EP1178747A2 - Machine destinee a la production de cafe expresso en tres grandes quantites - Google Patents

Machine destinee a la production de cafe expresso en tres grandes quantites

Info

Publication number
EP1178747A2
EP1178747A2 EP00910724A EP00910724A EP1178747A2 EP 1178747 A2 EP1178747 A2 EP 1178747A2 EP 00910724 A EP00910724 A EP 00910724A EP 00910724 A EP00910724 A EP 00910724A EP 1178747 A2 EP1178747 A2 EP 1178747A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coffee
piston
cylinder
machine
production
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00910724A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Giampiero Rossi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brasilia SpA
Original Assignee
Brasilia SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brasilia SpA filed Critical Brasilia SpA
Publication of EP1178747A2 publication Critical patent/EP1178747A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/44—Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus
    • A47J31/54—Water boiling vessels in beverage making machines
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/007—Apparatus for making beverages for brewing on a large scale, e.g. for restaurants, or for use with more than one brewing container
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/24—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure
    • A47J31/34—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure
    • A47J31/36—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means
    • A47J31/3604—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means with a mechanism arranged to move the brewing chamber between loading, infusing and ejecting stations
    • A47J31/3609—Loose coffee being employed
    • A47J31/3614—Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/24—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure
    • A47J31/34—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure
    • A47J31/36—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means
    • A47J31/3604—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means with a mechanism arranged to move the brewing chamber between loading, infusing and ejecting stations
    • A47J31/3609—Loose coffee being employed
    • A47J31/3619—Means to remove coffee after brewing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine for the production of espresso coffee in very large quantities and, in particular, a machine which is able to produce espresso coffee by infusing batches of ground coffee weighing up to about one kilogram.
  • Some food preparation processes require the availability of large quantities of coffee.
  • coffee-based drinks are on sale, which can be packaged in cans, to be drunk cold or hot, and also prepared as freeze-dried coffee powder to be made into a coffee drink by simply adding hot water.
  • Certain confectionery industries also need large quantities of coffee for the preparation of particular products, such as dark plain chocolates which contain coffee in the chocolate paste or certain chocolates with a sweetened coffee filling such as those known under the Pocket Coffee® brand.
  • a first method which can be defined as the “pot method” consists in adding roasted and ground coffee powder to a pot of water brought to the boil, then decanting the powder and, if necessary, separating the coffee drink from the powder through filtering
  • a second method which at present is the one most exhausted for industrial production of coffee infusion, allowing production of both large and small quantities, is the method of "percolation” or so called “filter coffee”, which consists in pouring hot water, coming from shower jets or the like, onto a mass of ground coffee (between 10 g and 100 kg for example) enclosed in a bag of filter paper or placed on the perforated base of a receptacle, similar to a tray or pan, and leaving the infusion which forms to percolate gradually through the filter and to collect in a storage receptacle for any further processing;
  • a third method which can be defined as the "Neapolitan coffeepot method” consists in preparing this coffee by per
  • the pot method is the one which produces coffee in large quantities but with very modest organoleptic properties
  • the espresso coffee machine method produces coffee in very small quantities since the percolating groups of espresso coffee machines have size suitable for preparing one or, at most, two small cups of coffee, but with the best organoleptic properties which can be obtained.
  • the object of the present invention is precisely that of satisfying the aforesaid need.
  • an espresso coffee machine comprising: at least one boiler for supplying pressurised hot water; a means for supplying roasted and ground coffee, such as an industrial grinder; an extraction set capable of supplying an infusion of coffee, treating, with hot water supplied by at least one boiler, a batch of roasted and ground coffee powder in the same group; a means of conveying and collecting the coffee infusion leaving the extraction set; a means for collecting the exhausted batch of coffee powder, once the infusion lias been extracted therefrom; characterised in that the extraction set is formed by a hollow cylindrical body with the top face open upwards so as to receive a piston sliding axially in the cavity and the bottom face substantially closed so as to support a base plate which can be raised, in relation to the closed face, and is provided with holes for the through-flow of the infusion, the bottom face being provided with two holes, a first one of which, positioned centrally, has the function of allowing the passage of a rod for pushing the base plate and a second one of which,
  • both the axially sliding piston and the base plate are provided with filters consisting of sheets of non-corrodible metal, such as stainless steel, provided with small holes with a diameter of between one hundredth and one tenth of a millimetre, which are obtained by chemical micro-etching and which ensure a superior uniform distribution of hot water for infusion and retention of the smallest grains of coffee powder.
