DE2813608A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MIXING HOT WATER WITH COFFEE DELIVERED BY A VENDING MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

PATENT AWARD OLD

DiFL-IHG. FREDERICK. G. HEISER 2813608 DIPL-IKG. JOACHIM K. ZENZ

G1E3SER WEG 47, TEL. (06251) 74106 6144 ZWINGENBERG

S 7803

SICMATIC S.p.A., Via Ripoli 17, I-12O25 Dronero (Cuneo / Italy)

Method and apparatus for mixing hot water with coffee supplied by a vending machine.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for mixing hot water with coffee supplied by a vending machine.

The automatic preparation of a coffee portion is known in some cases by means of vending machines, in which a fortion of freeze-dried and sweetened coffee automatically with a predetermined amount of hot water is mixed so that a product is obtained, the quality of which is that of in a normal Espresso coffee machine is similar to coffee made.

The invention is based on the object of a method for mixing coffee with hot water in a vending machine indicate with which frequent cleaning

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and maintenance of the vending machine is avoided, in addition, a good mixture of the coffee with the water is achieved. Another aspect of the invention the object of the invention is to create a device for dispensing coffee which is designed in such a way is that it enables automatic mixing of the coffee according to the method of the invention.

Proceeding from a method for mixing coffee supplied by a vending machine with hot water, in which a large number of freeze-dried and sweetened coffee, each with one serving
filled, essentially frustoconical
Cups near an annular element
are held stacked one inside the other, one of the cups is brought to an external signal to fall down and received in the annular element
whereupon the hot water is poured into the cup and a solution or a mixture with the coffee portion is produced, this object is achieved according to the invention in that, in a first step, one of the cups is close to one another
brought about its axis rotating whisk tool
is that in a second step the whisk is immersed in the solution contained in the beaker and rotated at a predetermined speed around its axis, and that in a third step the whisk is pulled out of the solution and for a certain period of time within the beaker above the The mirror of the solution is kept rotating.

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A device for automatic coffee dispensing is used to carry out the method according to the invention with a plurality of each containing a serving of freeze-dried and sweetened coffee Cups, a device for transferring one cup at a time to a basic position and with a device for introducing a predetermined amount of hot water into .den beaker so further developed that the machine has a first device for receiving the cup in the basic position and for transferring to a working position, and that a second device is provided is that a whisking of the coffee portion with the predetermined amount of water in the Working position allows, wherein the first device is also designed so that they Can return cup from the working position to the home position.

For a better understanding of the method according to the invention, the main method steps are now in connection with the drawing, for example, namely shows:

Fig. 1 shows a series of successive process steps which are part of the method according to the invention are and identified in their sequence by the letters a, b, c, e, f and g are;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one used in the method of the present invention Tool;

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3 is a perspective view of a Part of the tool shown in Figure 2;

4 shows a tel! View of a device for Implementation of the method according to the invention;

5 shows a perspective, partially sectioned bottom view of the front part of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective, partially sectioned bottom view of the rear Part of the invention Contraption; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a detail shown in FIG.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, in which a plurality of cups stacked one inside the other is shown in a, which are arranged above a circular opening 2 formed by an inner conical surface 3 of an annular element 4. The cups 1, each containing a portion 6 of freeze-dried and sweetened coffee on their bottom, have a lower truncated cone-shaped section 7 »which is connected to a cylindrical upper section 8, which in turn is bent outwardly so that it forms a rim 9, which with the conical surface 3 of the annular element 4 cooperates. In method step b, one of the cups 1 is arranged within the circular opening 2 formed in the annular element 4 and in step ο a predetermined amount 12 of hot water is poured into the cup through a line 13, which, in not shown, is attached to a metering and heating device

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connected. In steps e, f and g, the cup 1 is finally placed successively by means of the ring-shaped element h under a whisking tool 16 that can be rotated about its axis, raised to a position in which the tool 16 is immersed in the cup, and finally in lowered a position in which the tool 16 within the cup is no longer immersed in the water mixed with the freeze-dried coffee.

Reference is made below to FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the whisk tool l6, which is preferably injection-molded from plastic, is shown, which has a shaft 21, at the lower end of which a substantially cylindrical head 22 is attached is. The head 22 is provided on its lateral surface with a plurality of teeth 23, which are laterally are arranged offset next to one another on the generatrix of the cylindrical lateral surface and in turn have a substantially triangular cross-section with a chamfered front end. The letters ' In FIG. 3, h and D illustrate the height and the diameter of the head 22, respectively.

The method for mixing the coffee is based on the method steps shown in FIG. 1

In steps a, b, and c, the mug containing a serving of freeze-dried coffee becomes separated from the other beakers on an external signal, made to fall off and finally

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received within the annular element 4 * The predetermined amount of hot water ± n is then poured into the cup via line 13.

