AU2001268916C1

AU2001268916C1 - Hot beverage preparation machine

Info

Publication number: AU2001268916C1
Application number: AU2001268916A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yee-Koo Chen; Darren Wai
Original assignee: Electrical and Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Electrical and Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-11
Filing date: 2001-05-25
Publication date: 2006-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-25
Also published as: GB0214281D0; CN2559192Y; GB2374796B; WO2002030250A1; GB2374796A; AU2001268916B2; HK1050827A1; HK1035836A2; WO2002030250A8; AU6891601A

Description

-1- Hot Beverage Preparation Machine

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Technical Field The present invention relates to a hot beverage preparation machine.

Prior Art Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be 1 considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common 00 Igeneral knowledge in the field.

The hot beverage preparation system of prior art can continuously make various

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beverage circled without interruption by using one unit of it, and supply the system automatically with the water until the water in the reservoir is used up completely.

However, all these systems require an additional pump mechanism and/or pump assembly to complete this kind of work.

The external hot beverage preparation system of prior art does not use the specific scoop which is replaceable and low cost, and the specific scoop either can make various beverage or can be used continuously after cleaning once.

One of the best hot beverage preparation systems is a device which can make beverage continuously until the water in the reservoir is used up, and can also make various beverage by using pressure control device and replaceable specific scoop.

The present hot beverage preparation system which can complete the above mentioned task needs an additional expensive pump and could not make different types of beverage arbitrarily.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

In order to overcome or reduce above mentioned problems, embodiments of the invention use a fixed or changeable pressure control device, bypass pressure releasing system and pressure boiler to form a hot beverage preparation machine with a boiler which can supply water continuously and no external pump is required.

Said hot beverage preparation machine can continuously make various beverage circled without interruption by using one unit of hot beverage preparation system, and supply the system with the water automatically until the water in the reservoir is used up. The hot beverage preparation system may make various beverage by using fixed or changeable pressure control device.

In order to help making various beverages, said hot beverage preparation machine can use a hot beverage preparation system of scoop type, that is external system of coffee making, so as to make various different beverages one by one without device pollution, I-2-

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the scoop type system is changeable and according to the requirement of the customer make different beverages, the scoop type system also can be used continuously after cleaning once.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a fixed or removable reservoir.

IAccording to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a three-way joint joint) connected with 0 outlet area of the reservoir, the another two ends of the three way joint are connected with boiler and bypass conduit respectively.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot r" beverage preparation machine, wherein in the inlet of the three-way joint entered into boiler there is a valve system.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a sealed boiler, the boiler can contain required amount of water every time, required maximum pressure and required maximum quantity of heat.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a water outlet pipe led from boiler, the size and taper of the water outlet pipe ensures the required pressure and volume.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a device which can increase the pressure of the system or release the pressure of the system. This kind of valve may be mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic valve or any combination of previous type.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a pressure control device. The pressure control device may be of fixed pressure so as to cause the beverage preparation device to make some beverage of specific type or of changeable pressure so as to cause beverage preparation device may make various beverage types.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a scoop accessory which is replaceable and/or reusable, and/or custom-made. The scoop accessory either can contain solid for making the beverage, or can provide a making area which is independent of the main body of hot beverage preparation system.

Preferably, the boiler of the invention may be lower than reservoir so as to cause the water in the reservoir to flow freely into boiler under the effect of the gravity during pressure reducing of the invention.

-3- Preferably, the fastener of the filter of the hot beverage preparation system may be .C connected with pressure releasing device through mechanical and/or electronic method, so as to cause the pressure release to be completed automatically after hot beverage preparation circling.

Preferably, the fastener of the filter of the hot beverage preparation system may be Iconnected with valve system between three way joint and inlet of the boiler through mechanical and/or electronic method, so as to cause pressure increase to be 00 0 completed automatically after hot beverage preparation circling.

_Preferably, the device of pressure reducing and increasing may be higher than the level of the three way joint for the water in the bypass conduit flowing back to the reservoir to r" prevent water from flowing into the bypass conduit during supplying of water to the boiler. Preferably, a valve is positioned between three-way joint and the inlet of the boiler for controlling the pressure increasing and pressure reducing of the system.

