WO2013128323A2

WO2013128323A2 - Beverage producing machine with adjustable dispensing nozzle

Info

Publication number: WO2013128323A2
Application number: PCT/IB2013/051305
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Ferraro; Andrea Favero
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
Priority date: 2012-03-01
Filing date: 2013-02-18
Publication date: 2013-09-06
Also published as: WO2013128323A3

Abstract

The beverage producing machine (1) comprises: a housing (3); a container supporting surface (7); a beverage dispensing spout (13) arranged above the container supporting surface; a coffee brewing unit (17) arranged in the machine housing. The distance between the beverage dispensing spout (13) and the container supporting surface (7) is adjustable. The beverage dispensing spout (13) comprises a coffee dispensing nozzle (51) in fluid communication with the coffee brewing unit (17) and a milk dispensing nozzle (55) in fluid communication with a steam generator in the housing (3) and with a milk suction duct. The coffee dispensing nozzle (51) and the milk dispensing nozzle (55) are arranged one inside the other.

Description

Beverage producing machine with adjustable dispensing nozzle

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns beverage producing machines and in particular, though not exclusively, coffee producing machines. BACKGROUND ART

Coffee producing machines are becoming increasingly popular and widely used household appliances.

These machines are commonly used for the preparation of various kinds of coffee-based beverages, such as espresso coffee, fresh brew coffee (American coffee), cappuccino, "lattemacchiato" and so on. Depending upon the kind of beverage and wishes of the user, the beverage is collected in a smaller or larger container, such as an espresso cup, a large tea or coffee cup or the like. In order to allow the use of containers of widely differing height, machines have been developed which provide for means to adapt the distance between a cup resting or supporting surface and a beverage dispensing nozzle. US Patent 7,654,192 discloses a coffee machine having a vertically adjustable and lockable outflow unit, provided with a rather complex mechanism, to adjust the distance between beverage dispensing nozzle and a cup supporting surface.

EP-A- 1639926 discloses a coffee producing machine provided with a beverage dispensing nozzle arranged in a fixed position and a cup supporting surface underneath, which can be adjusted such that the distance between the supporting surface and the beverage dispensing nozzle is adapted to the dimension of the cup or other container arranged under the beverage dispensing nozzle. Also in this case the adjusting mechanism is rather complex and expensive.

Moreover, the means for adjusting the distance between the beverage dispensing nozzle and the cup supporting surface of these known machines are cumbersome and requires a rather large housing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a coffee producing machine, or more generally a beverage producing machine comprising simple, inexpensive means to adjust the distance between the rest surface on which the cup is placed and the beverage dispensing nozzle. The object of preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a beverage producing machine having compact dimensions and still allowing the use of larger and smaller beverage collecting containers or cups.

The invention is defined by the independent claim. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments and features of the invention.

According to one embodiment, a beverage producing machine is provided comprising: a housing; a container supporting surface on which a beverage collecting container can be placed; a beverage dispensing spout arranged above said container supporting surface; a coffee brewing unit in said housing. The distance between said beverage dispensing spout and said container supporting surface is adjustable to

accommodate beverage collecting containers of variable height. Moreover, the beverage dispensing spout comprises a coffee dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the coffee brewing unit and a milk dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with a steam generator arranged in the housing and with a milk suction duct. The coffee dispensing nozzle and the milk dispensing nozzle are arranged one inside the other, preferably in a substantially coaxial arrangement. This results in a more compact arrangement. Milk and coffee can easily be dispensed in the same cup or other beverage collecting container, even one having small dimensions, since the coffee and milk dispensing nozzles form a compact arrangement, one surrounding the other. Preferably the milk dispensing nozzle surrounds the coffee dispensing nozzle and can be shaped as a cyclone wherein milk is dispensed tangentially. This makes dispensing of frothed milk easier.

A steam generator can be any device, arrangement or structure which is capable of producing steam. A steam generator can be provided, e.g. as a separate component combined to a water heater which produces hot water delivered to the coffee brewing unit. In other embodiments, a single component can be provided, to generate steam and hot water for heating and/or frothing milk and brewing coffee respectively.

