DE102017209616B4 - Kaffeevollautomat - Google Patents

Abstract

Coffee machine (1), with a fresh water tank (2), a condenser (3), a heater (6) and a switching valve (7), which are connected to each other via fluid lines (L1, L2, L3) in this order, wherein the switching valve (7) is switchable to open or close a respective fluid line (L4, L5, L6) to a brewing unit (8), a Milchaufschäumeinheit (9) or the condenser (3), and wherein the capacitor (3) as flushed system is designed, which allows a closed liquid circuit over the heater (6) and the switching valve (7) away when the fluid line (L4) is opened to the condenser (3), wherein the condenser (3) has a helically running inlet channel (4) for heated water and / or steam, which winds around a central passageway (5) for fresh water and whose outlet (11) communicates with an inlet (15) of the central passageway (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a coffee machine according to claim 1 and a method for controlling a coffee machine according to claim 8.

In coffee machines, water is produced in different operating situations, which can not be used directly for a drink. This can occur, for example, when preheating the system, discontinuing a beverage manufacturing process, or cooling the system. A condenser (steam release) now has the task to condense generated steam and to discharge it into the drip tray in standard coffee machines. Thus, residual water is generated, which can not be used.

Usually, capacitors are arranged after the so-called drainage line and compensate for water vapor before it is passed into the drip tray. There are also known technologies in which a heat exchanger cold water and sewage line connects to each other, but the cooling is then not directly on the cooling medium, ie the fresh water from the fresh water tank.

From the DE 10 2010 030 103 A1 a hot beverage preparation machine is known which has a fresh water tank and a condenser in the form of an additional tank.

The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an improved coffee machine whose residual water output is minimized.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claims 1 and 8. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the general idea, in a coffee machine with a fresh water tank, a condenser, a heater and a changeover valve, which are connected to each other via fluid lines in this order, the changeover valve for the first time switchable to design such that a respective fluid line to a brewing unit, a milk frothing unit or the condenser is opened or closed, and to design the condenser as a flushed system, which allows a closed liquid circuit over the heater and the switching valve, when the fluid line is opened to the condenser. This creates a particularly simple constructed closed system in which water and / or steam can circulate, if this / these should not be needed due to specific operating conditions of the coffee machine, which virtually no residual water accumulates. At the same time energy is saved by the return of the water and / or steam, which would otherwise be lost. The closed fluid circuit also makes it possible to use a decalcifier for the heater more effectively and to achieve a better result with the same decalcifier.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, the changeover valve is controllable such that, depending on an operating state of the coffee machine, in particular during heating, beverage discontinuation or cooling, the fluid line to the condenser is automatically opened. As a result, the user of the coffee machine is released from a respective operation of the coffee machine that is dependent on an operating state, which permits a particularly efficient and reliable handling thereof.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the changeover valve is controllable such that, depending on an operating state of the coffee machine, in particular during heating, beverage discontinuation or cooling, the fluid lines to the brewing unit and / or the Milchaufschäumeinheit is automatically closed. This has the advantage that water up to a valve of the brewing unit and / or the Milchaufschäumeinheit never come into contact with coffee or milk and thus applies as reusable fresh water. Although in the switchover of the valve or if small amounts are needed to heat the brewing unit, still residual water incurred, but this is negligible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the fresh water tank is arranged spatially above the condenser in the position of use of the coffee machine. The ideal position of the condenser is thus directly below the fresh water tank and it is therefore always automatically filled with water. This results in the advantage of an automatic cooling, which leads to an immediate regeneration of the system and thus to a constant heat capacity.

According to the invention, the condenser has a helical inlet channel for heated water and / or steam, which winds around a central passageway for fresh water and whose outlet communicates with an inlet of the central passageway. The condenser is designed as a flushed system, by the noise, which collapses from Steam bubbles arise within the condenser, be avoided.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the condenser has a connecting element for docking and opening the fresh water tank at a central inlet for fresh water. As a result, the condenser fulfills a dual function of relaxing the steam and receiving the fresh water tank, eliminating the need for additional components and making the entire system simple.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, a sieve for collecting lime and / or dirt, in particular consisting of a metal fabric, is arranged inside the condenser. This is advantageous because in the condenser, in particular in its central passage, a large area is ready, which can be used to collect precipitating lime with increasing water temperature. In addition, since the installation space is larger, a sieve made of a metal mesh can be installed.

Suitably, the heater is designed as a water heater in the coffee machine according to the invention, since here in the case of an empty fresh water tank, the amount of water in the condenser may still be sufficient to cool the system below a critical temperature and thus to allow a simpler version of the water level detection. So far, however, this amount of water always had to be kept in stock in the fresh water tank.

Of particular advantage in the coffee machine according to the invention is that the detection of a level of the tank is integrated in the tank. Due to the capacity of the condenser a beverage break can be remedied by an empty tank or a Ausschaltspülen still be performed.

