EP3280299A1

EP3280299A1 - A coffee machine with increased utilization efficiency and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: EP3280299A1
Application number: EP16711270.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ahmet SOZEN; Yagiz TEZEL; Musa OZDEMIR; Erkan Ozturk
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-04-06
Filing date: 2016-03-22
Publication date: 2018-02-14
Also published as: WO2016162200A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coffee machine (1) comprising a body (2); at least one brewing chamber (3) that is disposed in the body (2); at least one brewing receptacle (4) that is placed into the brewing chamber (3) and wherein coffee and as per the preference additional ingredients such as sugar are put and brewed, and a heater (5) that is disposed at the lower part of the brewing chamber (3), that moves upwards and downwards and that moves upwards and contacts the base of the brewing receptacle (4), thus enabling the brewing receptacle (4) to be heated from below.

Description

[Corrected under Rule 26, 15.07.2016] A COFFEE MACHINE WITH INCREASED UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a coffee machine wherein the brewing receptacle is placed into a brewing chamber in the body and heated with the contact of a heater from thereunder.
In particular in cooking machines wherein Turkish coffee can be prepared, the coffee is brewed by heating from below the brewing receptacles such as the pot, wherein the coffee is brewed. In order for the taste of the coffee to be at the desired level, the amount of heat transferred to the brewing receptacle is of utmost importance. In the state of the art, coffee machines are known, wherein the brewing receptacle is placed into a brewing chamber on the coffee machine and heated from below. There also embodiments wherein the brewing receptacle is lifted up a little with the contact of the heater from below to bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber so as to be heated. Thus, the heat transferred to the brewing receptacle can be effectively controlled and moreover, sensors such as steam sensor, level sensor, etc. are enabled to be effectively operated for the brewing of coffee of good quality. In this type of coffee machines, especially when coffee is brewed successively, the mechanism, which moves the brewing receptacle upwards downwards, does not work effectively or when the user cannot properly place the brewing receptacle into the brewing chamber, the brewing receptacle cannot properly bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber and overflow may occur. Furthermore, in these cases the contact between the brewing receptacle and the heater is not realized at the desired level and the coffee is not brewed at the desired texture.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2008121111, a coffee machine wherein the coffee is prepared by using instant coffee capsules and the presence of the capsules is detected.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2006014676, a coffee machine is disclosed, comprising a sensor that is disposed at the side wall of the brewing chamber and that detects the presence of the coffee pot.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a coffee machine wherein it is detected if the brewing receptacle is properly placed into the brewing chamber.
The coffee machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims, comprises a brewing chamber; a brew receptacle that is placed into the brewing chamber; a heater that is disposed at the base of the brewing chamber and that pushes the brewing receptacle upwards, thus enabling the brewing receptacle to bear against the upper wall of the brewing chamber and to be heated from below; a contact sensor that is disposed at the upper wall of the brewing chamber and that detects if the brewing receptacle bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber, and a control unit that starts the brewing process depending on whether the brewing receptacle bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber. By the contact sensor being disposed at the upper wall of the brewing chamber, when the heater pushes the brewing receptacle so as to enable the brewing receptacle to bear against the upper wall of the brewing chamber, the contact sensor detects if the brewing receptacle properly bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber. In a version of the present invention, when the brewing receptacle does not bear against the upper wall of the brewing chamber, the control unit does not start the brewing process, but delays the brewing process and provides the displaying of an error code to the user. Thus, when there is no proper contact between the heater and the brewing receptacle, the brewing process is prevented from starting and producing coffee without the desired taste. In another version of the preset invention, if the brewing receptacle bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber, the control unit continues the brewing process.
In an embodiment of the present invention, during the brewing process in the coffee machine, the coffee foaming in the brewing receptacle is prevented from overflowing by means of the sealing gasket disposed at the upper wall of the brewing chamber. The contact sensor is concealed in the sealing gasket, thus the user is prevented from seeing the contact sensor and the contact sensor is prevented from getting dirty due to the foaming coffee in the brewing receptacle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the contact sensor in the horizontal axis is greater than the thickness of the side walls of the brewing receptacle, thus the brewing receptacle is enabled to be effectively detected under any conditions. Even if the user places the brewing receptacle into the brewing chamber in an offset manner with respect to the heater or the sealing gasket, when the brewing receptacle is lifted up, the walls thereof contact the contact, thus realizing the detection.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine comprises at least three contact sensors that are disposed at equal intervals on a circle with a size matching that of the brewing receptacle so as to be concealed in the upper wall of the brewing chamber and preferably in the sealing gasket. In this embodiment, it is detected if the edges of the brewing receptacle peripherally and completely bear against the upper wall of the brewing chamber. Thus, the control unit is prevented from making errors and the coffee in the brewing receptacle is prevented from overflowing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, it is detected if the brewing receptacle is in the brewing chamber and bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber by the contact sensor being operated in two stages. When the user places the brewing receptacle into the brewing chamber and gives the command to start the brewing process, the heater is moved upwards, thus the brewing receptacle contacts the contact sensor and the presence of the brewing receptacle is detected. At the second stage, the contact sensor detects if the brewing receptacle effectively contacts the heater. By the contact sensor being operated in two stages, both the presence of the brewing receptacle in the brewing chamber is detected and also it is detected if the brewing receptacle effectively contacts the heater.
In the coffee machine of the present invention, the control unit executes a control method that comprises the steps of first moving the heater upwards and detecting the presence of the brewing receptacle without operating the heater with the user's command of start the brewing process; operating the heater so as to realize its function of heating and moving the same upwards, then receiving from the contact sensor the information about whether the brewing receptacle bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber, in other words whether the heater effectively contacts the brewing receptacle; pausing the brewing process and warning the user if there is no effective contact between the heater and the brewing receptacle.
In the coffee machine of the present invention, by means of the contact sensor that detects if the brewing receptacle is properly pushed upwards by the heater and bears against the upper wall of the brewing chamber, at the same time the presence of the brewing receptacle is detected, and the need of using a second sensor for this action is eliminated, thus providing cost advantage.
The coffee machine realized to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a coffee machine.
Figure 2 – is the schematic view of the coffee machine an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 – is the schematic view of the ceiling of the brewing chamber in an embodiment of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Coffee machine
Body
Brewing chamber
Brewing receptacle
Heater
Contact sensor
Control unit
Sealing gasket