  • filters consisting of sheets of non-corrodible metal, such as stainless steel, provided with small holes with a diameter of between one hundredth and one tenth of a millimetre, which are obtained by chemical micro-etching and which ensure a superior uniform distribution of hot water for infusion and retention of the smallest grains of coffee powder.
  • the piston which slides axially in the cylinder or bucket of the extraction set is moved in a reciprocating manner by a screw shaft engaged in an internally threaded ring nut of a wheel, moved in the two opposite directions by a reversible motor, which shaft is connected to the end distant from the wheel to a plate sliding on guides and integral with the same piston.
  • the piston is connected by means of jointed arms to the cylinder in order to control, by its position, the orientation of the same cylinder in the three abovementioned positions.
  • the piston when the piston is at the maximum distance from the cylinder, the latter is oriented with its open top face arranged laterally towards the means for collecting the exhausted coffee powder; when the piston is at a distance from the cylinder such as to leave the top face still free, the same cylinder is oriented along a substantially vertical axis so as to receive coffee powder from a metering device in order to form the batch for extraction, and when the piston comes into contact with the cylinder, the axes of the piston and of the cylinder coincide, allowing sliding of the piston in the cylinder.
  • the boilers consist of two sets of boilers in series, a main one towards the extraction set and the other secondary one towards the feed pump, so as to allow feeding of the main set with water, already hot, from the secondary set.
  • the pumps which feed the boilers consist of a number greater than one.
  • the boilers supply water to the piston of the extraction set via at least one solenoid valve.
  • the number of solenoid valves is greater than one.
  • the coffee machine according to the present invention is controlled by a microprocessor which takes into account the demands made thereon and controls the coffee batches, the quantities of water and the temperatures of the latter in order to achieve uniform production of espresso coffee.
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the machine according to the present invention during the step involving loading the coffee powder into the extraction set;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the machine according to the present invention during the step involving extraction of the coffee infusion from the powder batch housed in the extraction set;
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the machine according to the present invention during the step involving expulsion of the exhausted coffee powder cake;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a cylinder, or bucket, extraction set of a machine for the preparation of espresso coffee according to the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is an overall layout of the wiring diagrams shown in Figures 7 to 10;
  • FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of the connection and control portion of a motor of the piston of the extraction set, a grinder motor and motors of pumps for feeding boilers;
  • FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram for connection and control of resistors for heating boilers and resistors for heating a group for the supply and distribution of hot water to the extraction set of the machine according to the present invention
  • FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram for connection and supply of a first part of a control unit of the machine according to the present invention, also comprising the connection to solenoid valves for the supply of water to the extraction set;
  • FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram of a second part of the control unit of the machine according to the present invention, also comprising an electronic board for a microprocessor performing the controls and commands for operation of the machine according to the present invention;
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of a hydraulic system of the machine according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a general depiction of a program suitable for commanding and controlling a machine according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 and 14 show a flow-chart illustrating the status of initialisation of the mechanical components of a machine according to the present invention
  • FIG. 15 and 16 show a flow-chart illustrating the status of extraction of coffee of the same machine according to the present invention.
  • a machine 20 for preparing large quantities of espresso coffee consists of a load-bearing structure 22 formed by a base 24, a first pair of vertical uprights 26 and a second pair of inclined uprights 28 housing a pair of support columns 30 terminating in bearings seats 32 housing pins 34 for supporting a cylinder or bucket 36 defining a cylindrical cavity directed upwards, which cylinder 36 forms with a piston 38, sized to enter and slide sealingly in the cavity of the cylinder 36, an extraction set 40 (see Figures 1 and 3) designed to extract, tlirough forced percolation of hot water, a coffee drink from a batch of coffee powder housed in the same extraction set, exactly as occurs in traditional espresso coffee machines exhausted in bars and public shops.