The present invention is also based on the general idea of providing a method for controlling the fully automatic coffee machine according to the invention, in which the changeover valve automatically opens a fluid line to the condenser, depending on an operating state of the coffee machine, in particular during heating, beverage discontinuation or cooling, so that providing a closed loop of liquid across the condenser, heater and diverter valve and simultaneously closing fluid lines to the brew unit and / or the milk frothing unit, and vice versa. On the one hand, this creates a closed system that minimizes residual water emissions in a simple way and enables efficient descaling and cleaning of the system, and secondly that circulating water does not come into contact with coffee or milk, allowing it to be reused as fresh water , At the same time energy is saved by the return of the water and / or steam, which would otherwise be lost. Since the control of the closed fluid circuit via the switching valve is automatic, the user of the coffee machine is at the same time of its operation - depending on a particular operating condition - released, which guarantees a particularly efficient and reliable minimization of residual water while sufficient condensation performance. Conversely, of course, the fluid line to the condenser automatically closed again and depending on the beverage request a fluid line to the brewing unit and / or the Milchaufschäumeinheit be opened, so that here no manual intervention of the user is required.

Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with reference to the drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kaffeevollautomaten,
• 2 eine Ansicht des Kondensators des Kaffeevollautomaten nach 1 in Schnittdarstellung, und
• 3 eine Ansicht des Kondensators des Kaffeevollautomaten nach 2 in Explosionsdarstellung.

Show, in each case schematically,

• 1 a schematic representation of a coffee machine according to the invention,
• 2 a view of the condenser of the coffee machine after 1 in section, and
• 3 a view of the condenser of the coffee machine after 2 in exploded view.

According to the 1 are individual components of an embodiment of a fully automatic coffee machine according to the invention 1 for example, a fresh water tank 2 , a capacitor 3 , a heating device 6 and a changeover valve 7 via fluid lines L1 . L2 . L3 and L4 connected in this order. The in the 1 arrows shown indicate the possible flow directions. The changeover valve 7 can, depending on the controlled position, the fluid line L4 to the capacitor 3 while simultaneously opening the fluid lines L5 and L6 to a brewing unit 8th and a milk frothing unit 9 closes. About issuing offices 10 a desired drink is dispensed.

In the heating state of the coffee machine 1 switches the changeover valve 7 for example on the fluid line L4 to the condenser 3 (Steam release), causing the heater 6 and thus the entire system can be brought to temperature. In conventional devices, however, the water would emerge at the front of a spout and would therefore be lost. Even if the user performs a beverage break, the switching valve 7 from the position "brewing unit 8" (hot water) or "milk frothing unit 9" (steam) to "condenser 3 "(Hot water / steam) switched and the tank cold water condenses any vapor in the condenser 3 , When switching the switching valve 7 on the capacitor 3 creates a closed fluid circuit over the condenser 3 , the heater 6 and the switching valve 7 time. As a result, a particularly simple constructed closed (circulation) system is produced, in which water and / or steam can circulate, if this / these due to specific operating conditions of the coffee machine 1 should not be needed, resulting in virtually no residual water. At the same time energy is saved by the return of the water and / or steam, which would otherwise be lost. The closed fluid circuit / fluid circuit also allows a decalcifier for the heater 6 to use more effectively and to achieve a better cleaning result with the same decalcifying insert.

2 shows a partially sectioned view of the capacitor 3 of the coffee machine 1 after 1 , This capacitor 3 is with a helical inlet channel 4 equipped, whose outlet 11 with an enema 15 a central passageway 5 communicated. The capacitor 3 is thus hollow in the middle and can be flowed through. The water and / or the steam from the diverter valve 7 occurs / occur in an (upper) enema 14 in the condenser 3 on. As long as water in the fresh water tank 2 is present, the capacitor remains 3 also filled with water, as the fresh water tank 2 ideally above the fresh water tank 2 is arranged, so that this also in the direction of the arrow pointing vertically downwards over the fluid line L1 can flow into these. The in the condenser 3 incoming steam "pushes", so to speak, the water contained therein through the helical inlet channel 4 and collapse there. Due to the small cross-section of the helical inlet channel 4 However, this collapse is not audible. The now heated water mixes with fresh water from the fresh water tank 2 and is through the central passageway 5 via a (lower) outlet 12 in the direction of the fluid line L2 and the heater 6 and the switching valve 7 expelled or sucked by a pump, not shown.

In the 2 illustrated arrows indicate a flow direction of the fresh water through a central inlet 13 , and the water and / or steam over the (upper) inlet 14 in the condenser 3 into and over the common (lower) spout 12 out of this again. Thus, the closed liquid circuit can be represented, in which the water and / or the steam circulate, without both in contact with the brewing unit 8th or the milk frothing unit 9 comes. Any vapor in this fluid circuit creates a vacuum due to its volume reduction during collapse, due to cold water from the fresh water tank 2 is compensated. As a result, the components, which were just heated by steam, cooled again and the entire system retains its original heat capacity. This immediate regeneration represents one of the particular advantages of this embodiment of the capacitor 3 represents.

