping system includes a hydraulic actuator 42 including a piston 40 that is actuated by hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic actuator may also include a return spring (not shown) to assist in retracting the piston after brewing.

The water outlet from the water pump 36 is connected via the heater 34 to the hydraulic actuator 42 via a first fluid connection 44. The water outlet from the water pump is also connected to the coffee container through a second fluid connection 46. The second fluid connection 46 includes a passive integral valve 48. The passive integral valve opens when the pressure at the inlet side of the hydraulic actuator (ie, branch point 50) reaches a desired pressure, such as a desired ramming pressure.

Below this pressure, valve 48 remains closed. In this case, hysteresis may occur such that valve 48 opens at a first threshold pressure (opening pressure) but only closes again when a lower second threshold pressure (closing pressure) is reached. Alternatively, there may be only one threshold pressure.

Thus, the water pump 36 is used to both supply water for brewing and supply water for closing and tamping. The passive integral valve 48 automatically switches between these two water supply functions without the need for user interaction or electrical actuators. The passive valve 48 opens, for example, when the tamping pressure is reached, i.e. upon completion of compaction. Water is then supplied to the coffee vessel through the open valve 48. While water is supplied to the coffee vessel, tamping pressure is maintained.

In cases where tamping of ground coffee is not required, the same system can be used only to close the coffee container 16. In such a case, the passive integral valve 48 may open when the closing pressure is reached.

It is also possible to close the coffee container using another mechanism, for example manually. In this case, the above system can only be used to tamp ground coffee. The passive integral valve 48 can then be opened again when a suitable tamping pressure is reached, i.e. upon completion of compaction.

Passive valve 48 operates as a pressure-controlled system in that it responds to prevailing pressure. In this way, closing and/or compaction is reliable and repeatable. With pressure control, the desired closing and/or tamping pressure can be applied to any volume of coffee in the coffee container, which is difficult to achieve if position control is used.

To drain water from the hydraulic actuator, a return path may be provided between the hydraulic actuator 42 and the water reservoir 30, as shown in FIG. 2. A valve 59 may be provided to open or close the return path. The valve 59 may comprise, for example, an electronic shut-off valve. However, a cheaper alternative is a mechanical lock, which can be actuated either by a separate handle or by the action of attaching/detaching the coffee container 16. More specifically, the valve 59 can be closed when the coffee container 16 is attached, and can be opened when the coffee container is detached. Thus, the opening and closing of the valve 59 can be controlled in response to or during attachment/detachment of the coffee container by the user.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the first and second fluid connections 44, 46 meet at a branch point 50 downstream of the heater 34. Water is directed from the same branch point 50 to either the hydraulic actuator 42 or the coffee container. To avoid the use of hot water for the closing and/or tamping process, the controller 38 may turn off the water heater 34 while operating the hydraulic actuator 42 and turn on the water heater while supplying water to the coffee vessel.

In a first possible modification of the hydraulic circuit according to FIG. 2, the first fluid connection 44 may instead be between the water reservoir 30 (or more specifically the water pump 36) and the hydraulic actuator 42 without passing through the water heater 34 since hot water is not required to operate the hydraulic actuator 42 However, the second fluid connection 46 is located between the water tank 30 (or more specifically the water pump 36) and the coffee vessel through the water heater 34.

In a second possible modification of the hydraulic circuit according to FIG. 2, the first fluid connection 44 may instead be located between the water reservoir 30 and the hydraulic actuator 42 without passing through the water heater 34 and includes a pump 36. In this case, the second fluid connection 46 is located between the hydraulic actuator 42 and the vessel for coffee through the water heater 34. Thus, two fluid connections are located in series, one on each side of the hydraulic actuator 42. The pump 36 is located in the first fluid connection 44, and the heater 34 is located in the second fluid connection 46 environment. Cold water can be used again for capping and/or tamping, and hot water can be used for brewing. Heating is carried out between the hydraulic actuator and the coffee container. This avoids cooling the water during the closing and/or compaction process and reduces energy consumption.

More information on these alternatives is provided in PCT/EP2020/087481. Moreover, the invention is not limited to this use of a passive integral valve, and more traditional hydraulic circuits with active valves separating the various flow paths in the system can be used.

In fig. 2 also shows a bean container 54 and a coffee grinder 56 having an outlet 58 for ground coffee. Thus, in FIG. 2 shows an internal grinder and brew chamber in the form of a coffee vessel 16 that is removably mounted in an external mounting hole 14 and is emptied externally by the user as part of the normal operation of the coffee machine.

In fig. 3 shows an example of a coffee container 16 used in the hydraulic circuit described above in accordance with the present invention. As described above, the coffee receptacle is designed to be removably attached to the outer mounting hole and is adapted to receive freshly ground coffee.

The coffee container 16 includes a base 60 and a side wall 62, together defining an internal volume 64 and an open top 66. The coffee container also includes a water inlet 70 extending through the side wall 62 to supply heated water to the internal volume 64 of the coffee container. Thus, water does not need to be supplied through the tamping piston 40, which may therefore have a smooth end surface without holes. This makes cleaning easier and the coffee vessel is the part that needs to be thoroughly cleaned. This is of course easy because it is removed from the coffee machine with each use and can, for example, be washed in the dishwasher.

The outer installation hole has a water supply hole to supply heated water to the coffee vessel. When the coffee container is attached to the main body, for example, by a bayonet connection as described above, the water supply hole (of the main body and forming part of the bayonet connection) is in fluid communication with the water inlet hole 70.