The Technical Scheme According to one aspect the present invention provides a hot beverage preparation machine comprising a reservoir and a boiler, between reservoir and the boiler a threeway joint is provided, the first end of the three-way joint is connected with reservoir, the second end is connected with sealed boiler through a valve, the third end is connected with a bypass conduit, the boiler has an outlet pipeline through a pressure increasing/pressure reducing device, the pressure increasing/pressure reducing device is connected with another end of the bypass conduit and can be connected to pressure control device in said outlet pipeline.

The invention is further characterized in that said reservoir may be fixedly or detachably installed and may be installed in the rear part, front part and each side of the machine with arbitrary combination or amount. Said three-way joint is installed beneath the reservoir for transit by gravity; said valve is installed beneath the three-way joint for transit by gravity. Said sealed boiler is installed beneath the valve for transit water into the boiler by gravity; said pressure increasing/pressure reducing device may be driven manually or automatically through mechanical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic method or any combination of previous method; said pressure control device may be driven manually or automatically through mechanical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic method or any combination of previous method; said pressure control device may be of fixed pressure setting or benefit to pressure adjustment; said hot beverage preparation machine may comprises a beverage making area for putting prepared solid and positioned behind pressure control device; said beverage making area may be a scoop device which is independent of main beverage making system and for beverage making -4externally; said scoop device is made of plastic mould and metal filter; said scoop device may have multi-different size custom-made and/or made for respective specific beverage; said scoop device may be cleaned and reused.

7- The hot beverage preparation machine of at least embodiments of the invention can make beverage continuously, and can make various beverages by using beverage O making scoop, and no external pump is required.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the 0 claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an

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inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the O 10 sense of "including, but not limited to".

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be further described below, by way of example only, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of beverage making system of one embodiment of the invention with internal device of main system; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of beverage making system of one embodiment of the invention with internal device of main system; Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of three-way joint, valve system, outlet of reservoir and inlet of boiler of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of pressure control device; Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of pressure releasing device; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of scoop system assembled completely of one embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of scoop system assembled completely of one embodiment of the invention.

The Embodiment of the Invention As shown in Fig.1, according to the requirement the hot beverage preparation system has a removable or fixed reservoir 3.0, the reservoir has a valve joint, during removing the reservoir filled with water it can prevent water from flowing out from reservoir, the reservoir could be installed in the rear part, side part or front part of the unit, or combined installation, or installing required amount.

When the pressure increasing/pressure reducing device 4.0 is in the position shown in the Figure, the system is pressure reducing. When the pressure increasing/ pressure reducing device 4.0 is in the position shown as the arrow, no fluid can pass through bypass conduit 8.0, said system is pressure increasing.

Once said system is pressure reducing by pressure increasing/pressure reducing .device 4.0, pressure increasing/pressure reducing device 4.0 can return back to the position of pressure increasing manually or automatically by electric, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic method or the combination of the previous method. After said system is pressure reducing, valve 7.0 is falling to the position as shown in the figure I due to the gravity. In the position as shown in the Figure, valve 7.0 may cause the water coming from the reservoir 3.0 flowing into the boiler 5.0 through three-way joint 0 6.0. At the same time, the boiler 5.0 installed heating component externally or internally _starts to heat the water coming from reservoir 3.0. During heating, when the pressure increasing/pressure reducing device 4.0 is in the pressure increasing position, valve N moves upward to the three-way joint due to pressure increasing produced by heating the water in the boiler 5.0. In this way, no water passes between boiler 3.0 and threeway joint The pressure and the temperature of heated water in the boiler 5.0 increase continuously, until the pressure control device 2.0 releases the volume of the boiler under the setting pressure, pressure control device 2.0 could be set in a fixed pressure for making specific beverage, or could be set in a changeable pressure for making various beverage.

Through pressure control device 2.0 releasing the volume of the boiler 5. 0, the pressurized water passes through the beverage making area 1.0 for making beverage required. After the unit releasing pressure and before pressure control device releasing the volume of the boiler due to enough pressure produced by heating, the required solid of beverage is placed in the making area As shown in Fig. 3, valve 7.0 shows the valve mechanism 7.1 in the pressure reducing position, wherein the water in the reservoir 3.0 may flow into the boiler 5.0 through three-way joint 6.0. Any water in the bypass conduit 8.0 will flow back to reservoir and boiler 5.0, until the pressure of all points of the system is the same.