The coffee machine (1), suitable to prepare Turkish coffee, comprises a body (2); at least one brewing chamber (3) that is disposed in the body (2); at least one brewing receptacle (4) that is placed into the brewing chamber (3) and wherein coffee and as per the preference additional ingredients such as sugar are put and brewed, and a heater (5) that is disposed at the lower part of the brewing chamber (3), that moves upwards and downwards and that lifts the brewing receptacle (4) by moving upwards and contacting the base of the brewing receptacle (4) and thus enabling the brewing receptacle (4) to be heated from below.
When the user desires to prepare coffee, he/she puts coffee and additional ingredients such as sugar into the brewing receptacle (4) and places the brewing receptacle (4) into the brewing chamber (3). As the brewing process is started, the heater (5) moves upwards and contacts the brewing receptacle (4) from below and lifts the brewing receptacle (4) upwards and enables the brewing receptacle (4) to bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), thus the heater (5) applies pressure. When the brewing process is completed, the heater (5) moves downwards and the contact between the heater (5) and the base of the brewing receptacle (4) is cut. The upwards/downwards movement of the heater (5) can be controlled with a solenoid or with other movement mechanisms known in the technique. The mobile heater (5) provides that in particular in the process of brewing Turkish coffee, the amount of heat transferred to the brewing receptacle (4) and the brewing time can be precisely controlled.
The coffee machine (1) of the present invention comprises a contact sensor (6), or a limit switch as it is known, that is disposed at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) and detects if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4), which is pushed by the heater (5) moving upwards at the beginning of the brewing process, bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), and a control unit (7) that starts or does not start the brewing process according to the data received from the contact sensor (6).
By means of the contact sensor (6) disposed at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), it is detected if the brewing receptacle (4) bears against the brewing chamber (3). Thus, it is detected if there is an effective contact between the brewing receptacle (4) and the heater (5) and the amount of heat to be transferred to the brewing receptacle (4) and the brewing time are enabled to be kept under control. In the case, after the user gives the command of start the brewing process, the heater (5) does not move upwards sufficiently due to various reasons and does not enable the brewing receptacle (4) to bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), the control unit (7) detects this situation by means of the contact sensor (6) and enables the user to be warned.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (7) starts the brewing process if the brewing receptacle (4) bears against the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6). In case there is an effective contact between the heater (5) and the brewing receptacle (4), the brewing process is continued.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (7) enables the user to be warned visually and/or aurally if the brewing receptacle (4) does not bear against the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6). Thus, the user is enabled to check the coffee machine (1). If a great number of coffee brewing processes have been performed successively, the user can be warned, for example, to wait for a certain time.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) comprises a sealing gasket (8) that is disposed at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) and against which the edges of the brewing receptacle (4) bear, and the contact sensor (6) is concealed inside the sealing gasket (8). In the brewing process, when the brewing receptacle (4) bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), a sealing gasket (8) preferably produced from elastic material is used at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) so that no heat loss occurs during the brewing process, that the sensors (not shown in the figures) detecting the height of the foam properly carry out the detection process and that the foaming coffee does not overflow from the brewing receptacle (4). In this embodiment, the contact sensor (6) is concealed in the sealing gasket (8), thus does not get dirty when the coffee overflows and is protected against external factors. Moreover, the esthetic appearance of the coffee machine (1) is not degraded.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the contact sensor (6) is greater than the wall thickness of the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4). The brewing chamber (3) has a volume greater than the volume of the brewing receptacle (4) so as to allow the user to easily place the brewing receptacle (4) therein. Thus, it is not possible for the user to always place the brewing receptacle (4) concentrically with the heater (5) and/or the sealing gasket (8) and a small amount of eccentricity (approximately 1 mm to 5 mm) may occur. In this embodiment, with the diameter of the contact sensor (6) being greater than the wall thickness of the upper edges of the brewing receptacle (4), the contact of the brewing receptacle (4) with the brewing chamber (3) can be always accurately detected even if there is an offset.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) comprises at least three contact sensors (6) that detect if the brewing receptacle (4) contacts along the periphery of its upper edge and that are disposed to the brewing chamber (3) or into the sealing gasket (8) in a circular manner at equal intervals, preferably with 120 degrees therebetween. Since at least three points are needed to determine a plane, at least three contact sensors (6) are needed; however, if a more precise detection is desired to be realized, the number of the contact sensors (6) can be increased.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the contact sensor (6) performs detection in two stages, in other words, in the first stage, detects if the brewing receptacle (4) is in the brewing chamber (3) and in the second stage, detects if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4), as the heater (5) is lifted up, bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), in other words detects if the heater (5) effectively contacts the brewing receptacle (4). In the first stage with the heater (5) only being moved upwards without performing heating, the presence of the brewing receptacle (4) is detected and in the second stage with the heater (5) being lifted upwards again, it is detected if the upper edges of the brewing receptacle (4) bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3). In this embodiment, the contact sensor (6) detects the contact of the brewing receptacle (4) with the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) and also the presence of the brewing receptacle (4) in the brewing chamber (3). Thus, by means of the contact sensor (6) disposed at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), two problems are solved by a single component. For example, thus, since it is detected that the brewing receptacle (4) is not placed when the user presses the brewing process start button when the brewing receptacle (4) is not in the brewing chamber (3), water transfer into the brewing receptacle (4) or the unnecessary operation of the heater (5) is prevented. By means of this embodiment, the occurrence of home accidents is prevented.
The control method of the present invention used in the above-disclosed coffee machine (1) and executed by the control unit (7), comprising the steps of
- Moving the heater (5) upwards with the user's start command, the heater (5) not realizing its heating function,
- Receiving data from the contact sensor (6),
- Starting the brewing process if the brewing receptacle (4) is inside the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6),
- Operating and moving the heater (5) upwards again,
- Receiving data from the contact sensor (6) again,
- Stopping the brewing process and warning the user if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4) does not bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6),
- Continuing the brewing process if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4) bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6).
The operation of the heater (5) means that the heating function of the heater (5) is active and is independent from the upwards/downwards movement of the heater (5). At the beginning of the brewing process, the heater (5) is moved upwards and the brewing receptacle (4) is detected by the contact sensor (6) if placed into the brewing chamber (3). The heater (5) is moved upwards again and operated and in this case, it is detected if the heater (5) effectively contacts the brewing receptacle (4). If there is not effective contact, the user is enabled to be warned.
In the coffee machine (1) of the present invention, with the contact sensor (6) being positioned at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), two separate detection operations are performed, thus providing cost advantage. Moreover, by disposing the contact sensor (6) at a position not visible to the user, the coffee machine (1) is rendered compact.