In the context of the present description and the attached claims a brewing unit shall be understood as any device, structure or arrangement capable of producing a coffee- based beverage using hot water. In some embodiments the brewing unit can comprise a brewing chamber where a package in form of a capsule, pod, sachet, cartridge or the like can be loaded. The package can contain coffee powder. In other embodiments the package can contain instant coffee grains and/or other components in addition to instant coffee or coffee powder. In other embodiments the brewing unit can be designed to receive bulk coffee powder, e.g. produced by instantly grinding coffee beans in a grinding unit and/or introduced by the user.

The beverage dispensing spout can be comprised of two portions, one removable from the beverage producing machine and the other stably connected to the beverage producing machine. In some embodiments, the milk dispensing nozzle and the coffee dispensing nozzle are arranged on a removable portion of said beverage dispensing spout, which can be slidingly introduced in a nozzle retaining member. Reversible retention means can be provided to reversibly connect the removable portion to the nozzle retaining member. The retention means can provide resilient snap-engaging means.

In some embodiments the removable portion of the beverage dispensing spout supports a pipe connector for connection to a milk suction pipe. The milk suction pipe can be provided to connect the beverage dispensing spout to a container arranged outside the housing of the beverage producing machine. In other embodiments, the beverage producing machine can comprise a compartment, for example a refrigerated compartment, housing the milk container.

In preferred embodiments the beverage dispensing spout comprises a milk frothing device in fluid communication with the milk dispensing nozzle. The milk frothing device is in fluid communication with the milk dispensing nozzle and is advantageously entirely or at least partly arranged in the removable portion of said beverage dispensing spout. The milk frothing device comprises or is connected to a Venturi tube. The milk frothing device can comprise a centrifugation chamber, for example arranged to surround the coffee dispensing spout.

Features and embodiments are disclosed here below and are further set forth in the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description. The above brief description sets forth features of the various embodiments of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, other features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be set forth in the appended claims. In this respect, before explaining several embodiments of the invention in details, it is understood that the various embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which the disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and/or systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a prospective view of a coffee machine according to the subject matter disclosed herein.

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the dispensing spout of the coffee machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 illustrate sectional views according to lines III-III and IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates a section along an horizontal plane according to line V-V in

Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 illustrates an enlarged detail of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates the dispensing spout of Fig. 2 with the removable part partly removed from the nozzle retaining member.

Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of the main components of the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Additionally, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment(s). Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Here below reference will be made to a coffee machine. However, it shall be understood that the invention can be embodied also in other beverage producing machines, where the need may arise of using cups or containers of variable dimensions, with

consequence need of adjusting the distance between a container supporting surface for the beverage collecting container and the beverage dispensing nozzle.

Referring first to Fig.1, a beverage preparing machine, here below also simply indicated as a "coffee machine", is labeled 1 as a whole. The coffee machine 1 comprises a housing 3 containing the main components thereof. In the embodiment disclosed the housing has a front panel 5 forming an openable door for accessing one or more interior

compartments where the components of the machine are contained. A substantially horizontal container supporting surface 7 is provided frontally on the machine 1. The container supporting surface 7 is intended to receive one or more containers in which the beverage produced by the coffee machine 1 is collected.

In the embodiment disclosed the container supporting surface 7 is formed by an apertured grid arranged on a tray 9. The tray 9 collects liquids dripping from the dispensing spout of the coffee machine 1. The tray 9 and the surface 7 can be both removable from the machine 1 and can be connected to one another in an easily reversible manner, e.g. for cleaning purposes.

In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1, the tray 9 and the grid forming the container supporting surface 7 are connected to the front panel 5 and move along therewith when the machine housing 3 is opened and closed, but it should be understood that different arrangements are possible, e.g. with the tray 9 and/or the supporting surface 7 connected to a fixed portion of the housing 3. In some embodiments, the front panel 5 has an opening 5A through which a beverage dispensing spout 13 extends towards the exterior of the housing 3. The beverage dispensing spout 13 is arranged above the container supporting surface 7, such that a beverage dispensed from the beverage dispensing spout 13 can be collected in a container, such as a cup C positioned on the container supporting surface 7.

