DE3346280A1 - Coffee-making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a coffee-making machine having a brewing unit and at least two supply containers with control members for the brewing operation which respond to the degree of filling of said supply containers in such a way that the filling of one container is dependent on the filling state of the other. The intention is to construct a coffee-making machine of this type in a simple manner such that it produces and delivers a supply quantity of coffee of satisfactory quality, which quantity can be selected to correspond to the respective requirements. The delivery of stale remaining amounts from the supply containers, interruptions in operation due to cleaning the supply containers, and the delivery of incomplete portions are to be avoided at the same time. This object is achieved in that the control members of both supply containers, of which at least one holds more than one batch of the brewing unit and can be adapted to the respective requirement of coffee in respect of its upper filling level, initiate at least one brewing operation for filling the respective other supply container in each case when the filling level drops below a given lower level. The respective second container is thus provided with coffee as soon as the level of coffee in the other container drops below a preselected minimum supply. With the aid of few electrodes, a multiplicity of different supply quantities can be selected. Each container is thus emptied completely and can be cleaned before refilling without interfering with operation. By switching over to the other container, a remaining quantity from one container is ... Original abstract incomplete.

Description

description

The invention relates to a coffee machine according to the preamble of Claim 1.

A coffee machine of this type is known from CH-PS 608 363. It has multiple reservoirs each holding a single brew batch, i. - the amount of coffee that can be made with the brewing unit at once.

The reservoirs are connected in parallel to one another in such a way that one container after the other is filled in a predetermined order and in the the same sequence is emptied. The control organs for these operations exist of electrodes, two of which are arranged in each container: one as the upper one Level sensor that is definitely reached when filling with one brewing batch and one as a lower level sensor, which responds when the container content falls below the lowest filling level marked by it drops.

The response of the respective upper electrode causes the lead locked by the brewing unit to the relevant storage container, at the same time the Feed line to the next container in the sequence opened and a brewing process is initiated to fill it, provided that its lower electrode is not is activated, so the container is signaled as essentially "empty", which means that when the upper electrode of each reservoir is activated, the valve for the The inlet to the next container can be opened. If the coffee level drops below the The lower electrode closes the drain valve and enables refilling of your own container.

Depending on your needs, you can have one, two or three storage containers with coffee be filled. However, a whole brewing batch has to be made even if the demand is small which corresponds to the volume of a storage container. After emptying this An equal amount of new saire is brewed in the reserve. During this brewing time coffee cannot be drawn. Should it still be possible to dispense coffee at any time, two or three storage containers have to be filled even when the demand is low. Of the Coffee has been in the storage container for a long time and the coffee quality suffers accordingly Long standing times. Another disadvantage is the switchover of the output option from one container to the other by means of the lower level sensor. This level sensor is attached in the lower area of the container. For reasons of safe function the level sensor cannot be placed directly in the container outlet or even in the drain line to be installed. It can therefore not be prevented that residues in the container remain, possibly for a long time. These small residues are eliminated by the storage containers provided warming devices are heated to a relatively high level and thus considerably in impaired quality. A major disadvantage of this known coffee machine also consists in the fact that no storage container can be cleaned as long as one Brewing and dispensing cycle is running and while in any storage container Coffee is available.

The cleaning process can therefore practically only be carried out when the Machine. It is intended to open the brewing chamber after each brewing cycle cleaning and rinsing out the coffee grounds, but cleaning the storage container after one or a number of fillings is not possible. The cleaning fluid that is, must be fed to the storage container via the beverage line. As a result the control functions of the coffee machine would use the cleaning fluid Mix coffee.

In this way, each storage container must be interrupted during a work cycle Pick up and dispense a large number of batches of brewed brew within 10 to 24 hours the vegetable fats and sediments that are inevitably deposited with each brewing process can be removed.

In order to adapt the coffee supply to the anticipated lot adapt, a coffee maker is described in DE-PS 1 454 224, which with a storage container is equipped, which is opposite to a constant brewing batch has a multiple larger capacity. With a dialing device can accordingly a maximum storage quantity can be preselected for the respective coffee requirement, if the respective assigned minimum amount is not reached by an independent Repeat the brewing process is added. This principle enables a special one simple and functional working principle. The disadvantage is that in the lowest Storage level at which the container is to be completely emptied, Waiting times that are disadvantageous for the operational process until the end of a new brewing process develop. This also results in the case of complete emptying when portioning into cups or just by chance no residual amounts in jugs. Emptying a residual amount over the output disrupts business operations especially with regard to completely billable servings. On the other hand, in the upper supply settings each brewed with the aged drink. If this beverage supply was a long time ago Time has been prepared, the quality is extremely adversely affected by the task The invention is a coffee machine of the type described above with simple To train agents so that they avoid the disadvantages outlined a The coffee storage volume that can be selected according to the respective requirements is flawless Quality creates and delivers.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the claim 1 solved.