  • the cylinder 36 can receive, when its open face is directed upwards, a measure of roasted and ground coffee to be compressed into a batch 42, as will be shown in detail in Figure 5 described further below.
  • a remote controlled grinder can be exhausted, such as the grinder 44 depicted in Figure 2, consisting essentially of a hopper container 46 for granular coffee, to be loaded with an appropriate quantity of roasted coffee grains, which supplies a grinding group 48 terminating in a metering device and dispenser 50 having the task of supplying to the cylinder 36 the required measure of ground coffee corresponding to a required batch.
  • the grinder 44 is replaced by a ground coffee dispenser in the form of a conveyor belt which supplies with said ground coffee, deposited thereon, a metering device and dispenser similar to the metering device and dispenser 50 depicted in Figure 2.
  • the piston 38 slides in opposite directions, along two guides 52 and 54, in the direction of the axis of a threaded shaft 56 which is prevented from rotating and is fixed to a plate 58 fixed, in turn, to the piston 38.
  • the guides 52 and 54 are held rigidly between an upper yoke 60 fixed to the pair of vertical uprights 26 and the pair of bearings seats 32 fixed in turn to the pair of columns 30 integral with the pair of inclined uprights 28.
  • the piston 38 can move only in the direction and in the two ways allowed by the guides 52 and 54.
  • the upper yoke 60 houses a gear box 62 which contains a pulley provided with a threaded cylindrical cavity (not shown) which logically has to be considered as engaged with the threaded shaft 56, which wheel is actuated to rotate by a belt 64 which embraces a pulley of an electric motor 66 which can be actuated in both directions.
  • the piston 38 is connected to a right-angled member 68 which ends in a joint 70 hingeably connected to an angled arm 72 terminating in a joint 74 which engages slidingly with a shaft 76 which terminates below in a stop 78 and is connected above to a plate 80 which can move from the base of the cylinder 36 as far as its upper opening to allow ejection of a exhausted coffee powder cake 82, as indicated in Figure 4.
  • Said set 40 is formed by the lower hollow cylinder 36 and by the piston 38 having size to slide sealingly in the cavity of the cylinder 36 where said seal is ensured by an O-ring gasket 84 housed in a circumferential groove of the same piston 38.
  • the cylinder 36 comprises an internal lining 86 surrounded by a band 88 for reinforcement and also providing support since it is connected to pins 34 inserted in the seats 32 of the support columns 30 so that the cylinder 36 can rotate with the pins 34, yet remains at a fixed distance from the base 24 of the load-bearing structure 22 (see Figures 1 to 4).
  • the lining 86 ends in a base 90 of the cylinder 36, resting on a plate 92, on which base a circular plate 80 rests, provided with holes for sliding 96 which connect the top face of the plate 80 with a circular cavity 98 formed in the base 90 of the cylinder 36, which discharges externally through a hole 100 connected to a pipe 102.
  • the piston 38 it can be seen that its body has, passing through it, channels 104 fed by pipes 106, which must necessarily be flexible so as to allow mobility of the piston 38, yet at the same time must withstand the temperature and pressure of the hot water to be exhausted for extracting the coffee from a batch of powder 108 which is compressed between the piston 38 and the plate 80 located on the base 90 of the cylinder 36.
  • a perforated plate filter 110 is located, said filter allowing correct compression of the batch 108 of coffee powder and, simultaneously, the flow of the hot water coming from the pipes 106.
  • the coffee extracted from the batch of powder 108 flows in the pipe 102 and is collected in a receptacle 112 from where it can be periodically drawn for subsequent processing, as required by its specific use.
  • this batch When extraction of coffee from the batch of powder 108 has finished, this batch is transformed into a substantially dry cake 82 which is ejected, as illustrated in Figure 4, and falls along a chute 114 into a collection receptacle 116 located at the base of the machine 20 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 it can be seen how the coffee powder is replenished in a measure 42 supplied to the cavity of the cylinder or bucket 36 of the extraction set 40.