The main components of the coffee machine 1 are shown schematically in Fig. 8. In some embodiments the coffee machine 1 is comprised of a water container 15 and a water pump 19 for pumping water from the container 15 through a water heater 21. The water heater is in fluid communication with a brewing unit 17, such that hot pressurized water can be fed through a brewing chamber of the brewing unit. Coffee powder in bulk form or in form of a capsule, cartridge or pod, or any other beverage ingredient can be loaded in a brewing chamber inside the brewing unit 17 and extracted by means of the flow of hot, pressurized water.

The coffee machine 1 can further comprise additional pumping means 23 and additional heating means 25 forming a steam generator labeled 27 as a whole, for dispensing steam to a milk frothing device, described later on, housed in the beverage dispensing spout 13.

As known to those skilled in the art, water pumping and heating and steam generation can be performed in various manners and with different possible combinations of components and elements. While in Fig. 8 separate pumping means 19 and 23 are used to pump water for coffee brewing and steam generation, respectively, in other embodiments a single pump can be used. Additionally, while in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 8 two separate water heaters 21 and 25 are illustrated for generating hot water and steam, in other embodiments the two water heaters can be combined in a single water heating unit, or a single water heater can be used.

In general, the arrangement and operation of the pumping and heating devices of the coffee machine 1 can vary according to design constraints or based on specific designs choices. What is important is only that the machine is capable of producing hot water for the production of a beverage on the one side, and steam for heating and/or frothing milk.

Reference number 29 schematically indicates a coffee duct through which coffee from the coffee brewing unit 17 is fed to the beverage dispensing spout 13. Reference number 31 schematically indicates a steam delivery pipe for feeding steam to a milk frothing device housed in the beverage dispensing spout 13, as will be described later on. The diagram in Fig. 8 also illustrates a milk container 33 in fluid communication with the milk frothing device housed in the beverage dispensing spout 13 through a milk suction pipe 35. In the embodiment disclosed herein the milk container 33, see also Fig. 1, is arranged outside the housing 3, but in other embodiments the milk container 33 could be housed inside the housing 3. The milk container 33 can be a simple carton. In other embodiments the mil container 33can comprise a carafe, or a refrigerated housing or the like.

The structure of the beverage dispensing spout 13 will be now described in greater detail, reference being made to Figs. 2 to 7.

As will be described in more detail here below, the beverage dispensing spout

13 comprises a removable portion 13A which supports a coffee dispensing nozzle and a milk dispensing nozzle. The removable portion 13A of the beverage dispensing spout 13 is reversibly engageable to and disengageable from a nozzle retaining member 13B. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the nozzle retaining member 13B is connected to the housing 3 of the coffee machine 1 by means of linkages, e.g. so-called "four-bar linkages".

In the example shown two four-bar linkages are provided, one on each side of the beverage dispensing spout 13. Each linkage comprises a pair of pivoting rods 41 A, 4 IB. Each rod is pivoted around a respective axis A to the housing 3 of the coffee machine 1. More specifically, in the embodiment disclosed the two rods 41 A, 4 IB are hinged to a respective block 43 rigidly connected to the front panel 5 on the inner side thereof. Each rod 41A, 41B is in turn hinged around a respective axis B to the nozzle retaining member 13B. This arrangement allows to vertically adjust the position of the beverage dispensing spout 13 according to double arrow fl3. This movement allows the distance between the beverage dispensing spout 13 and the container supporting surface 7 to be adjusted depending upon the dimension of the container, cup or glass C, placed on the container supporting surface 7. The structure of the linkage 41 A, 4 IB on each side of the beverage dispensing spout 13 is such that the beverage dispensing spout remains parallel to itself while moving between the upper and lower positions which the said beverage dispensing spout 13 can take.

Other structures can be used to make the beverage dispensing spout height- adjustable. For example, the beverage dispensing spout 13 could be supported by a slide, which is slidingly engaged in one or more guides provided on or in the housing 3. It could also be envisaged to provide an actuator for mechanically moving the beverage dispensing spout 13 between the upper and lower position, for example an electric motor with a pin meshing with a rack rigidly connected to the beverage dispensing spout 13, or vice- versa. As can be seen in particular in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the beverage dispensing spout 13 comprises a coffee dispensing nozzle 51, which is in fluid communication with the coffee duct through a pipe 53 extending inside the removable portion 13A of the beverage dispensing spout 13. The pipe 53 ends at 53 A with a connector which can be connected to the end of the coffee duct 29 (not shown in these figures).