In the coffee machine according to the invention, the coffee supply is twofold Can be adapted to the needs to be expected from time to time: at least for one container is the upper degree of filling can be pre-selected, i.e. not based on the size of a specific brew batch limited; furthermore, the second container is dependent on a "remaining supply" in the first Container filled. This "remaining supply" can be used in times of high coffee demand, such as with the well-known coffee machine described according to CH-PS 608 363, quite the entire Represent the container filling of the first container, in times of low coffee demand however, be very small. It follows inevitably that with the help of less, selectable electrodes in the container a multitude of variations in storage quantities can be achieved. So there is no risk of a coffee supply standing out for too long and loses quality if only the right amount of drink is required is judged to be reasonably correct.

After filling a storage container with the preselected amount of coffee the subsequent amount of coffee flows into the other, which has been cleaned in the meantime Storage container. Freshly brewed coffee is never used for a long time added to stored coffee.

And this new procedure, which is decisive for good coffee quality is independent of whether a large or small required quantity is preselected. Self at times extreme. There is no impairment of taste when there is a small demand for drinks because there are no oxidation residues in the cleaned, empty container can.

The feature of claim 2 ensures in a simple manner that a new brewing process triggered by the control organs of a storage container supplies the correct container. The coffee stock will definitely go into the empty one Container.

The feature of claim 3 shows a structurally functional particularly simple embodiment for this.

The features of claims 4 and 5 increase with little construction effort, namely only with a few additional controls in the containers, the adjustment for a wide variety of coffee needs.

The feature of claim 6 also relates to a structurally simple design.

In a preferred embodiment according to the feature of the claim 7 is the output of different coffee portions through selectable in a simple way Control electrodes determined. This simultaneously makes the in the feature of the claim 8 mentioned training possible, which in a simple way the switching of the output from one container to the other at the moment when this switchover actually takes place is desirable, namely after the container has been completely emptied. This eliminates both the waiting times to fill up the desired portion, which is inconvenient affect the quality of the coffee, as well as the risk of residues in the container that would negatively affect the newly brewed coffee.

The features of claims 9 and 10 enable the control electrodes to use the dosing chamber for a further, advantageous function. Without special Construction costs can therefore be carried out on each of the storage containers after emptying a cleaning process be subjected to separate emptying. There is no danger of that by switching from the other container to the cleaning liquid in the Coffee dispenser arrives.

Another embodiment, through the features of claims 12 and 13 marked, monitors and controls the dispensing of the intended portions by measuring the flow rate and converting the measurement result into countable pulses. When a container is emptied before the intended portion is dispensed, the switchover takes place on the other container. At the same time, the emptying of the Container signals, i.e. cleaning and, if necessary, replenishment initiated in a simple manner.

It is the first time with the coffee-making principle according to the invention managed to have a structurally simple coffee machine that could produce large quantities of coffee can be tapped within a short time / and this coffee machine anyway gets by with a small supply, which means that there is no stale coffee and that each new batch of brewing flows into a completely empty container and that this On top of that, after each emptying of the storage tank, the container has practically no loss of performance is flushed through.

The partially contradicting requirements for a coffee machine for high coffee quality could not previously be realized in a coffee machine will. However, the invention provides the basis for such a new machine created.

Embodiments of the invention are shown below with reference to the drawings explained in more detail. It shows: FIG. 1 a schematically illustrated coffee machine, and FIG. 2 shows a partial area in a different embodiment.

The coffee machine shown schematically in its structure sets together from a brewing unit designated as a whole with 1, two storage containers 2 and 3 and as a whole with 4 designated dispensing device for the coffee.

The brewing unit 1 comprises a ground coffee container 5 with a screw conveyor 6, a kettle 7 with a heating device 8 and a brewing fitting 9 with a Brewing sieve 10. A brewing water line 11, 11, which has a solenoid valve, leads from the kettle 7 12 contains, for the brewing fitting 9.

In front of the solenoid valve 12, two branches from the brewing water line 11 Water lines 13 and 14, which each lead to a reservoir 2 and 3, respectively and each include a solenoid valve 13a and 14a. These water pipes 13 or 14 open into the storage container 2 and 3 respectively in the upper area in the form of Ring rinsing nozzles 15 A beverage outlet 16 leads from the brewing fitting 9 to a coffee Guide device 17. This is located at a fork in the beverage outlet 16 in a line branch 16a, which leads to the storage container 2 and 'a line branch 16b, which leads to the reservoir 3. The coffee guide device 17 consists of one centrally pivoted guide plate 17a, which is in a position by a tension spring 17b in the opposite position by an electromagnet 17c against the Force of the spring 17 b is pivotable.

