CH710697A1 - Device for feeding coffee beans to the grinder of a coffee machine, coffee machine with such a device and method for operating such a coffee maker. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (10, 16, 17, 19) for feeding coffee beans to the grinder (18) of a coffee machine (11) comprises a bean container (10) which can be filled from above and is open at the bottom and means (16, 17, 19) for controlled transfer the coffee beans from the bean container (10) in the grinder (18) of the coffee machine (11). A simple and safe operability is achieved in that the bean container (10) on the coffee machine (11) is detachably arranged, that the means (16, 17, 19) for controlled transfer of the coffee beans from the bean container (10) into the grinder ( 18) comprise a closure ring (19) movably connected to the bean container (10) which can assume a first position relative to the bean container (10) in which the bean container (10) is open for dispensing coffee beans to the grinder (18), and may occupy a second position relative to the bean container (10) in which it closes the bean container (10) at the bottom, and that the bean container (10) on the coffee machine (11) is locked in the first position with the coffee machine (11) and locked in unlocked the second position and is removable from the coffee machine.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of coffee machines, which are equipped with a grinder. It relates to a device for feeding coffee beans to the grinder of a coffee machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

It further relates to a coffee machine with such a device and a method for operating such a coffee machine.

STATE OF THE ART

From the prior art, a variety of equipped with a grinder coffee machines is known in which the grinder from a machine integrated into the machine or sitting on the machine bean container for the unmilled coffee beans for preparing a coffee beverage coffee beans are supplied.

Such bean containers usually have a larger storage space that can be filled with the beans, and which runs down to a funnel through which the beans slide by gravity through an opening in the grinder arranged below.

The opening can be permanently open; but it can also have a locking mechanism. Likewise, the container can be permanently installed on the coffee machine or arranged detachably.

Furthermore, the container may be divided into different chambers in which different types of beans can be filled, which are selectively and reversibly fed to the grinder.

The document DE 10 2011 085 904 A1 describes a removable bean container for placing on a coffee machine for household purposes with a plurality of separate compartments for coffee beans, with at least one discharge opening for dispensing coffee beans from at least one of the compartments. The bean container has a rotatable cylindrical spatial form and arranged in a lateral surface of the bean container discharge opening. An associated coffee machine for such a bean container has a receiving opening for coffee beans above a grinder. It is provided a holder which holds the bean container with horizontal axis of rotation on the receiving opening. The disadvantage here is that the dispensing opening of the container is at the same time also the filling opening.

The document EP 2 087 820 A1 discloses a coffee bean hopper for a coffee grinder, with two separate bean chambers and at least one arranged in the bottom of dispensing opening, which is closable with at least one closure element to one of the bean chambers or apparently, as well as with adjusting means, with where the at least one closure element is adjustable. In each of the two bean chambers, a vertically displaceably guided and adjustable closure element is arranged, which is suitable depending on the vertical setting, the bean chamber substantially laterally opposite the dispensing opening to close or release to the dispensing opening, wherein the adjusting means are formed and with the closure elements in Connection are that these are mutually vertically adjustable. The disadvantage here is that one of the compartments is always open due to the opposite execution.

The document EP 1 440 642 B1 finally describes a coffee grinder with a divided by forming at least two compartments coffee bean container, with a lower, common for both compartments output shaft, arranged below the output shaft grinder and with a closure element for selectively closing the Starting at least one subject. The closure element forms with the grinder a representational unit and the coffee bean container is rotatable relative to the unit formed from the closure element and the grinder, the disadvantage here is that the closure element is fixed to the grinder and can not hold the container when removing.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for feeding coffee beans to the grinder of a coffee maker, which is removable in particular for cleaning and / or filling in a particularly simple manner from the coffee and on the coffee machine can be placed again.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a coffee machine with such a bean container, and to provide a method for operating such a coffee maker.

The object is solved by the features of claims 1,16 and 17. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The inventive device for feeding coffee beans to the grinder of a coffee maker comprises a fillable from above and downwardly open bean container and means for controlled transfer of coffee beans from the bean container in the grinder of the coffee machine.

It is characterized in that the bean container is removably mounted on the coffee machine, that the means for controlled transfer of coffee beans from the bean container in the grinder comprise a movably connected to the bean container closure ring, which can occupy a first position relative to the bean container in that the bean container is open for dispensing coffee beans to the grinder and can occupy a second position relative to the bean container in which it closes the bean container at the bottom, and the bean container on the coffee machine is locked in the first position with the coffee machine and in unlocked the second position and is removable from the coffee machine.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transition between the first position and the second position takes place by a rotational movement.