  • the box of rotating mechanisms 62 fixed to the yoke 60 raises the threaded shaft 56 until the piston 38 moves into the position shown in Figure 2 where the assembly consisting of right-angled element 68, angled ami 72 and shaft 76, brings the cylinder 36 into the position shown in Figure 2 with the mouth directed upwards under the remote controlled grinder 44.
  • An appropriate command causes a predetermined measure 42 of coffee powder to drop into the cavity of the cylinder 36, where subsequently a downward movement of the piston 38, caused by a downward movement of the threaded shaft 56, compresses the measure 42 of coffee powder into the batch 108 shown in Figure 5.
  • the downward movement of the piston 38 orientates, through the action of the assembly consisting of right-angled member 68, angled arm 72 and shaft 76, the cylinder 36 so that its axis is aligned with the axis of the piston 38 and so that the piston 38 enters the cavity of the cylinder 36 and compresses the measure of coffee 42 into the batch 108.
  • the extraction set 40 must be opened and the exhausted and substantially dry cake 82 of coffee powder ejected from the cylinder 36. This is performed by a movement of fully raising the piston 38, shown in Figure 4. In this case, full raising of the piston 38, achieved by raising the threaded shaft 56 up to a maximum admissible height, forces the angled arm 74 to rotate the shaft 76 into the position shown in Figure 4 and, consequently, to rotate the pins 34 which support the cylinder 36 which thus takes up the position shown in the same Figure 4.
  • a three-phase power supply line 130 formed by three phase conductors A, B and C and a ground conductor G, supplies the whole system via a main switch 132.
  • a first three-phase electric motor 66 which has the function of actuating the rotating mechanism for movement of the threaded shaft 56 (see Figures 1 to 4), is driven in the two directions of rotation by two relays which are equipped with contacts 134 and 136 and which connect the three conductors A, B and C of the three-phase line to the motor 66.
  • the contacts 134 are closed, the motor 66 rotates in one direction, and when the contacts 136 are closed, the motor 66 rotates in the opposite direction.
  • a second three-phase electric motor 138 which actuates the grinder 44 shown in Figure 2, is connected by means of three relay contacts 140 to the same three-phase line in order to maintain continuously a certain quantity of ground coffee in the dispenser 50 of the grinder 44.
  • two relay contacts 142 connect three single-phase motors 144, 146 and 148 of pumps to two phase conductors, for example the conductors A and C, of the electrical power supply line. Obviously these three motors 144, 146 and 148 will only be driven to rotate when there is a demand for supply of water to one or more boilers which will be further depicted below in Figure 11.
  • each heater 152 to 162 is provided with a respective adjustable thermostat 164 to 174 which controls the water temperature in the boiler, with a respective working thermostat 176 to 186, regulated to a fixed temperature above the maximum temperature controlled by the adjustable thermostat 164 to 174 and with a respective safety thermostat 188 to 198, of the manually resettable type, which is only tripped in the event of a fault in both thermostats - adjustable and working - in order to disconnect the heaters 152 to 162 from the three-phase line.
  • thermostats Obviously manually resettable thermostats are exhausted as safety thermostats in order to be able to re-activate the heaters only when the respective thermostats 164 to 174 and 176 to 186, found to be faulty, have been repaired and/or replaced.
  • Indicator lights 200 to 210 indicate which of the resistance heaters 152 to 162 are connected to the three-phase line.
  • a virtual contact 212 of a static relay connects resistance heaters 214 to 218 to two phase conductors, for example the conductors A and B of the three-phase line, where these resistance heaters are exhausted for auxiliary heating of a hot water distribution group depicted in Figure 11 , to which reference may be made.
  • two conductors A and B of the three-phase line continue so as to be connected, via a switch 220, to a voltage step-down transformer 222 which powers, via a pair of conductors 224 and 226, low voltage circuits for controlling relay coils and for powering electronic boards for the control of all the machine functions.
  • the conductors A and B of the three-phase line are connected via a pair of relay contacts 228 to an assembly of solenoid valves 230 to 248 for controlling the supply of water from the boilers to the piston 38 of the extraction set 40.