The storage containers 2 and 3, here the same size, each hold several Brewing batches that can be produced with the brewing unit There are control units in each storage container 18 and 19 in the form of electrodes 18a and 19a to f at different heights arranged. In the example shown, the electrodes are in each case one below the other arranged at the same volume intervals. This also applies to the bottom electrode compared to an empty storage container. If the empty container is labeled 0 is, according to the example shown, the total content of a storage container from 0 to a either 6 times the volume of the amount from -O to f or 3 times' Volume of the amount from 0 to e or twice the volume of the amount from 0 to d Die Brew batch, i.e. the amount of beverage produced with one brewing process, can accordingly the amount taken up by an empty storage container up to one of the electrodes f, e or d can be set to be fixed or variable. The brew batch can therefore be the volume size 0 to f, o to e, or 0 to d.

Despite a total supply volume in the example from twice 0 to a the brewing fitting 9 only needs to accommodate the required amount of ground coffee designed according to a brewing batch from o to d of a single storage container The brewing fitting 9 can therefore be built relatively small, which is in terms of Price, space requirement and reliability has an extremely favorable effect.

The dispensing device designated as a whole by Lt has a metering chamber 20 on. In this flows an inflow 21, which via a line 22 to the storage container 2 and is in communication with the storage container 3 via a line 23. The tributary 2i is connected to a valve 24, which in its rest position shown the The inflow to the metering chamber is closed and moved into a position by means of a lifting magnet 25 is movable, in which it opens the inflow 21 and an output opening 26 of the metering chamber 20 closes.

Below the dispensing opening 26 is a floor space 27 for a closed filling vessel 28, such as a cup or jug.

The dosing chamber also contains two height-adjustable control electrodes 29 and 30, which correspond to a jug or a cup.

In the line 22 from the reservoir 2 to the metering chamber 20 is a built-in controllable three-way valve 31, the third line path 32 to a Drain line 33 leads. A line path 34 also leads to the discharge line 33, starting out of a three-way valve 35 in line 23 between the reservoir 3 and the dosing chamber 20.

The three-way valve 31 can be controlled in such a way that: 1. during the scalding the way from the container 2 to the inflow 21 and to the line path 32 blocked is, 2. the path from container 2 to inflow 21 during flushing locked and open to the line path 32, 3 during the tap the way from Container 2 is constantly open to inflow 21 and blocked off to conduit 32.

The three-way valve 35 works in the same way as the three-way valve 31.

The coffee machine shown schematically in its structure works as follows: in retirement, all magnetically controllable valves are closed. If the machine is switched on, the two solenoid valves 31 and 35 give the way from the containers 2 and 3 to the drain line 33 free. After the water in the kettle 7 is heated, the solenoid valves 13a and 14a open one after the other for a short time.

The hot water flowing in via the spray nozzles warms the storage tanks before. At the same time, the storage container is cleaned again causes. The hot water that has flowed in flows immediately afterwards over the opened Three-way valves 31 and 35 in the drain line 33. After this cleaning process is in the three-way valve 35 or 31, the path from the container 3 or 2 to the inflow 20 and blocked to line path 34 or 32. The machine is now ready to manufacture of coffee drink.

Depending on the expected demand for coffee, the containers 2 and 3 set an upper filling level by activating the relevant electrode.

Unless the brewing batch is fixed, it becomes the preselected one One of the three possible brew batch quantities is automatically assigned to the supply quantity.

An average coffee requirement is assumed below as an example. In the storage container 3, the electrode 19c is accordingly provided as the desired storage quantity activated, where at the same time a brew batch of size 0 to e is set. When the preselection is set, the machine automatically starts coffee to prepare. The screw conveyor 6 conveys ground coffee for a brew batch on the Brewing sieve 10, while hot water in the kettle 7 by means of a heating device 8 is heated.