In particular, the bean container is rotationally symmetrical at least at the transition to the coffee machine, wherein the rotational movement takes place about the axis of symmetry of the bean container. Above the transition region, the bean container may also be rotationally symmetrical, but may also have a rectangular, oval or other shape.

According to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the movement between the first position and the second position is a rotation of about 180 °.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the movement between the first position and the second position simultaneously causes the transition between unlocking and locking and the transition between openness and Schlossensein.

In particular, the bean container at the bottom of a concentric funnel-shaped outlet with a semicircular outlet opening, wherein the concentric closure ring is rotatably mounted on the outlet, and wherein the closure ring is internally provided with a semi-circular closure surface which closes the outlet opening in the second position and in the first position releases the outlet opening.

It is advantageous if a downwardly open receiving space for receiving displaced coffee beans is formed at the outlet next to the semicircular outlet opening.

It can take place between the first position and the second position by a rotational movement of the bean container and the bean container with the arranged at its outlet closure ring concentric in a rotatably mounted on the coffee machine, annular support be used, such that the locking ring against rotation connected to the support.

In addition, for the rotationally fixed connection of the closure ring with the support on the support extending in the axial direction, elongated cutout be formed, wherein the closure ring is adapted to the elongated cutout positioning cam is arranged, with which the closure ring moves into the elongated cutout when the bean container with the arranged at its outlet closure ring is inserted into the support.

In particular, may be provided for locking the bean container with the coffee on the support on the inside in the circumferential direction extending exemption, in which the bean container when turning from the second to the first position with a locking spout attached to the outside enters the first position.

In addition, the exemption can be semicircular and extend from the cutout to an opposite stop, wherein the locking cam is arranged in the axial direction directly above the positioning cam.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that, for the rotatable mounting of the concentric closure ring at the outlet of the bean container at the outlet a circumferential groove is formed, in which the locking ring engages with arranged on the inner handling projections.

According to yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention locking elements are provided which make the receipt of the first and second position by bean container and locking ring noticeable.

Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transition between the first position and the second position is effected by a rotational movement of the closure ring, and that the bean container with an anti-rotation in a rotatably mounted on the coffee machine, annular support is used, such that the bean container is rotatably connected to the support.

In particular, the closure ring moves when opening the bean container with an externally operable handle in a circumferential slot in the support and secures the bean container against removal.

The inventive coffee machine with a grinder and a bean container for feeding coffee beans to the grinder is characterized in that the bean container is designed according to the invention.

The inventive method for operating a coffee machine according to the invention is characterized in that the bean container and the closure ring brought to remove the bean container from the coffee machine in the second position and the bean container is lifted from the coffee machine, and that for the operation of the coffee machine the bean container and the locking ring are placed in the second position on the coffee machine and moved to the first position.

According to one embodiment of the inventive method, the bean container is moved by rotation about a vertical axis, preferably by 180 °, between the first and second position back and forth.

According to another embodiment of the inventive method, the locking ring is moved by rotation about a vertical axis, preferably by 180 °, between the first and second position back and forth.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. Show it: <Tb> FIG. 1 <SEP> an embodiment of the device according to the invention in its relation to a coffee maker in a side view (Fig. 1a) and in a longitudinal section along the plane B-B (Fig. 1b); <Tb> FIG. 2 <SEP> different views of the associated with the locking ring and in the closed state bean container of FIG. 1; <Tb> FIG. 3 in different views, analogous to FIG. 2, of the bean container of FIG. 1 connected to the closing ring and in the open state; <Tb> FIG. 4 <SEP> different views of the locking ring of Fig. 1; <Tb> FIG. 5 <SEP> different views of the support provided as part of the coffee machine for receiving the bean container of Fig. 2 or 3; <Tb> FIG. 6 <SEP> different views of the funnel-shaped spout of the bean container of FIG. 2 or 3; <Tb> FIG. 7 shows the process of inserting the bean container of FIG. 2 or 3 into the support of the coffee machine in a side view (FIG. 7 a), a longitudinal section (FIG. 7 b) and a perspective view from above (FIG. 7 c); <Tb> FIG. 8 <SEP> in several views, another embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the bean container is opened or closed by twisting a locking ring, in the opened state; and <Tb> FIG. 9 <SEP> analogous to FIG. 8, the bean container of this embodiment in the closed state.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention in its relation to a coffee machine 11 in a side view (Fig. 1a) and in a longitudinal section along the plane B-B in Fig. 1a (Fig. 1b). An essential part of the device is a bean container 10 which sits on a coffee machine 11 or can be placed on this. The coffee machine 11 itself is not completely drawn, but merely indicated by the parts and elements that are important for the interaction with the bean container 10. This includes an indicated by two grinding discs grinder 18, which processes the coffee beans supplied from the bean container 10 to ground coffee. This also includes a arranged on the coffee machine 11 above the grinder 18 hopper 17, which is responsible for the targeted introduction of the fed from the bean container 10 beans in the grinder 18. This finally includes an attached on the coffee machine 11, annular support 16 (see Fig. 5), in which the bean container 10 can be removed removably.