  • the conductor 226 is also connected to two normally open push-buttons 250 and 252 which, by means of two conductors 254 and 256, allow manual control of two relays controlling the forward and backward movement of the motor 66 for moving the piston 38, should an electronic board for driving the same relays and depicted in Figure 10 be not working.
  • the second part of the control unit of the machine comprises the two power supply conductors 224 and 226, the conductors 254 and 256 connected to the manual control push-buttons 250 and 252 of Figure 9, a first electronic board 260 for the general control of the machine, relay coils to be described in detail hereinbelow, and a second electronic board 262 for controlling the temperature of the resistance heaters 214 to 218 of an auxiliary group for distribution of hot water, depicted in Figure 8.
  • the first electronic control board 260 which is a digital board controlled by a microprocessor, receives a supply voltage from the two power supply conductors 224 and 226 and emits currents for energising relay coils, such as the coil 134R which closes the relay contacts 134 for the forward running of the motor 62, the coil 136R which closes the relay contacts for the reverse running of the motor 62, the coil 140R which closes the relay contacts 140 of the grinder motor 138, the coil 142R which closes the relay contacts 142 for the motors 144 to 148 of the pumps for supplying the boilers of the machine and the coil 228R which closes the relay contacts 228 of the solenoid valves 230 to 248.
  • relay coils such as the coil 134R which closes the relay contacts 134 for the forward running of the motor 62, the coil 136R which closes the relay contacts for the reverse running of the motor 62, the coil 140R which closes the relay contacts 140 of the grinder motor 138, the coil 142R
  • energisation of the coils 134R and 136R of the control relays of the motor 62 is controlled by auxiliary interlocking contacts 136A and 134A, respectively, for preventing simultaneous energisation of both coils 134R and 136R and consequent simultaneous closure of the contacts 134 and 136 which would lead to a short-circuit between the conductors A and C of the three- phase line 130, to be absolutely avoided.
  • the coils 134R and 136R are also controlled by limiting switches 134B and 136B, respectively, which prevent the threaded shaft 56 and the piston 38 from going beyond the normal ends of its stroke.
  • the same digital board 260 also receives command signals from push-buttons 264, 266 and 268 which connect its respective input lines 270, 272 and 274 to a common conductor 276, for example negative, marked by the (-) sign, for performing manual commands such as a command for a first measure of water to the machine by the push-button 162, a second measure of water by the push-button 266 and stopping by the push-button 268, respectively.
  • the same digital board 260 switches on, as required, one of the indicator lights 280 or 282 by means of respective lines 284 and 286 to indicate which measure of water to be sent to the machine has been chosen.
  • the same board 260 has, departing from it, two power supply lines (-) and (+) as well as a line 288 providing a signal of a measure supplied from a water metering circuit 290 so as to determine a measure of water to be sent into the boilers to obtain a predefined quantity of coffee infusion from each batch 42 of powder introduced into the cylinder 36 of the extraction set 40.
  • a special switch 292 supplies power to a coil 150R which closes the contacts of the relay 150 for the boiler heaters 152 to 162 and the auxiliary heaters 214 to 218 of the hot water distribution group and also to the analogie board 262 which, by means of a thermocouple 294, reads the temperature of the boiler hot water distribution set and, by means of a control section 212A, energises the static relay 212 which controls with precision this temperature of the distribution set.
  • the exact operation of the digital electronic board 260 will be understood more clearly further below by considering the flow-chart governing this board and depicted in Figures 12 to 16.
  • FIG. 11 A hydraulic plant diagram of the machine according to the invention is depicted in Figure 11.
  • water coming from a pipe 300 of a drinking water system, passes through a filter 302, a turbine metering device 304 of electronic type, which controls the metering circuit 290 depicted in the wiring diagram of Figure 10, and arrives to three pumps 306 to 308 which are driven by respective motors 144 to 148 and which bring the pressure of the water from the mains pressure to that required for extracting the coffee.