Then the solenoid valve 12 opens and hot water is through the pressure in the inlet 7a is conveyed to the brewing sieve via the coffee grounds. That soaked flows into the outlet 16 and arrives at the drawn, determined by the tension spring 17b Position of the guide plate 17a in the storage container 3. As soon as the electrode reaches e the selected brewing batch has been reached. The solenoid valve 12 closes and the coffee grounds The brewing armature 9 and the brewing armature are removed via an ejection line 9a cleaned. Then another brewing process is triggered in the same way how the 1st brewing process works. This second batch will end as soon as the Beverage stock has reached the electrode 19c. There is accordingly in the storage container a supply of O-c corresponding to the desired supply. Now opens the solenoid valve 35 controls the flow from container 3 to inflow 21. Now coffee can can be removed. For this purpose, the desired amount (cup or jug) for example, accessed by a push button. The solenoid 25 opens the valve 24 to the dosing chamber 20 and at the same time closes the dispensing opening 26. Coffee from the line 23 the metering chamber 20 fills up to the relevant electrode, i.e. when choosing the cup up to the control electrode 30.

If this is reached, it switches off the lifting magnet 25, which is there the dispensing opening 26 to the cup 28 free and at the same time closes the inlet 21. By dispensing more coffee portions, the liquid level in the storage container drops finally below the level of the electrode 19e. This sends a signal to the brewing unit t is triggered and a new brewing process is initiated in the manner already described. The coffee comes from the outlet 16 via the converted coffee guide device 17 in the storage container 2.

As soon as the liquid level in the reservoir When the selected electrode 18e is reached, it switches off the brewing unit in the manner described and automatically triggers another brewing batch after the brewing fitting 9 has been emptied. This brew charge flows into the storage container 2 until the electrode 18c is reached. The maximum total supply now reached in this preselected position is - provided that in the meantime the container 3 has not been removed - the amount of drink o to c in container 2 and o to e in container 3.

If you continue to draw coffee, this can be done at any time without interruption is possible, the liquid level in the container 3 drops further. When it is almost empty Storage container 3 becomes the dosing cup at some point after triggering a removal process no longer filled up to the preselected control electrode. On not shown The exceeded dosing time of a few seconds is used as a signal to that the reservoir 3 is now completely emptied. In response to this signal blocked by the solenoid valve 35 of the path from the container 3 to the inflow 21 and to Line path 34 open.

At the same time, the path from the container 2 is established by the solenoid valve 31 open to inflow 21. The remaining amount can now be removed from the storage container 2 flow into the dosing cup 20 so that the preselected electrode 29 or 30 is reached and the dispensing process is completed. From the storage container 2 can now be continuously tapped from the container 3 in the same way as before will.

When the solenoid valve 35 is actuated, the valve 14a is activated and hot water flows in a rotating manner over the container walls of the storage container 3 and washes all adhering sediments and grease residues into the drain 33. This intermediate cleaning process takes only a few seconds and is considerable as a result, the performance of the machine is not affected. On the other hand, this represents Measure to ensure that neither in any leftovers is brewed, nor that initiated a fresh batch of coffee in a storage container becomes, although this from previous brewing due to residues or rancid any sediments that had become would noticeably reduce the quality of the fresh coffee.

The process described now takes place alternately in both storage containers provided that the area code remains unchanged. Once in the reservoir 2 the electrode e is undershot, a new one is placed in the cleaned container 3 double brew batch triggered. After the container 2 has been completely emptied the output device 4 takes place here in the same rinsing process as for the container 3 outlined.

If even lower coffee consumption is expected, the two containers either the electrodes e or even just f preselected as the maximum amount.

With a correspondingly small brew batch, only quantities of drinks are produced that correspond to the supply quantum of small machines.

Conversely, if there is very strong demand, this can be done through appropriate Preselection in one or in both storage containers the electrodes a and accordingly large brew batches can be preselected. The storage container to be delivered is then up to the top electrode and filled with the appropriate number of brew batches after emptying the other storage container the delivery from the freshly filled one Storage tank begins, is assigned accordingly if it falls below a Electrode triggers a new brewing process. In this push business becomes practical every empty and cleaned container is immediately filled with fresh coffee.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 shows the output device 4 'instead of a metering chamber flow measuring devices 36. They are each in the line lines 22 and 23, namely in the Kaffeeflußeg after the Three-way valves 31 and 35, respectively, are arranged. Both have a common pulse counting and control unit 37 assigned.

This controls the three-way valves or the switchover to the other Container. The coffee is then dispensed in the following way: the three-way valve 31 or 35 gives the ~ passage from the storage container that is ready to be dispensed to the outlet during a cycle time or number of pulses determined by the flow meter free. If a number of pulses specified for portioning is not achieved because the delivering container is emptied, it serves as a signal to switch to the other Container. The three-way valve of the other container is then opened until the missing number of pulses via the flow measuring device assigned to the other three-way valve is achieved. The other container thus has the remaining quantity for a complete one Portion issued. The flow meters ensure as well as the dispensing device shown in Fig. 1 a complete emptying of the container, wherein at the same time, complete portions are always dispensed without noticeable delay.

is within the scope of the invention, the number and arrangement of the electrodes to be selected differently in the storage container than in the example; in particular, the electrodes be arranged at uneven distances from one another, advantageous on the new one It is a coffee machine when the brewing batch is measured by determining the volume of the brewing water takes place in the brewing vessel itself. But you can also use a volume meter measured in the brewing water or coffee line.