A milk dispensing nozzle 55 is also provided on the removable portion 13A of the beverage dispensing spout 15. In the disclosed embodiment the milk dispensing nozzle 55 is arranged around the coffee dispensing nozzle 51. In the embodiment shown, the milk dispensing nozzle 55 and the coffee dispensing nozzle 51 are coaxial, with the milk dispensing nozzle 55 surrounding the coffee dispensing nozzle 51. Preferably, the milk dispensing nozzle has a cyclone shape. Other arrangements are possible, e.g. with the nozzles placed side-by-side, or else with the coffee delivery nozzle surrounding the milk delivery nozzle. Arranging the milk delivery nozzle around the coffee delivery nozzle has some advantages, in particular also because frothed milk has a lower density and can better flow through a nozzle having a large cross section.

In the example shown in the drawings, the milk dispensing nozzle 55 is in fluid communication with a centrifugation chamber 57, forming part of the milk frothing device and surrounding the pipe 53, which ends with the coffee dispensing nozzle 51. The centrifugation chamber 57 is in fluid communication with a milk discharging duct 59 which also forms part of the milk frothing device, labeled 61 as a whole. In some embodiments the milk discharging duct 59 is laterally shifted with respect to the center of the centrifugation chamber 57, such that a tangential milk flow will be generated in the centrifugation chamber 57 when milk is dispensed.

In the embodiment disclosed herein the milk frothing device 61 comprises or is connected to a Venturi tube 63, which is in fluid communication with the steam delivery pipe 31. In some embodiments the Venturi tube 63 can be stably retained within the nozzle retaining member 13B.

The Venturi tube 63 is in fluid communication with a suction chamber 65 in the milk frothing device 61. A milk inlet aperture 67 ends in the suction chamber 65. In this embodiment the milk inlet aperture 67 is in fluid communication with a pipe connector 69, supported by the removable portion 13A of the beverage dispensing spout. The milk suction pipe 35 (Figs. l and 8) can be connected through the pipe connector 69 to the suction chamber 65. According to the embodiment disclosed in the drawings, the suction chamber 65 has a front aperture 71 through which heated milk is dispensed in a frothing chamber 73. An air inlet aperture (not shown) allows air to enter the frothing chamber 73. In some embodiments, known means can be provided to adjust the amount of air which can be sucked into the frothing chamber 73. The frothing chamber 73 is in fluid communication with the above mentioned centrifugation chamber 57 through the milk discharging duct 59.

With the above disclosed arrangement, required steam produced by the steam generator 27 (Fig. 8) can be delivered through the steam delivery pipe 31 to the frothing device 61. Hot pressurized steam exits the Venturi tube 67 and generates vacuum in the suction chamber 65, so that milk can be sucked through milk suction pipe 35 and connector 69 in the suction chamber 65. The steam heats the milk and hot milk flows through the aperture 71 into the frothing chamber 73 and is frothed with air in a known manner. Frothed milk exits the frothing chamber 73 through the discharging duct 59, enters the centrifugation chamber 57, and finally flows through the milk dispensing nozzle 55. If the air inlet (not shown) is closed, milk will be only heated but not frothed.

Depending upon the kind of beverage which the user requires, for example by in-putting instructions through a touch panel 2 of the machine 1 (Fig. 1), coffee can be dispensed through the coffee dispensing nozzle 51 by activating the coffee brewing unit 17. Preferably, coffee and milk are dispensed separately, e.g. coffee is dispensed first, and milk is dispensed afterwards. A reversed sequence is note excluded.

With the above described arrangement, both the milk dispensing nozzle 55 and the coffee dispensing nozzle 51 can be adjusted, with a single operation, in the required position at a variable distance from the container supporting surface 7, according to the dimension of the cup C which the user places on the container supporting surface 7, such that milk or coffee splashing is avoided.

The possibility of detaching the removable part 13A from the nozzle retaining member 13B makes cleaning of the beverage dispensing spout easy.