  • One-way shut-off valves 312 to 316 are located between the pumps 306 to 310 and a first group of boilers 318 to 322 which perform a first increase in temperature of the feed water (for example from the mains temperature to 60°C) and other shut-off valves 324 to 328 are located between the first group of boilers 318 to 322 and a second group of boilers 330 to 334, where this second group of boilers fully heats the feed water (for example from 60°C to 98°C).
  • Pipes 336 to 340 depart from the boilers 330 to 334 and lead to a water supply set 342 containing the solenoid valves 230 to 248 already indicated in Figure 9.
  • the supply set 342 leads to a distributor set 344 which distributes the water coming from the solenoid valves 230 to 248 of the supply set 342 to the flexible pipes 106, already depicted in Figure 5, which convey the hot water to the channels 104 passing through the body of the piston 38.
  • the digital electronic board 260 contains a microprocessor controlled by a program generally depicted in Figure 12. Referring to this Figure, it can be seen that the program is written on the principle of a system of statuses and events. Each status has its specific function which is activated in the case of a defined event.
  • INITIALISATION 400 initialisation of the circuits and of the mechanical components
  • READY 402 indication of machine ready for operation
  • COFFEE 404 management of all aspects for preparing a cycle of 1 kg of coffee powder
  • PROGRAMMING 406 programming of the product data, quantity of water, coffee grinding time and user language choice
  • STATISTICS 408 statistical treatment of the product data
  • ERROR 410 management of errors and display of messages regarding the same.
  • machine switch-on or surveillance initialisation starts the status 400 of INITIALISATION which examines and tests all the mechanical, electromechanical and electronic components of the machine. If the tests are passed, the READY status 402 is assumed, with the "initialisation performed” sequence. If the tests are failed, the ERROR status 410 is assumed, with the "error” sequence. Once the READY status 402 has been entered into, this status can give a command to prepare coffee in the COFFEE status 404, which status, once terminated, sends back to the ready status 402 a "product made” message. The program can alternate between these two statuses 402 and 404 until the required quantity of coffee has been prepared.
  • the READY status 402 commands the PROGRAMMING status 406 to program new measures of water, new grades of grinding of the coffee or choose a particular language.
  • the PROGRAMMING status 406 sends the command messages to the COFFEE status 404 and an end-of-programming response to the READY status 402. Should the PROGRAMMING status 406 not succeed in performing some of the tasks assigned to it by the READY status 402, it sends an error message to the ERROR status 410.
  • the READY status 402 periodically sends statistics production messages to the STATISTICS status 408 which displays by writing means, both virtual and real (printouts), the statistical data of the product, such as, for example, quantity of coffee (for example in litres) and degree of concentration of the same.
  • the STATISTICS status 408 sends a "statistics produced" response message to the READY status 402. Should the STATISTICS status 408 not succeed in performing its task, it sends an error message to the ERROR status 410.
  • ERROR status 410 receives other error messages from other components of the machine, such as the piston 38 beyond the permitted stroke, lack of water, lack of coffee, inadequate voltages, pressures or temperatures, and displays them, controlling the indicator lights and/or a display exhausted in the standard art of control processors.
  • This status begins with the start block 420 and then passes into the section 422 for movement of the piston 38 into the upper limit position.
  • a decision block 424 asks whether this position has been reached. If YES, an instruction block 426 commands a wait of 2 seconds. If NO, a decision block 428 asks whether a time of 12 seconds has elapsed. If this time has not elapsed (NO), the procedure returns to the "position reached" decision block 424 from where it is possible to branch off to the block 426 or again to the block 428. If this time has elapsed (YES), the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 5 of the block 430.
  • the procedure passes to the section 432 for movement of the piston 38 out of the upper limit position.
  • This section begins with a decision block 434 which asks whether the position has been left. If YES, the procedure continues to the next section. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 346 which asks whether a waiting time of 3 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous decision block 434. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 7 of the block 438.
  • the procedure passes to the section 440 for movement of the piston 38 into the position for pressing inside the cylinder 36.
  • a first decision block 442 asks whether this position has been reached. If YES, an instruction block 444 follows and commands a wait of 2 seconds in that position. If NO, a decision block 446 asks whether a time of 10 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the decision block 442. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 3 of the block 448.