Thereupon, by preferably automatic actuation of the ring-shaped element 4, the water and the cup 1 containing the coffee practically still in a separate state in a Set position in which it is aligned with the whisk l6 (step e). In the following Step f the cup is raised until it reaches a position in which the head 22 ■ of the whisk tool 16 is completely immersed in the water contained in the beaker, the tool l6 is meanwhile set in rotation around its axis at high speed, for example with a speed of 5000 to 1500 rpm. During such a rotation, centrifugal forces act on the one between the teeth 23 Fluid, whereby this fluid is displaced radially and as a result in the tooth

A pressure reduction occurs in ^{N gaps.} This reduction in pressure leads to the suction of air

. and a consequent expansion of the air itself within the liquid consisting of water and freeze-dried coffee during the mixing or whisking process. This expansion, the maximum efficiency of which is achieved with a ratio h / D in the range of 0.5, leads to the formation of small air bubbles in the liquid, which then form a foam that remains dissolved in the liquid.

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During step g, the cup is then lowered so far that the head 22 of the tool 16 is pulled out of the liquid, but continues to rotate for a short time, whereby its speed generally still changes because of the no longer present resistance of the liquid elevated. As a result, all are still on the outer surface of the shaft 21 and the head 22 of the Tool 16 adhering liquid droplets thrown off by the centrifugal force, and the tool This makes l6 completely clean. At the end of the mentioned time period, the cup 1 becomes wider lowered so that it is pulled out of the annular element.4 and with the one contained in it Coffee can be removed. The coffee treated in this way has one on its top creamy layer, which is formed by the aforementioned foam, which in the meantime adapts its top, giving it an appearance similar to that of coffee from an espresso coffee machine equals.

In Fig. K an automatic dispensing device 32 is shown, the front wall 31 of which is provided in its lower section with a rectangular opening 33 in which a cover 3k, preferably made of transparent plastic, is slidably arranged between vertical guides (not shown). The opening 33 allows access to an inner space 36 of the device 32, in which a substantially truncated cone and with a portion of freezer

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cup filled with dried and sweetened coffee is held by a ring element 38. The ring element 38 has an inner conical surface 39 which is provided with projections 40, which allow the cup 37 to be removed in the horizontal direction, and is also connected via an arm 43 to a component 44, which will be described below in connection with Pig. 7 is described in more detail, and practically represents a threaded nut, which in turn is axially coupled to a threaded spindle 45. Finally, above the inner space 36 there is also a plurality of nested cups 37 corresponding to the cup described above, in axial alignment with the ring element 38.

In FIG. 5 it is shown that an upper wall 50 of the inner space 36 carries a mechanism 51 of a known type, which can be operated, for example, by hand or by a first electromechanical device (not shown), so that of the plurality of elements shown in FIG Cup 37 shown can enter the ring element 38 in each case one. Said mechanism 51 has a protruding arm 5, which is rigidly connected to a rod 55, which in turn is connected in its lower region to a side wall 56 by means of a return spring 57 and cooperates with a rod 58 at its upper portion. The rod 58 is arranged displaceably in the horizontal direction, this displacement being controlled by a second (not shown)

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Electromechanical device is controlled, and is able to operate a (not shown) microswitch ter _f when it approaches a contact arm 59 arranged on the microswitch.

The inner space 36 is delimited on the inside by side walls 61, 62 and 63 and extends laterally into a space 65 formed by side walls 66 and 67, an upper wall 68 and the forearm 31. The front wall 31 is only partially visible in FIG . In particular, the walls 62, 63 and 66 are provided with an opening 71 which allows the passage of the arm 43 of the ring element 38. The opening 71 terminates in vertical slots 72 and 73 in the walls 62 and 66 respectively and is in its upper part delimited by an inclined section Jk which runs gradually downwards from the wall 66 in the direction of the wall 62. A wall is arranged obliquely between the walls 66 and 67, which wall enables any liquid droplets that may emerge to flow out of the space 65 into a container (not shown) within the space 36. The top wall 68 also supports the housing of a motor 78 and an end portion of a conduit 79 which is arranged to fill the cup 37 with a predetermined amount of heated water. Ώβτ motor 78 is designed so that he / min with a considerable speed such as a speed of 12,000 rpm to drive a mixing or Quirlwerkzeug 81 capable of carrying a substantially cylindrical head 82 laterally on its outer surface side by side along the generatrix of the generated surface a multitude

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of teeth is provided which have a substantially triangular cross-section with chamfered Have front end.