On the bean container 10 itself, a locking ring 19 (Figure 4) is concentrically arranged and snap-mounted, which can be rotated relative to the bean container 10 between two positions (Figures 2 and 3), either at the funnel-shaped outlet 13 the bean container 10 formed outlet opening 22 to release (the state shown in Fig. 3) or to close (the state shown in Fig. 2). The transition between the one (closed) position and the other (open) position is effected by a rotation of the closure ring 19 by ± 180 ° relative to the bean container 10. For this purpose, the closure ring 19 is rotatably mounted on the tubular extension of the outlet 13 (FIGS. 2, 3). At the same time, the outlet opening 22 is of semicircular design and the closure ring is provided with a corresponding semicircular closure surface 20 (FIG. 4), so that either completely overlaps (closed position) or does not influence one another (open position).

The relative rotation between bean container 10 and locking ring 19 at the transition between the open and closed positions is achieved in the illustrated embodiment by a rotation of the bean container 10 with the locking ring 19 held. However, it is just as possible within the scope of the invention to achieve the same effect by turning the closure ring 19 while holding the bean container 10 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 and the explanations below).

For the rotatable mounting of the closure ring 19 on the bean container 10 are on the inner wall of the closure ring 19 at a predetermined height three each offset by approximately 120 °, extending in the circumferential direction projections 23a, 23b and 23c (Fig. 4) formed with in which the locking ring 19 engages in a circumferential groove 35 provided on the outlet 13 (FIG. 6) when it is pushed over the pipe socket 31 at the lower end of the outlet 13.

The bean container 10 has, according to FIG. 1, a comparatively large volume which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is enclosed by an approximately cylindrical, possibly slightly conical, container wall 12, but is also just as good, for example. may be rectangular or oval. Up to the container is fully open and closed by an attached lid 14, which can be removed or placed by means of a centrally disposed teardrop-shaped handle 15. Down to closes the container with the funnel-shaped outlet 13, which tapers from the large container diameter, starting at the pipe stub 31 to a much smaller outlet diameter. In the pipe socket 31, a slope 32 is formed (Fig. 6), which converts the entering into the pipe socket 31 beans in the semicircular outlet opening 22 and initiates. Below the slope 32 and adjacent to the semicircular outlet opening 22 a downwardly open receiving space 37 is formed.

Outlet 13 and locking ring 19 form there a sickle-shaped rotary valve. The rotary valve comprises two sickles, which can be rotated relative to each other. In this case, the outlet side sickle as a receiving space 37 on a bulge, which is at the same time an inclined ramp for filling the coffee grinder with beans.

The advantage of this system is that the two sickles pinch no beans when opening and closing. On the one hand helps the small distance between the flat sickle (closure surface 20) on the closure ring 19 and the leading edge through the center of the bulging sickle (receiving space 37) at the outlet 13, and on the other hand, the hollow volume which forms the said bulge on the opposite side. In this hollow volume, the surplus beans can be displaced upon opening (when closing the beans can be displaced into the bean container itself).

The unit of bean container 10 and snapped, rotatably mounted locking ring 19 as shown in FIG. 2 and 3 is for connection to the coffee machine 11 with the pipe socket 31 and the pipe socket enclosing closure ring 19 in the fixed to the coffee machine 11 annular support 16th used (Fig. 5). The support 16 has a collar-shaped, provided with mounting holes 26 mounting ring 25, with which it is screwed on the top of the coffee machine 11. The support 16 has a vertical cut-out 28 that tapers downwards in width, into which the locking ring 19, upon placement of the bean container 10, centers with a radially outwardly projecting positioning cam 21 (FIG. 7). With the retraction of the positioning cam 21 in the cutout 28, the locking ring 19 is rotatably connected to the support 16 and thus to the coffee machine 11. Consequently, in the inserted state, only the bean container 10 can be rotated relative to the locking ring 19 by 180 ° between the closed position (FIG. 2) and the open position (FIG. 3).

This rotational movement of the bean container 10 is also associated with a locking or unlocking: If the bean container 10 (relative to the locking ring 19) in the open position, it is locked to the support 16 and thus with the coffee machine. This prevents the bean container 10 filled with beans from being inadvertently removed from the support 16 in the opened state or removed from the coffee machine 11 and unintentionally emptying onto the floor. If the bean container 10 is transferred by rotation through 180 ° from the open to the closed position, the lock with the support 16 is released, so that the closed container can be removed without restriction from the coffee machine 11.

