EP3291711A1

EP3291711A1 - A coffee machine wherein transfer of coffee to an exterior receptacle is improved and the control method thereof

Info

Publication number: EP3291711A1
Application number: EP16720443.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Musa OZDEMIR; Ahmet SOZEN; Cagatay Buyuktopcu; Ozkan AKGUL
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-05-07
Filing date: 2016-05-05
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Also published as: TR201716968T1; WO2016177847A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coffee machine (1 ) comprising a body (2), a brewing chamber (3) disposed inside the body (2), a heater (4) providing the heating of the brewing chamber (3), a level sensor (5) providing the measurement of the water-coffee mixture in the brewing chamber (3) and a valve (6) providing the transfer of the liquid inside the brewing chamber (3) to an exterior receptacle (H).

Description

A COFFEE MACHINE WHEREIN TRANSFER OF COFFEE TO AN EXTERIOR RECEPTACLE IS IMPROVED AND THE CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a coffee machine comprising a level sensor disposed at the upper part of the brewing chamber wherein coffee is brewed and providing the detection of whether or not the coffee is ready and a valve that provides the transfer of the coffee in the brewing chamber to an exterior receptacle.
In coffee machines wherein the coffee is prepared in the brewing chamber and poured into the cup or the pot, coffee and foam residues may accumulate in the brewing chamber after the brewing process. The settled down coffee grounds that are formed by finely ground, small sized granules especially like Turkish coffee can accumulate on the valve providing the transfer of coffee to the exterior receptacle and adversely affect the transfer of coffee to the exterior receptacle. Furthermore, in the case the electronic and mechanical components used in opening/closing the valve malfunction, the valve can be detected as open even though not opened. In this situation, the coffee in the brewing chamber cannot be emptied and can cause overflowing. In such a situation, whether or not the valve is clogged or opened should be determined effectively.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2007071567, a coffee machine is disclosed that comprises a foam level sensor providing the measurement of the level of the coffee.
In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. CN104095537, a coffee machine is disclosed wherein the cup is detected by using an infrared sensor.
In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. CN203074335, a coffee machine is disclosed, wherein the water in the water tank is detected by an infrared transmitter and receiver.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a coffee machine wherein the open position of the valve providing the transfer of the coffee in the brewing chamber into an exterior receptacle is determined effectively.
The coffee machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims, comprises a level sensor that provides the measurement of the level of the water-coffee mixture in the brewing chamber; a valve that is disposed on the brewing chamber and that provides the transfer of the coffee into an exterior receptacle, and a control unit that calculates the transfer speed while the brewed coffee in the brewing chamber is transferred to an exterior receptacle by performing measurement by means of the level sensor and comparing the calculated transfer speed with a limit transfer speed recorded in its memory and that decides that the brewing chamber is dirty if the calculated transfer speed is smaller than the limit transfer speed. By means of the present invention, whether or not the valve is clogged is detected by performing measurements during the transfer of the liquid in the brewing chamber by the presently used level sensor and calculating the transfer speed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit enables the user to be warned that the valve is clogged if the calculated transfer speed is smaller than the limit transfer speed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the valve is a poppet type valve that enables the transfer to be made precisely and provides a quality seal-proofing by creating vacuum effect while closing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine comprises a safety switch that is disposed at the lower part of the brewing chamber, that is used in case of emergency and that enables the coffee in the brewing chamber to be poured into a discharge container. The control unit warns the user to empty the brewing chamber by using the safety switch upon deciding that the valve is clogged.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit enables the safety switch to be opened when the valve is completely clogged, in other words when the transfer speed is almost zero. In this embodiment, the safety switch has the feature of opening/closing under the control of the control unit and is automatically opened when the valve is clogged.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine is a Turkish coffee machine.
The control method of the present invention comprises the steps of opening the valve when the brewing process is completed, calculating the transfer speed during transfer by performing measurements by means of the level sensor, comparing the calculated transfer speed with the limit transfer speed value, continuing the transfer process if the calculated transfer speed is greater than the limit transfer speed value, and closing the valve when transfer is completed, warning the user and/or opening the safety switch if the calculated transfer speed is smaller than the limit transfer speed value.
In the coffee machine of the present invention, the user is warned to enable the brewing chamber to be emptied when the valve does not open due to electronic or mechanical malfunctions or if the accumulated coffee residues clog the valve by calculating and monitoring the transfer speed by using the level sensor.
The coffee machine realized to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the sideways schematic view of a coffee machine.
Figure 2 – is the flow chart of the control method of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures and the steps are numbered as follows:

Coffee machine
Body
Brewing chamber
Heater
Level sensor
Valve
Control unit
Safety switch

101. Opening the valve after the brewing process is completed
102. Calculating the transfer speed by making measurement with the level sensor
103. Comparing the calculated transfer speed with the limit transfer speed value
104. deciding by the control unit that the valve operates without problems if the calculated transfer speed is greater than the limit transfer speed value and closing the valve when the brewing chamber is completely empty
105. Deciding that the valve is clogged if the calculated transfer speed is smaller than the limit transfer speed value and warning the user and/or opening the safety switch.
The following symbols are used so that the present invention is understood better:
V. Calculated transfer speed
Vlim. A limit transfer speed predetermined by the producer
Ve. A safety speed predetermined by the producer
The coffee machine (1) comprises a body (2), a brewing chamber (3) disposed inside the body (2), a heater (4) providing the heating of the brewing chamber (3), a level sensor (5) providing the measurement of the water-coffee mixture in the brewing chamber (3) during brewing and a valve (6) providing the transfer of the liquid inside the brewing chamber (3) to an exterior receptacle (H).
In the coffee machine (1), coffee is delivered to the brewing chamber (3) automatically or by the user filling manually. As the user gives the start brewing command, water is delivered to the brewing chamber (3) from the water tank ( not shown in the figures) by a pump (not shown in the figures) and the water conduit (not shown in the figures) and the heater (4) provides the brewing of the coffee by heating the brewing chamber (3). The level sensor (5) helps in deciding whether or not the brewing process is completed by measuring the level of the water–coffee mixture in the brewing chamber (3). The prepared coffee in the brewing chamber (3) is transferred into an exterior receptacle (H) by means of the valve (6).
The level sensor (5) is preferably an infrared sensor and measures the height of the water–coffee mixture from the base of the brewing chamber (3). When the coffee is brewed and ready, the level rises with the foam formed thereon and the level sensor (5) provides the decision of whether or not the brewing process is completed to be made.
The coffee machine (1) of the present invention comprises a control unit (7) that provides the realization of the measurement by the level sensor (5), the calculation of the transfer speed (V) with the data received from the level sensor (5), the comparison of the calculated transfer speed (V) with a limit transfer speed value (Vlim) predetermined by the producer and the determination of clogginess of the valve (6) as a result of the comparison after the brewing process is completed and during transfer to the exterior receptacle (H).
When coffee residues accumulate on the valve (6), the accumulated residues cause the brewed coffee in the brewing chamber (3) to be transferred to the exterior receptacle (H) more slowly. During the transfer, the value obtained from the measurement performed by the level sensor (5) is divided by the transfer time, in other words the time during which the valve (6) is open, by the control unit (7) and the transfer speed (V) is calculated. The producer determines a limit transfer speed value (Vlim) within certain tolerances as a result of conducted experiments and this limit transfer speed value (Vlim) is saved in the memory of the control unit (7).
The control unit (7) calculates the transfer speed (V) by enabling the level sensor (5) to make measurements during the transfer and compares the calculated transfer speed (V) with the limit transfer speed value (Vlim). If the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim), the control unit (7) decides that the valve (6) is clogged. If the calculated transfer speed (V) is greater than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim), the control unit (7) decides that the valve (6) is clean and operating without problems.
In an embodiment of the present invention, upon deciding that the valve (6) is clogged, technically the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) predetermined by the producer, the control unit (7) enables the user to be warned. In this embodiment, the user is warned that the valve (6) is dirty. Thus, the automatic cleaning mechanism has to be operated, if there is one, or the user is informed that the valve (6) has to be cleaned manually.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the valve (6) is a poppet type valve, also known as mushroom valve, that provides strong leak-proofing and enables the transfer to be controlled effectively and precisely.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) comprises a safety switch (8) that is disposed on the base of the brewing chamber (3), that enables the liquid inside the brewing chamber (3) to be discharged, in other words the brewing chamber (3) to be completely emptied without using the valve (6). When the safety switch (8) is opened, the liquid inside the brewing chamber (3) is discharged through the safety switch (8). In a version of this embodiment, the safety switch (8) is a plug and when the valve (6) is clogged the user can detach the brewing chamber (3), open the plug and empty the brewing chamber (3).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (7) enables the safety switch (8) to be opened if the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than a safety speed value (Ve) predetermined by the producer. In this embodiment, the safety speed (Ve) value is a value almost around zero, and the control unit (7) is activated when the valve (6) is almost completely clogged and the transfer speed (V) is almost zero. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the safety switch (8) can be opened/closed under the control of the control unit (7) or can be a plug that can be controlled electrically. While the valve (6) is open, if the coffee or any other liquid in the brewing chamber (3) cannot be emptied completely, in other words, if the transfer operation stops, the control unit (7) enables the safety switch (8) to be opened and the brewing chamber (3) to be emptied. The discharged liquid is transferred to the exterior receptacle (H) or the liquid waste collection region of the coffee machine (1).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) is suitable to prepare Turkish coffee.
The control method of the present invention used in the above-disclosed coffee machine (1) and executed by the control unit (7), comprises the following steps for determining the clogginess of the valve (6),
- opening the valve (6) after the brewing process is completed (101),
- calculating the transfer speed (V) by providing the measurement by means of the level sensor (5) (102),
- comparing the calculated transfer speed (V) with the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) (103),
- deciding by the control unit (7) that the valve (6) operates without problems if the calculated transfer speed (V) is greater than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) and closing the valve (6) when the brewing chamber (3) is completely empty (104),
- deciding that the valve (6) is clogged if the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) and warning the user and/or opening the safety switch (8) (105).
In the coffee machine (1) of the present invention, by utilizing the present level sensor (5) that is used for detecting the brewing status of the coffee, whether or not there is a problem with the valve (6) can be determined by means of taking measurements with the level sensor (5) during the transfer of coffee.