In the pressure increasing position, since in the boiler 5.0 the existing pressure produced by heating and expending of the water in the boiler 5.0, the valve mechanism 7.1 moves upward to interrupt the flowing of fluid between three-way joint and boiler by preventing any flowing between three-way joint 6.0 and boiler 5.0 also can prevent any fluid from flowing into the bypass conduit As shown in Fig. 4, pressure control device 2.0 shows the interrupting mechanism 2.1 and pressure adjuster 2.2 before the pressure of the boiler reaches the position of setting pressure. If the system is required to make beverage under the various different pressure, the pressure control device 2.0 may also have the setter 2.3 of changeable -6pressure. Once boiler reaches setting pressure, as the interrupting mechanism 2.1 moving upward and the length of the pressure adjuster 2.2 compressed, pressure control device 2.0 releases the volume of the boiler.

_As shown in Fig. 5, the pressure increasing/pressure reducing device 4.0 is in the pressure reducing position, it has controlling piston 4.1 as shown in the Figure. In the Iposition, any pressure increased is released passing reservoir through bypass conduit until the entire system is in balancing condition and the pressure is reduced to 0 atmosphere.

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When pressure increasing/pressure reducing device 4.0 is in the pressure increasing position, controlling piston 4.1 moves upward as arrow shown, the flow through bypass C1 conduit 8.0 does not exist.

As shown in Fig. 6, beverage making area as shown in the perspective view is in the locking closed position, it can be shown by a fixed device 1.1 formed, the shape of the fixed device 1.1 matches scoop 1.2 and movable filter cover 1.3. Under the unlocking position, removing movable filter cover 1.3 from the upper edge of the scoop 1.2, may pick up scoop 1.2 from fixed device 1.1 formed.

As shown in Fig. 7, the beverage making area shown in the sectional view is in the locking closed position, it can be shown by a fixed device 1.1 formed, the shape of the fixed device 1.1 matches scoop 1.2 and movable filter cover 1.3. In the locking position, when releasing volume of the boiler under pressure, water passes through movable filter cover 1. 3 sealed by sealing device 1.4 for anti-leakage, and passes through the filter 1.5 and making the solid substance 1.7 contained in the scoop 1.2 into beverage, as a result the process of making beverage passes through the bottom filter 1.5, and enters into the collecting device through the hole 1.8.

In the unlocking position, removing movable filter cover 1.3, sealing device 1.4 and filter from the upper edge of the scoop 1.2, but without picking up scoop 1.2, when picking up scoop 1.2 for supplying, using another different or same scoop 1.2 for substitution, or for cleaning the bottom filter 1.6 installed on the scoop 1.2 fixedly or detachably, flow-removing and/or replacing scoop. Any new replaced scoop itself installs with bottom filter 1.6.

During replacing the scoop 1.2, required solid substance 1.7 which will be made into beverage may be put into the scoop 1.2, reputing scoop into fixed device 1.1 formed and back to the locking position, ready for using in the next beverage making circle.

The above embodiment is only for the description of the invention, those skilled in the art may modify and/or vary it without depart from the scope determined by the accompanying claims of the invention.

Claims

2. A hot beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir is installed fixedly or detachably to said hot beverage preparation machine.
3. A hot beverage preparation machine according to claim 2 wherein said reservoir is installed with arbitrary combination or number in rear part, front part or each side of the hot beverage preparation machine.
4. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said three-way joint is installed beneath the reservoir for transit by gravity. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said valve is installed beneath said three-way joint for transit by gravity.
6. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said sealed boiler is installed beneath said valve for transiting water into the boiler by gravity.
7. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said pressure increasing/pressure reducing device is driven manually or automatically by mechanical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic method or any combination thereof.
8. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said pressure control device is driven manually or automatically by mechanical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic method or any combination thereof.
9. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said pressure control device is of fixed setting pressure. -8-
10. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8 (N Swherein said pressure control device is pressure adjustable.
11. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said hot beverage preparation machine further comprises a beverage making area provided behind pressure control device for putting a solid substance from which INO beverage will be made. oO 00 O 12. A hot beverage preparation machine according to claim 11 wherein said beverage making area is a scoop device independent of main beverage making system for making beverages externally.
13. A hot beverage preparation machine according to claim 12 wherein said scoop device is made of the combination of a plastic mould and a metal filter.
14. A hot beverage preparation machine according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said scoop device is of various different custom-made sizes. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein said scoop device is made corresponding to a specific beverage.
16. A hot beverage preparation machine according to any one of claims 12 to wherein said scoop device can be cleaned and multi-reused.
17. A hot beverage preparation machine substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 17th day of February 2006 Shelston IP Attorneys for: Electrical Electronics Limited