In Fig. 6 it can be seen that the threaded spindle 45 is rotatably mounted in a lower wall 83 and, at its upper end through the wall 68 via a preferably gear connection formed speed reduction gear 85 is connected to a motor 84. Between the lower wall 83 and the upper wall 68 is a support wall 87 is arranged on which in addition to the Walls 83 and 68 two microchalter 88 and 89 are arranged so that they are from the body of the component 44 when it is axially displaced on the Threaded spindle 45 can be actuated. A microswitch 9I is arranged within the side wall 66, its actuating tongue 92 over the slot 73 protrudes and can therefore be actuated by the arm 43 of the component. On the top wall 38 is Finally, a container 94 is arranged, which is used for receiving and supplying the aforementioned predetermined Amount of heated water is used via line 79 and through an electric valve 95 is actuatable.

In Fig. 7, the configuration of the component is illustrated in section. It can be seen that the element 44 has a cylindrical section 97 which lies opposite the arm 43 and has a through-bore 98 which is provided in sections with a thread. The through hole 98

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serves to receive a ball 100 which is pressed into a groove 101 of the threaded spindle 45 by the force of a spring 102. One end of the spring 102 presses on the ball 100, while its other end is supported on the end face of a threaded plug 103 which is screwed into the thread of the through hole 98. The component 44 is therefore axially coupled to the threaded spindle 45 by means of the ball 100. In addition, there is also an adjustable coupling with respect to the rotation with the threaded spindle itself

friction

the / between the mutually facing surface sections of the element 44 and the rod 45, which relate to the spring 102 on the opposite side. These surface sections are pressed against one another by the tension of the spring 102, the spring in turn depending on the changeable on " screw depth of the threaded plug IO3 between the Element 44 and the threaded spindle 45 from the plug IO3 or the ball 100 is compressed "

The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows

First, it is assumed that the arm 43 of the ring element 38 is in the lower end of the vertical slot 72 of the wall 62, so that the ring element 38 has the position shown in FIG. 4, but without ^{carrying a cup 37 Zl} *.

By manual actuation from the outside, for example by inserting a coin into a suitable button, becomes the start of a working cycle of the device

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triggered, the second electromechanical device enabling a displacement of the rod 58 during a first step, while in a second step the first electromechanical device or a manual control activates the arm 54 of the mechanism 5I against the action of the return spring 57.

This latter operation initially allows the exit of one of the nested cups 37 »egg is then received in the ring member 38, and then the operation of the first Mikrοschalters, the sis is contacted with the micro switch itself into contact with the rod 58 'in _w. This “microswitch then triggers both the heating of the required amount of water and the actuation of the motor 84, which drives the threaded spindle 45 counterclockwise through the reduction gear 85.

Since the arm 43 is in the slot 72, the component 44 is forced to move axially upwards until it reaches the upper end of the slot 72, where it performs a horizontal movement until it comes to rest against the edge of the slot 73 on the wall 67 . At this point the cup 37 with the portion of freeze-dried and sweetened coffee contained therein is within the space 65 in a position in which it is aligned with the whisk 81 and the supply line 79 for the heated water. The motor 84 continues to run and leads, via the element 44, to the lifting of the Anns 43 within the slot 73 »

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the arm, during its upward movement, controls microswitch 91 via its operating tongue 92 triggers. The microswitch 9I triggers the emptying of the required amount of heated there Water via line 79 from container 94 and the drive of the motor 78, which is then continuously running the whisk 81 drives, and thereby an intensive mixing of the coffee portion causes the water.

The arm 43 is raised within the slot until the body of the element 44 triggers the microswitch 89. This triggering leads to an immediate reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 84 and thus of the threaded spindle 45, so that the component 44 and the arm 43 rigidly attached to it move downwards again within the slot 73. During this downward movement of the arm 43 interrupts the micro-switch 9I, in turn, once the driving of the motor 78 · The micro switch 81 is disposed so as the liquid S is pulled out the engine for a few moments after the head 82 ^au due to the downward movement of the cup 37, stops , but it is still within the space enclosed by the cup 37. The head 82, which then rotates at a higher speed due to the lack of liquid resistance, is completely cleaned by the centrifugal effect exerted on any liquid droplets that may be present on its outer surfaces, while any splashes of liquid during the whirling process are caught by the side walls 66 and 67 and by the inclined surface

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Wall 77 3-n those arranged within the room 36 Container are guided.

The motor 84, which continues to work, then causes the arm 43 to be lowered further until it reaches the lower end of the slot 73. Of the
Arm 43 then follows the inclined section 7, which reduces the speed of the arm and thereby prevents coffee from flowing out of the cup 37
sloshes out. After reaching the upper edge of the slot 72, the arm 43 completes its downward movement along the slot until the body of the component 44 comes to rest on the microscope holder 88, and the actuation of which stops the motor 84 immediately. At this point the coffee made in the device 32 is ready to use, while the device is ready to trigger another
Operating cycle is ready.