Claims

A coffee machine (1) comprising a body (2), a brewing chamber (3) disposed inside the body (2), a heater (4) providing the heating of the brewing chamber (3), a level sensor (5) providing the measurement of the water-coffee mixture in the brewing chamber (3) and a valve (6) providing the transfer of the liquid inside the brewing chamber (3) to an exterior receptacle (H), characterized by the level sensor (5) that detects the level of liquid in the brewing chamber (3) after the brewing process is completed and during the transfer of the liquid to the exterior receptacle (H) and a control unit (7) that provides the calculation of the transfer speed (V) with the data received from the level sensor (5), and that decides that the valve (6) is clogged if the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than a limit transfer speed value (Vlim) predetermined by the producer.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (7) that enables the user to be warned if the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) predetermined by the producer.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the poppet-type valve (6).
4 - A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a safety switch (8) that is disposed on the base of the brewing chamber (3) and that enables the liquid inside the brewing chamber (3) to be discharged.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the safety switch (8) that is controlled electrically by the control unit (7) and the control unit (7) that enables the safety switch (8) to be opened if the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) predetermined by the producer.
A coffee machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, that is suitable to prepare Turkish coffee.
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:

- opening the valve (6) after the brewing process is completed (101),

- calculating the transfer speed (V) by making measurement with the level sensor (5) (102),

- comparing the calculated transfer speed (V) with the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) (103),

- deciding by the control unit (7) that the valve (6) operates without problems if the calculated transfer speed (V) is greater than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) and closing the valve (6) when the brewing chamber (3) is completely empty (104),

- deciding that the valve (6) is clogged if the calculated transfer speed (V) is smaller than the limit transfer speed value (Vlim) and warning the user and/or opening the safety switch (8) (105).