Connection and disconnection of the removable part 13A to and from the hydraulic circuit (steam and coffee) of the machine is made easy by the interface provided by the end 53 A of the pipe 53 and by the connection of the milk suction chamber 65 to the Venturi tube 63. The separation interface between the removable part 13B and the components which remain on board of the machine is thus provided in a position such that all the components of the beverage dispensing spout getting in contact with the milk can easily be removed from the coffee machine 1 and washed, for example in a dish washer. In some embodiments, a retention device can be provided to reversibly lock the removable portion 13A on the nozzle retaining member 13B of the beverage dispensing spout 13. For example a resilient locking member can be provided. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the retention device comprises a pair of pivoting arms 81. Each pivoting arm 81 is hinged at 83 to the removable portion 13A of the beverage dispensing spout 13. At the distal end, opposite the pivoting axis, each pivoting arm 81 is provided with a tooth 85 which engages a projection 87 provided on the nozzle retaining member 13B. The teeth 85 are wedge-shaped with a slanted front surface. The two pivoting arms 81 are resilient ly biased by respective leaf springs 88. When the removable portion 13A is pushed into the nozzle retaining member 13B the wedge-shaped teeth 85 are caused to pivot one towards the other by co-action with the projection 87, overcoming the force of the leaf springs 88 and are snap- engaged to said projection 87. To disengage the teeth 85, the pivoting arms 81 are forced to pivot against the force of the leaf springs 88 until the teeth 85 disengage the projection 87. To facilitate gripping of the pivoting arms 81 each pivoting arm 81 is provided with a button 89 extending outside of the removable portion 13A of the beverage dispensing spout 13. To disengage and remove the removable part 13A of the beverage dispensing spout 13 from the nozzle retaining member 13B it is sufficient to grasp the buttons 89 and press them to overcome the force of the leaf springs 88 to pivot the arms 81 until the teeth 85 disengage from the projection 87 as shown in the enlarged detail of Fig. 6. The removable portion 13A can then be extracted according to arrow fA (see Fig. 7).

While the disclosed embodiments of the subject matter described herein have been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with several exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings, the principles and concepts set forth herein, and advantages of the subject matter recited in the appended claims. Hence, the proper scope of the disclosed innovations should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications, changes, and omissions. In addition, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different

Claims

dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. CLAIMS:

1. A beverage producing machine (1) comprising: a housing (3); a container supporting surface (7); a beverage dispensing spout (13) arranged above said container supporting surface; a coffee brewing unit (17) in said housing; wherein:

the distance between said beverage dispensing spout and said container supporting surface is adjustable;

said beverage dispensing spout comprises a coffee dispensing nozzle (51) in fluid communication with said coffee brewing unit and a milk dispensing nozzle (55) in fluid communication with a steam generator (27) in said housing and with a milk suction duct; and said coffee dispensing nozzle and said milk dispensing nozzle are arranged one inside the other.

2. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said coffee dispensing nozzle (51) and said milk dispensing nozzle (55) are arranged coaxial to one another.

3. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said milk dispensing nozzle (55) surrounds said coffee dispensing nozzle (51).

4. Beverage producing machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said milk dispensing nozzle (55) and said coffee dispensing nozzle (51) are arranged on a removable portion (13A) of said beverage dispensing spout (13).

5. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein said removable portion (13 A) supports a pipe connector (69) for connection to a milk suction pipe (35).

6. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said removable portion (13A) of the beverage dispensing spout (13) is engageable to and disengageable from a nozzle retaining member (13B), movably supported on said housing (3).

7. Beverage producing machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said beverage dispensing spout (13) comprises a milk frothing device in fluid communication with said milk dispensing nozzle (55).

8. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 4 or 5 or 6, wherein said beverage dispensing spout (13) comprises a milk frothing device in fluid communication with said milk dispensing nozzle (55).

9. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein said milk frothing device is at least partly arranged in said removable portion (13 A) of said beverage dispensing spout (13).

10. Beverage producing machine (1) according to claim 7 or 8 or 9, wherein said milk frothing device comprises or is connected to a Venturi tube.

11. Beverage producing machine (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said milk frothing device is reversibly connectable to and disconnectable from a steam pipe in fluid communication with said steam generator (27).

12. Beverage producing machine (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein said milk frothing device comprises a centrifugation chamber (57) surrounding said coffee dispensing spout.

13. Beverage producing machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said beverage dispensing spout (13) is connected to said housing (3) by means of at least a four-bar linkage.

14. Beverage producing machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said milk dispensing nozzle (55) has a cyclone shape.