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Claims (1)

Claims ( Iy A method of mixing coffee supplied by a vending machine with hot water, in which a plurality of substantially frustoconical cups, each filled with a serving of freeze-dried and sweetened coffee, are held one inside the other near an annular element, one of the cups on top of one another external signal is brought down and received in the ring-shaped element, whereupon the hot water is poured into the mug and a solution or a mixture with the coffee portion is prepared, characterized in that in a first step one of the cups in the vicinity of a is brought around its axis rotating whisk tool, that in a second step the whisk tool is immersed in the solution contained in the beaker and rotated at a predetermined speed around its axis, and that in a third step the whisk tool is pulled out of the solution and for a certain time periods tt is kept rotating inside the beaker above the level of the solution, 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the spatial displacements of the cup relative to the whisk tool during the first, second and third step by automatic - 16 - 809842/0684 öfti & NAL INSPECTED Movements of the cup relative to the whisk tool be carried out with the aid of the annular element. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the whisk is set in a rotation of 500 ° to 15000 rpm. H. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3f, characterized in that the whisking tool is set in rotation during the third method step at a higher speed than during the second method step. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to A-, characterized in that a whisk is used with a shaft, on one of which At the end of a substantially cylindrical head is rigidly connected, on the lateral lateral surface a plurality of teeth with a substantially triangular cross-section with chamfered Front end "are provided running along the Generating the cylindrical lateral surface are arranged side by side. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a ratio of the height of the cylindrical head to its diameter is selected between 0.3 and 0.8 . - 17 - 809842/0684 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an injection molding process whisk tool made of plastic is used. 8. Device for automatic coffee dispensing with a plurality of each one serving of Containing freeze-dried and sweetened coffee Cups, a device for transferring one cup at a time to a basic position, and with a device for introducing a predetermined amount of hot water into the cup, characterized in that ' that the device has a first device for receiving the cup (37) in the basic position and for transferring into a working position, and that a second device is provided which enables the coffee portion to be whisked with the predetermined amount of water in the working position, the first device is also designed so that it moves the cup (37) from the working position to the home position able to lead back. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the first device has a threaded spindle (45) which can be rotated about its central axis and which carries a ring element (38) via connecting means (43; kk) which is designed so that it is the Can accommodate cup (37) in the home position. - 18- 809842/0684 10. Device according to. Claim. 9 »characterized by that the connecting means are rigidly connected to the ring element via an outer arm (43) (38) have connected cylindrical component (44) which is provided with an axial through hole, which from the threaded spindle (45) is rotatably penetrated, wherein the design is made so that the cylindrical element (44) both .in the axial direction as well as in the circumferential direction with the threaded spindle (45) is coupled. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the cylindrical component (44) with the threaded spindle (45) coupling devices. ^{1 have} a ball (100) which is urged by a spring (102) into a groove (lOl) in the threaded spindle (4 ^), the spring in a radially extending, threaded seat (98) of the cylindrical component ( 44) and is pressed against the ball (100) by a threaded plug (103) screwed into the threaded radial seat (98). 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the arm (43) is movable within an opening (7l) formed in supporting side walls (62; 63 »66) of the device (32), that the opening has a first perpendicular ver running, pointing in the downward direction and located in the area of the home position e ^r 9842/0684 -19- Slot (72) and a second one going upwards extending vertical and located in the area of the working position Has slot (73), wherein the first and the second slot (72; 73) for receiving the movable Arms (43) suitably designed and are additionally connected by sections in the side walls, which have a sloping section (7 * 0 form, from the second slot (73) to the " first slot (72) gradually slopes downwards. 13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the first device has a first motor (84) serving to drive the threaded spindle (45) and a control device for reversing the direction of rotation of the first motor (84) when the outer arm (43 ) is in the vicinity of the upper end of the second vertical slot (73). 14. The device according to claim 13 »characterized in that the control device has a micro switch (91). 15 · Device according to one of claims 9 to l4 _t characterized in that the ring element (38) has an inner conical surface (39) and is provided with projections (4o), which enable removal of the cup (37), the horizontal direction. - 20 - 809842/0684 16. Device according to one of claims 8 to I5 » characterized in that the second device has a whisk tool (8l) which can be set in rotation by a second motor (78) at a predetermined speed. 17. The device according to claim l6, characterized in that the whisking tool (8l) has a substantially cylindrical head "(82), on the surface of which a plurality of teeth are provided, which are arranged side by side along the generatrix of the surface and one in the have a substantial triangular cross-section with a chamfered front end. 809842/0684