  • the procedure passes to a section 450 for movement of the piston 38 outside of the cylinder.
  • a decision block 452 asks whether the previous position has been left. If YES, the procedure continues to the next section. If NO, a decision block 454 asks whether a time of 3 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous decision block 452. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 8 of the block 456. The next section 458 controls the movement of the piston 38 into the upper limit position.
  • a decision block 460 asks whether the position has been reached. If YES, an instruction block 462 commands a wait of 2 seconds in this position.
  • a decision block 464 asks whether a time of 12 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous block 460. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 5 of the block 466.
  • the procedure passes to the section 468 for movement of the piston 38 out of the upper limit position.
  • a decision block 470 asks whether the preceding position has been left. If YES, the procedure continues to the next section. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 472 which asks whether a time of 3 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the decision block 470. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 7 of the block 474.
  • the next section 476 controls the movement of the piston 38 into the ready position for filling, such as the one shown in Figure 2.
  • a decision block 478 asks whether the position has been reached. If YES, the procedure passes to an instruction block 480 which commands a wait of 5 seconds. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 482 which asks whether a time of 10 seconds has elapsed. rf NO, the procedure returns to the position before the decision block 478. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 6 of the block 484.
  • This status begins with the start block 490 and then passes to a decision block 492 which asks whether the piston 38 is in the coffee filling position as shown in Figure 2. If YES, the procedure passes to the next section. If NO, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 1 of the block 494.
  • the next section 496 controls grinding of coffee for a predetermined period of time.
  • This section begins with a decision block 498 which asks whether the programmed grinding time has passed. If YES, an instruction block 500 commands a further wait of 2 seconds. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 502 which asks whether a time of 62 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous decision block 498. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 2 of the block 504.
  • the next section 506 controls the movement of the piston 38 into the position of pressing inside the cylinder 36 of the extraction set 40.
  • This section begins with a decision block 508 which asks whether the piston 38 has reached the position. If YES, then the procedure passes to the instruction block 510 which commands a wait of 2 seconds. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 512 which asks whether a time of 12 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to a position before the decision block 508. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 3 of the block 514.
  • the section 516 controls start-up of the water pumps 306 to 310 depicted in Figure 1 1.
  • a first decision block 518 asks whether a predetermined quantity of water has been transferred, measured, for example, by the turbine metering device 304 depicted in Figure 11. If YES, an instruction block 520 commands a wait of 1 second. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 522 which asks whether a time of 10 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous decision block 518. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 4 of the block 524.
  • the procedure passes to a section 526 controlling a forward movement of the piston 38 for pressing a exhausted coffee powder cake 82.
  • This section comprises an instruction block 528 which commands a pressing time and a subsequent instruction block 530 which commands a wait of 6.5 seconds.
  • the procedure passes to a section 532 which controls the movement of the piston 38 outside of the cylinder 36.
  • a decision block 534 asks whether the previous position has been left. If YES, the procedure passes to the next section. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 536 which asks whether a time of 3 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous block. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 8 of the block 538.
  • a following section 540 controls the movement of the piston 38 into the upper limit position.
  • a decision block 542 asks whether the upper limit position of the piston 38 has been reached. If YES, an instruction block 544 commands a wait of 5 seconds. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 546 which asks whether a time of 12 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous block 542. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 5 of the block 548.
  • a following section 550 controls the movement of the piston 38 into the position outside of the upper limit position.
  • a decision block 552 asks whether the piston 38 has left the abovementioned upper limit position. If YES, the procedure proceeds to the next section. If NO, the procedure proceeds to the next decision block 554 which asks whether a time of 3 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the procedure returns to the previous block 552. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 7 of the block 556.
