FR2549708A1 - Dispensing unit for an espresso coffee machine which can be controlled by means of a pipe delivering steam - Google Patents

Abstract

This dispensing unit for an espresso coffee machine comprises a dispensing body 16 in which slides a slide dispenser 11 capable of selectively placing in communication an entry opening 12 for the fluid, which generally comes from a reservoir, with a steam and/or hot water delivery pipe 14 and with an outlet opening 13 towards a coffee filter holder, characterised in that the said pipe can turn in the body of the dispenser and is firmly attached to means capable of changing the position of the said slide dispenser 11 when the said pipe 14 is rotated.

Description

 The present invention relates to an espresso machine dispenser group in which the displacement of the steam flow pipe makes it possible to select the flow of water and / or steam and to direct it towards the part where the filter holder is mounted. coffee or to the pipe itself.

 Coffee machines are already known in which the switching of the distributor group is carried out by actuating electric press buttons provided for this purpose or levers connected directly and mechanically to the distributor placed in the drawer where the steam flow arrives.

 The present invention aims to eliminate said actuations and controls by providing a direct system for selecting the flow of water and / or steam.

 This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by producing a dispenser group for an express coffee machine of the type comprising a dispenser-body inside of which slides a dispenser with drawer capable of selectively communicating an inlet mouth of the fluid, generally coming from a reservoir, with a steam flow pipe and with an outlet to a coffee filter holder, characterized in that the said pipe can rotate in the distributor body and is integral with other means capable of changing the position of said drawer distributor when the said pipe is caused to rotate.

 The structural and operating characteristics of a distributor group according to the invention will be better understood thanks to the description below made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On these drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the distributor group according to the invention in the position of flow of steam and hot water through the pipe.

 Figure 2 is a view like that of Figure 1, but in the water flow position for coffee production.

 Referring to these drawings, in an express coffee machine (not shown), a distributor group 10 comprises according to the invention, a drawer distributor 11 for directing the flow of water and / or steam, supplied by a mouth inlet 12 either to the outlet mouth 13 and the coffee filter holder (not shown), or to a pipe 14 for steam flow.

 Said drawer distributor i1 comprises two parts of enlarged diameter 15, separated from each other, for guiding in the body 16 of the distributor group, a first packing 17 for closing an opening 18 towards the pipe 14 and a second seal 19 for closing the outlet mouth 13.

 The pipe 14, duly supported and capable of turning, with the required seal, in the body 16 of the group 10, is provided with a perforated connection 20 wedged on its upper part this connection ends in a small cam-shaped disc suitable to be placed between the two enlarged parts 15 of the drawer distributor 11.

 A socket 22, made of heat-insulating material, is mounted on the lower part of the pipe 14.

 The operation and actuation of a distributor group produced according to the invention are briefly described below.

 When the distributor group 10 is in the position of FIG. 1, the water and the steam coming from the tank and the heat exchanger (not shown) pass from the inlet mouth 12 to the body 16 of the distributor. through the opening 18 and, through the hole of the connector 20, arrive at the pipe 14.

 By taking the pipe 14 by means of the insulating sleeve 22, it is made to rotate inside the body 16 and it is placed in the position of FIG. 2.

 The small eccentric disk 21 rotates and thus causes the displacement of the slide valve 11, so that the lining 17 closes the opening 18, while the lining 19 releases the outlet mouth 13.

 The hot water coming from the inlet mouth 12 is thus sent, through the outlet mouth 13, to the filter holder containing the coffee.

 Such a distributor group makes it possible to achieve considerable savings with regard to the materials and the operations to be carried out and, at the same time, presents a certain ease of use.

Claims (2)

 1- Dispenser group for an express coffee machine of the type comprising a dispenser body (16) in which slides a drawer dispenser (11) capable of selectively placing an inlet mouth (12) of the fluid, which generally comes from a tank, with a pipe (14) for delivering steam and / or hot water and with an outlet (13) to a coffee filter holder, characterized in that the said pipe can rotate in the body of the distributor and is integral with means capable of changing the position of said drawer distributor (11) when the rotation of said pipe (14) is caused.  2- distributor group according to claim 1, characterized in that said means comprise a perforated connection (20), wedged on one end of said pipe (11) and carrying an eccentric disc capable of being placed between two parts of said drawer distributor ( 11) with an enlarged diameter (15) and to control the movement of this drawer distributor (11).