The locking described by a formed on the pipe socket 31 of the spout 13 cam 33 (eg Fig. 1), which lies directly above the positioning cam 21 with the container closed in the axial direction and with this together when inserting the container 10 in the support 16 unhindered in the cutout 28 on the support 16 can retract. At the cutout 28, on one side on the inner wall of the support 16, a half-sided, in the circumferential direction over 180 ° extending exemption 29 connects (Figure 5), which receives the locking cam 33 when the bean container 10 from the in Fig. 1a shown position is rotated to the left, and so causes a locking of the bean container 10 in the support. This rotation is limited after about 180 ° by a stop 30 (FIG. 5g). With this rotation, the outlet 13 can then be opened to the grinder 18 at the same time, because the locking ring 19 can not join in this rotation because of the positioning cam 21 fixed in the cutout 28 and thus releases the opening for the beans.

Finally, 19 locking elements can be provided in the interaction between the outlet 13 and lock ring, which make the receipt of the first (open) and second (closed) position by the bean container 10 noticeable and / or audible. For this purpose, a spring-loaded cam or catch 24 is arranged on the inner wall of the closure ring 19 on the back to the positioning cam (FIG. 4e), which in each case engages in a recess 34 on the pipe socket 31 of the outlet 13 in the first and second positions (FIG. 6d). and so marking the achievement of the position.

It has already been pointed out above that the transition between the open and closed state of the bean container, which takes place in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 by rotating the bean container, can be replaced by a corresponding rotation of the closure ring at the same time stationary bean container , An embodiment of this variant is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in different views, wherein the Fig. 8 shows the opened state of the bean container, while Fig. 9 refers to the closed state.

The bean container 10 according to FIGS. 8 and 9 also comprises in this embodiment an approximately cylindrical part with the container wall 12, the removable lid 14 with handle 15 and the attached below funnel-shaped spout 13. Inside the outlet 13 is formed similar As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 and comprises a semicircular outlet opening 22 and a arranged below the slope receiving space 37 with the same function as described above.

Outside, an anti-rotation device 38 is provided at the lower cylindrical portion of the outlet 13, with which the bean container 10 when placing on the support 16 enters a vertical recess and is fixed against rotation. Between support 16 and spout 13, a locking ring 19 is rotatably mounted on the outlet about the axis of symmetry of the bean container 10, which can be rotated by 180 ° by means of a handle 39 between the open (FIG. 8) and closed (FIG. 9) to change position. For the handle 39, a half-side or 180 ° circumferential slot 40 is provided in the support 16, which, when the handle 39 when opening the container 10 enters this, an accidental removal of the opened bean container 10 of the support 16th safely prevented.

Overall, with the invention, a bean container available that can be automatically brought into a closed removal position by simple rotation about the axis of symmetry of a locked open position in which the beans can get to the grinder and then separated from the casserole safe ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0049] <tb> 10, 10 <SEP> bean container <Tb> 11 <September> Coffee <Tb> 12 <September> container wall <tb> 13 <SEP> Spout (funnel-shaped) <Tb> 14 <September> Lid <Tb> 15 <September> handle <tb> 16, 16 <SEP> Support (ring-shaped) <Tb> 17 <September> Funnels <Tb> 18 <September> grinder <tb> 19, 19 <SEP> Lock Ring <tb> 20 <SEP> sealing surface (semicircular) <Tb> 21 <September> positioning cams <Tb> 22 <September> outlet opening <Tb> 23a-c <September> projection <tb> 24 <SEP> Catch (Sprung Cams) <Tb> 25 <September> fixing ring <Tb> 26 <September> mounting hole <Tb> 27 <September> funnel section <Tb> 28 <September> cut <tb> 29 <SEP> Exemption (half-sided) <Tb> 30 <September> stop <Tb> 31 <September> pipe socket <Tb> 32 <September> Weird <Tb> 33 <September> locking cam <Tb> 34 <September> recess <tb> 35 <SEP> groove (encircling) <tb> 36 <SEP> symmetry axis (bean container) <Tb> 37 <September> accommodation space <tb> 38 <SEP> Anti-twist device (bean container) <tb> 39 <SEP> Handle (Lockring) <tb> 40 <SEP> Slot (half-side or 180 °)

Claims (19)