  • a decision block 560 asks whether the piston 38 has reached the required position. If YES, the procedure ends with the block 566 of end of coffee preparation status. If NO, the procedure passes to a decision block 562 which asks whether a time of 10 seconds has elapsed. If NO, the piocedure returns to the previous decision block 560. If YES, the procedure passes to the ERROR status such as the indicated ERROR 6 of the block 564.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
  • Tea And Coffee (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une machine destinée à la production de café expresso en très grandes quantités, permettant d'effectuer l'extraction dudit café de manière discontinue à partir d'une grande masse de café grillé et broyé, introduit dans un ensemble d'extraction (40). Cet ensemble comprend un cylindre ou un réceptacle (36) adapté à recevoir la masse (108) de café grillé en poudre et un piston (38) permettant de comprimer la masse (108) de café en poudre, le piston (38) comportant un filtre à plaque perforée (110) communiquant avec une source d'eau chaude (106) permettant ainsi l'introduction d'eau chaude, et l'extraction subséquente de l'infusion de café expresso provenant de la masse comprimée (108). Le cylindre (36) peut être fixé dans trois positions différentes qui permettent le chargement d'une mesure (42) constituant la masse (108) de café en poudre, l'extraction du café à partir de la masse de poudre (108) et sa récupération dans un récipient approprié (112) et, finalement, l'éjection de la masse de café épuisé (82), sensiblement sèche, dans un récipient de récupération (116).
EP00910724A 1999-03-02 2000-02-28 Machine destinee a la production de cafe expresso en tres grandes quantites Withdrawn EP1178747A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI990416 1999-03-02
IT1999MI000416 IT1308635B1 (it) 1999-03-02 1999-03-02 Macchina per la produzione di caffe' espresso in grandissime quantita'
PCT/EP2000/001643 WO2000051479A2 (fr) 1999-03-02 2000-02-28 Machine destinee a la production de cafe expresso en tres grandes quantites

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1178747A2 true EP1178747A2 (fr) 2002-02-13

Family

ID=11382099

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00910724A Withdrawn EP1178747A2 (fr) 1999-03-02 2000-02-28 Machine destinee a la production de cafe expresso en tres grandes quantites

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1178747A2 (fr)
AU (1) AU3283200A (fr)
IT (1) IT1308635B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000051479A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2207578T3 (es) 2000-12-29 2004-06-01 Sgl Italia S.R.L. Maquina de cafe.
AU2011203253B2 (en) * 2004-12-30 2013-03-14 Rhea Vendors S.P.A. Process and multiple pump apparatus for controlling the preparation of beverages
EP1676509A1 (fr) * 2004-12-30 2006-07-05 Rhea Vendors S.p.A. Procédé et dispositif pour le contrôle de la préparation d'infusions
US9756973B2 (en) * 2012-09-18 2017-09-12 B/E Aerospace, Inc. Modulated inline water heating system for aircraft beverage makers

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2868109A (en) * 1954-12-13 1959-01-13 James F Davis Coffee maker
IT1211178B (it) * 1988-01-25 1989-10-06 Gaggia Brevetti Generatore di acqua calda costituito da almeno due elementi modulari di caldaia collegati in serie per ridurre di depositi calcarei in macchine per laproduzione di caffe' espresso e di bevande calde, con o senza schiuma.
IT1233288B (it) * 1989-07-07 1992-03-26 Vallecchi Marcello Vallecchi M Dispositivo elettromeccanico per formare automaticamente dosi singole di caffe' espresso
US5094153A (en) * 1990-04-23 1992-03-10 Edward Helbling Coffee machine with product selectivity
CH691421A5 (de) * 1990-11-16 2001-07-31 Jura Elektroapp Fabriken L Hen Brühzylinder und Brühkolben für eine Brühvorrichtung insbesondere einer Kaffeemaschine.
EP0742691B1 (fr) * 1994-03-03 1998-09-23 Maxs Ag Cartouche filtrante durable en forme de pot
DE19647385C1 (de) * 1996-11-15 1998-08-13 Spengler Getraenkemaschinen Gm Brühaggregat zur Zubereitung von Kaffee oder Tee

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0051479A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3283200A (en) 2000-09-21
IT1308635B1 (it) 2002-01-09
WO2000051479A2 (fr) 2000-09-08
ITMI990416A1 (it) 2000-09-02
WO2000051479A3 (fr) 2001-01-25

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