Thus, rotating the coffee vessel to complete the bayonet connection aligns the water inlet hole and the water supply hole. The coffee container or main body, which is compressed after the bayonet connection is completed, can hold the seal.

The water inlet 70 has an outer connection hole 72 that connects to the water supply outlet and an inner passage 74 that leads to an inner volume 64.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the water inlet 70 has one internal passage 74 on the inner surface of the side wall 62 and one connecting hole 72 on the outer surface of the side wall.

However, as shown below, the tamping piston may have an annular groove that communicates with the water inlet 70, particularly the internal passage 74, such that water is distributed around the annular space.

Alternatively, the water inlet 70 may include multiple passages on the inner surface of the side wall, but one connection hole on the outer surface of the side wall. Thus, within the body of the coffee vessel, a single connection hole on the outside of the coffee vessel can then branch into multiple internal passages to provide a more uniform supply of water to the internal volume 64.

In fig. 4 shows a coffee receptacle 16 with a closing and/or tamping system, in particular with a tamping piston 80 having a lower closing surface 82 spaced above the open top of the coffee receptacle.

In fig. 4 shows the upper position of the tamping piston 80. The coffee machine includes a chute 58 (mentioned above) for supplying ground coffee to the coffee container through the space between the lower closing surface 82 and the coffee container when it is in this upper position. Delivery of ground coffee is indicated by arrow 86. Chute 58 receives coffee from grinder 56, which in turn receives coffee beans from bean container 54. However, the pre-ground coffee can instead be fed either through a chute or directly into the coffee container.

In fig. 4 also shows an annular groove 90 around the bottom of the tamping piston 80. A cream valve 92 is located at the outlet of the coffee vessel through which brewed coffee is supplied.

Coffee dosing starts when the coffee container is attached to the main body.

Then closing and, if necessary, also compaction occurs, as shown in Fig. 5. The tamping piston 80 is moved to a lower position where it closes the open top of the coffee container and, if necessary, compacts the ground coffee. Thus, the tamping piston moves downward to compact the coffee layer and forms a waterproof brewing chamber with an internal volume of 64 coffee vessels.

The water used to brew coffee is pumped into and through the side wall of the coffee vessel. The water supply to the water inlet 70 is connected to the water supply means of the coffee machine in the same motion that is used to secure the coffee container to the appliance.

In the example shown, water is distributed around the circumference of the coffee vessel through an annular groove 90 in the tamping piston 80. As explained above, water can also be admitted from one or more internal passages in the side wall.

The example above allows the use of a hydraulically driven tamping piston. However, an electric actuator or even a manual lever may be used.

Various channel designs may be provided at the base of the tamping piston or around the side wall of the coffee vessel to provide the distribution function. However, in all cases, water is supplied to the internal volume 64 through the side wall of the coffee vessel, and not through the body of the tamping piston.

Variations of the described embodiments can be understood and implemented by one skilled in the art in putting the claimed invention into practice after reading the drawings, description and appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the grammatical means of expressing the singular do not exclude the plural. One processor or other module can perform the functions of several elements listed in the claims. The fact that certain agents are described in mutually different dependent claims does not mean that the combination of these agents cannot be used to provide an advantage. If the term “adapted for” is used in a claim or description, it should be noted that the term “adapted for” is equivalent to the term “capable of.” No reference symbols in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims (25)

1. A coffee machine containing: a main body (12) having an outer mounting hole (14); water tank (30); water heater (34); water pump (36); a coffee receptacle (16) for removable attachment to the outer mounting hole, adapted to receive freshly ground coffee; a closing and/or tamping system (42) comprising a tamping piston for closing the coffee container and/or compacting ground coffee in the coffee container by providing relative movement between the closing and/or tamping system and the coffee container; wherein the coffee vessel comprises a base (60) and a side wall (62) defining an internal volume (64) and an open top (66), wherein the coffee vessel contains a water inlet (70) passing through the side wall for supplying heated water into the internal volume (64) of the coffee vessel. 2. The coffee machine according to claim 1, in which the coffee container (16) is designed to be removably attached to the outer mounting hole (14) by means of a bayonet fastening. 3. The coffee machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body (12) includes a water supply opening for supplying heated water to the coffee container, the water supply opening being in fluid communication with the water inlet opening when the container coffee holder is attached to the outer mounting hole. 4. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the tamping piston has an annular groove communicating with the water inlet. 5. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, in which the water inlet hole includes one passage on the inner surface of the side wall. 6. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, in which the water inlet hole includes a plurality of passages on the inner surface of the side wall. 7. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which the water inlet hole includes one connection hole on the outer surface of the side wall. 8. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, comprising a hydraulic actuator (42), wherein the closing and/or compaction system is configured to be actuated by the hydraulic actuator (42). 9. The coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein the hydraulic actuator is configured to move the closing and/or tamping system up and down. 10. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, wherein the closing and/or tamping system is operable between an upper position and a lower position, the coffee machine comprising a chute for supplying ground coffee to the coffee receptacle through a space between the closing and/or tamping system and the coffee receptacle when the closing and/or tamping system is in the up position. 11. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10, also containing a coffee grinder. 12. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-11, also containing a container (54) for grains. 13. Coffee machine according to any one of paragraphs. 1-12, comprising a controller (38) adapted to control at least one of: heating water; grinding coffee beans; dispensing ground coffee into a coffee container; displacement of the closure and/or tamping system relative to the coffee container and supplying hot water to the coffee container.