3 shows a view of the capacitor 3 of the coffee machine 1 after 2 in exploded view. This consists essentially of a container 16 in which the helical running, with a central passageway 5 provided central part 17 is absorbed, so that between the container 16 and this middle part 17 the helical inlet channel 4 is trained. The container 16 including the helical middle part received therein 17 is from the top through a lid 18 closed, taking between the lid 18 and the middle part 17 a seal 19 and between the middle part 17 and the container 16 or the outlet 12 a sieve 20 can be provided. The sieve 20 Can trap precipitating lime as temperatures and dirt rise. The flow directions of the water from the fresh water tank 2 over the fluid line L1 in the condenser 3 (vertically from above) and the inlet of the water and / or steam over the (upper) inlet 14 as well as the common drain of the water over the (lower) spout 12 are again represented by corresponding arrows. The thus designed capacitor 3 thus represents a particularly simple embodiment of a Dampfentspanners, which is composed of only a few components that cause a significant condensation effect in a simultaneously closed system on the direct contact of the returning water and / or steam to the fresh water supply. The helical structure of its middle part 17 , through which the helically extending inlet channel 4 is formed for water and / or steam, thereby ensuring a silent collapse of the vapor bubbles as well as for an automatic compensation of the volume loss of fresh water.

Overall, this is an improved coffee machine 1 provided that minimizes residual water output at the same condensation performance, which can be effectively cleaned by a closed liquid circuit and also operated quiet and user-friendly. By the specific arrangement of fresh water tank 2 and capacitor 3 can this coffee machine 1 even in the case of an empty fresh water tank 2 cooled below a critical temperature and thus operated particularly reliable, in addition, a simpler version of the water level detection is possible.
Advantageous in the coffee machine according to the invention 1 is that the detection of a level of the tank 2 in the tank 2 is integrated. By the capacity of the condenser 3 Can a drink break through an empty tank 2 fixed or a Ausschaltspülen still be performed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Kaffeevollautomat

2

Fresh water tank

3

capacitor

4

Spiral inlet channel

5

Central passage

6

heater

7

switching valve

8th

infuser

9

Milchaufschäumeinheit

10

issuing office

11

Outlet of the inlet channel 4

12

Outlet of the passage channel 5

13

Central inlet

14

Inlet of the inlet channel 4

15

Inlet of the passage channel 5

16

Container of the capacitor 3

17

Helical middle part of the condenser 3

18

Cover of the capacitor 3

19

poetry

20

screen

L1-L6

fluid lines

Claims (8)

Coffee machine (1), with a fresh water tank (2), a condenser (3), a heater (6) and a switching valve (7), which are connected to each other via fluid lines (L1, L2, L3) in this order, wherein the switching valve (7) is switchable to open or close a respective fluid line (L4, L5, L6) to a brewing unit (8), a Milchaufschäumeinheit (9) or the condenser (3), and wherein the capacitor (3) as flushed system is designed, which allows a closed fluid circuit over the heater (6) and the switching valve (7) away when the fluid line (L4) is open to the condenser (3), wherein the condenser (3) has a helically running inlet channel (4) for heated water and / or steam, which winds around a central passageway (5) for fresh water and whose outlet (11) communicates with an inlet (15) of the central passageway (5). Coffee machine (1) after Claim 1 in which the changeover valve (7) is designed such that it automatically opens the fluid line (L4) to the condenser (3) depending on an operating state of the coffee machine (1), in particular during heating, beverage discontinuation or cooling. Coffee machine (1) after Claim 1 or 2 in which the switching valve (7) is designed such that, depending on an operating state of the coffee machine (1), in particular during heating, beverage discontinuation or cooling, the fluid lines (L5, L6) to the brewing unit (8) and / or the Milchaufschäumeinheit (9) closes automatically. Coffee machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the position of use of the coffee machine (1) the fresh water tank (2) is arranged spatially above the condenser (3). Coffee machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the condenser (3) has a connection element for docking and opening the fresh water tank (2) at a central inlet (13) for fresh water. Coffee machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a sieve (20) for collecting lime and / or dirt, in particular consisting of a metal fabric, is arranged in the condenser (3). Coffee machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating device (6) is designed as a water heater. Method for controlling a coffee machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the changeover valve (7) depends on an operating state of the coffee machine (1), in particular during heating, beverage discontinuation or cooling, a fluid line (L4) to the condenser (3) opens automatically, so that a closed liquid cycle over the condenser (3), the heater (6) and the switching valve (7) away, and at the same time the fluid lines (L4, L5, L6) to the brewing unit (8) and / or the milk frothing unit (9) closes, or vice versa.

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