1. Device (10, 10, 16, 16, 17, 19, 19) for feeding coffee beans to the grinder (18) of a coffee machine (11), which device (10, 10, 16, 16, 17 , 19, 19) comprises a bean container (10, 10) which can be filled from above and is open at the bottom, and means (16, 16, 17, 19, 19) for the controlled transfer of the coffee beans from the bean container (10, 10 ) In the grinder (18) of the coffee machine (11), characterized in that the bean container (10, 10) on the coffee machine (11) is removably arranged, that the means (16, 16, 17, 19, 19 ) For the controlled transfer of the coffee beans from the bean container (10, 10) in the grinder (18) with the bean container (10, 10) movably connected locking ring (19, 19), which relative to the bean container (10, 10) can assume a first position in which the bean container (10, 10) is open for dispensing coffee beans to the grinder (18), and relative to the bean container (10, 10) can assume a second position in which it closes the bean container (10, 10) at the bottom, and that the bean container (10, 10) on the coffee machine (11) in the first position , with the coffee machine (11) locked and unlocked in the second position and from the coffee machine (11) is removable. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition between the first position and the second position takes place by a rotary movement. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the bean container (10, 10) at least at the transition to the coffee machine (11) is rotationally symmetrical, and that the rotational movement about the axis of symmetry of the bean container (10, 10). 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement between the first position and the second position is a rotation of about 180 °. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement between the first position and the second position simultaneously causes the transition between unlocking and locking and the transition between openness and locking. 6. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the bean container (10, 10) at the lower end a concentric funnel-shaped outlet (13) having a semicircular outlet opening (22), that the concentric locking ring (19, 19) at the outlet ( 13) is rotatably arranged, and that the closure ring (19, 19) is internally provided with a semicircular closure surface (20) which closes the outlet opening (22) in the second position and releases the outlet opening (22) in the first position. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that at the outlet (13) adjacent to the semicircular outlet opening (22) is formed a downwardly open receiving space (37) for receiving displaced coffee beans on opening. 8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the transition between the first position and the second position by a rotational movement of the bean container (10), and in that the bean container (10) with the at its outlet (13) arranged locking ring (19 ) concentrically in a on the coffee machine (11) rotatably mounted, annular support (16) can be inserted, such that the closure ring (19) rotatably connected to the support (16) is connected. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that for the rotationally fixed connection of the closure ring (19) with the support (16) on the support (16) extending in the axial direction, elongated cutout (28) is formed, and that on the closure ring ( 19) a to the elongated cutout (28) adapted positioning cam (21) is arranged, with which the locking ring (19) retracts into the elongated cutout (28) when the bean container (10) arranged with the at its outlet (13) Locking ring (19) is inserted into the support. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that for locking the bean container (10) with the coffee machine (11) on the support (16) on the inside a in the direction of rotation extending exemption (29) is provided, in which the bean container (10 ) locks when locking from the second to the first position with a locking cam (33) attached to the outlet (13) on the outside. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the release (29) is semicircular and extends from the cutout (28) to an opposing stop (30), and that the locking cam (33) in the axial direction directly above the positioning cam (21) is arranged. 12. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that for the rotatable mounting of the concentric closure ring (19) at the outlet (13) of the bean container (10) at the outlet (13) a circumferential groove (35) is formed, in which the closure ring ( 19) with clutches arranged on the inner handling (23a-c) einkrallt. 13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that latching elements (24) are provided, which make the receipt of the first and second position by bean container (10) and locking ring (19) noticeable. 14. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the transition between the first position and the second position by a rotational movement of the closure ring (19), and in that the bean container (10) with an anti-rotation device (38) in one of the Coffee machine (11) rotatably mounted, annular support (16) can be inserted, such that the bean container (10) rotatably connected to the support (16). 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the closure ring (19) when opening the bean container (10) with an externally operable handle (39) in a circumferential slot (40) in the support (16) retracts and the Bean container (10) against removal secures. 16. Coffee machine (11) with a grinder (18) and a bean container (10, 10) for feeding coffee beans to the grinder (18), characterized in that the bean container (10, 10) according to one of claims 1 to 15 is formed. 17. A method for operating a coffee machine (11) according to claim 16, characterized in that the bean container (10, 10) and the closure ring (19, 19) for removing the bean container (10, 10) from the coffee machine (11 ) is brought into the second position and the bean container (10, 10) is lifted from the coffee machine (11), and that for operating the coffee machine (11) of the bean container (10, 10) and the closure ring (19,19) placed in the second position on the coffee machine (11) and moved to the first position. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the bean container (10) by rotating about a vertical axis (36), preferably by 180 °, between the first and second position is moved back and forth. 19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the closure ring (19) by rotation about a vertical axis (36), preferably by 180 °, between the first and second position is moved back and forth.