Claims

A coffee machine (1) comprising a body (2); at least one brewing chamber (3) that is disposed in the body (2); at least one brewing receptacle (4) that is placed into the brewing chamber (3) and wherein coffee and as per the preference additional ingredients such as sugar are put and brewed, and a heater (5) that is disposed at the lower part of the brewing chamber (3), that moves upwards and downwards and that moves upwards and contacts the base of the brewing receptacle (4), thus enabling the brewing receptacle (4) to be heated from below, characterized by a contact sensor (6) that is disposed at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) and detects if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4), which is pushed by the heater (5) moving upwards at the beginning of the brewing process, bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3), and a control unit (7) that starts or does not start the brewing process according to the data received from the contact sensor (6).
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (7) that starts the brewing process if the brewing receptacle (4) bears against the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6).
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (7) that enables the user to be warned visually and/or aurally if the brewing receptacle (4) does not bear against the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6).
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a sealing gasket (8) that is disposed at the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) and against which the edges of the brewing receptacle (4) bear, and the contact sensor (6) is concealed inside the sealing gasket (8).
A coffee machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the contact sensor (6) that has a diameter wider than the wall thickness of the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4).
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least three contact sensors (6) that detect if the brewing receptacle (4) contacts along the periphery of its upper edge and that are disposed to the brewing chamber (3) or into the sealing gasket (8) in a circular manner at equal intervals.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the contact sensor (6) performs detection in two stages, in the first stage, detects if the brewing receptacle (4) is in the brewing chamber (3) and in the second stage, detects if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4), as the heater (5) is lifted up, bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3).
A control method used in a coffee machine (1) as in the above claims and executed by the control unit (7), comprising the steps of

- Moving the heater (5) upwards with the user's start command, the heater (5) not realizing its heating function,

- Receiving data from the contact sensor (6),

- Starting the brewing process if the brewing receptacle (4) is inside the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6),

- Operating and moving the heater (5) upwards again,

- Receiving data from the contact sensor (6) again,

- Stopping the brewing process and warning the user if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4) does not bear against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6),

- Continuing the brewing process if the upper edge of the brewing receptacle (4) bears against the ceiling of the brewing chamber (3) according to the data received from the contact sensor (6).