Filling the reservoir to the selected level can be done by constant brewing quantities take place. In special applications, however, it can be advantageous be able to reach the preselected level with variable brewing quantities. By the choice relatively large Brewing quantities - e.g. when there is a great need for coffee is required can with the same coffee quality with slightly lower coffee powder quantities than when brewing several small batches.

There are also advantages with this new coffee machine if one Brewing batch is made by adding portions of hot water.

With this interval brewing, there is one compared to the total brewing batch amount A small amount of brewing water is passed over the ground coffee and only after a certain amount Dwell time, e.g. only when the brewing water has completely drained through the ground coffee the second amount of brewing water is added. This process is repeated several times, until the pre-selected brewing batch corresponding to the amount of ground coffee is prepared is.

Swell due to the dwell time of the partial brewing quantity in the brewing armature the coffee grains completely and it becomes a better one with certain brewing methods Allows use of the ground coffee.

The above invention is independent of the principle and the working system the brewing unit. In the case of other brewing principles, controls are matched to these and control organs to use. With simple brewing principles, each storage container a brewing device can be assigned. The coffee guiding device can thereby omitted. In this respect, too, the present invention is not limited to the one described Limited execution.

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Claims (14)

Coffee machine patent claims S coffee machine with a brewing unit and at least two storage containers, with controls that respond to their filling level for the brewing process, the filling of a container depending on the filling level of the other, and a dispenser for the coffee, thereby g e k e n It is noted that the control elements (18a-f, 19a-f) of both storage containers (2, 3), of which at least one is more than one ChcrgeX the brewing unit (1) and can be adapted to the respective coffee requirement with regard to its upper filling level is, at least one when falling below a predetermined lower fill level Trigger the brewing process to fill the other storage container. 2. Coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it is e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the drain (16) of the brewing unit (1) between this and the storage containers (2, 3) forks and in the fork an in a container (2 or 3) switchable by the control members (18a-f or 19a-f) Coffee guide device (17) is located. 3. Coffee machine according to claim 2, characterized in that g e k e n n -z e i c h n e t that the cheese guide device (17) is a pivotably mounted guide plate (17a) having. 4. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized g e k e It is noted that both storage containers (2, 3) hold more than one brew batch and its upper filling level is adjustable. 5. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized g e k e It is not stated that the lower filling level of both storage containers (2, 3) is adjustable. 6. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized it is noted that the control organs (18a-f, 19auf) consist of electrodes exist. 7. Coffee machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized it is noted that the dispensing device (4) has a metering chamber (20) with control electrodes that can be adjusted to a specific output quantity, such as a cup or jug (29, 30). 8. Coffee machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, through this it is noted that between each storage container (2 or 3) and his Line (22 or 23) to the output device (4) one of control elements (29, 30) switchable Three-way valve (31 or 35) with a connection to a flushing water outlet (33) -is. 9. Coffee machine according to claim 8, characterized in -g e k e n n -z e i c n e t that the three-way valves (31 or 35) from the control electrodes (29, 30) the dosing chamber (20) if there is insufficient delivery from a storage container (2 resp. 3) can be switched to the delivery position from the other container (3 or 2) are. 10. The device according to at least one of claims 7 to 9, characterized it is not indicated that the control electrodes (29, 30) after emptying the Each time the storage container (2, 3) trigger a rinsing process. 11. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized NOTICE that the coffee machine has more than one brewing unit. 12. Coffee machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized it is noted that the output device (4) has at least one a certain output quantity, such as a cup or jug, adjustable flow meter (36). 13. Coffee machine according to claim 12, characterized in that g e k e n n -z e i c h n e t that in each case a flow measuring device (36) in the line (22 or 23) from the storage container (2 or 3) via a three-way valve (31 or 35) to the dispensing opening (26) is arranged between this and the three-way valve, and that both flow measuring devices are connected to a common pulse counting and control device (37). 14. Coffee machine according to claim 13, characterized in that g e -k e n n z e i c n e t that the three-way valves (31 or 35) from the pulse counter and control unit (37) in the case of insufficient delivery from a storage container (2 or 3) to the delivery position can be switched over from the other container (3 or 2).