GB2140286A

GB2140286A - Espresso coffee machine for domestic use

Info

Publication number: GB2140286A
Application number: GB08410153A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfredo Cavalli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-04-21
Filing date: 1984-04-18
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB2140286B; ES278934U; GB8410153D0; ES278934Y; DE8411167U1; FR2544604A3; CH657264A5; IT8321614V0; BE899452A; FR2544604B3

Abstract

An espresso coffee machine has a casing body (2) with a vertical housing (3) in which a water reservoir (4) is removably inserted. A sprung support (8) is provided in the housing (3) and is resiliently yieldable under the weight of the reservoir (4) full of water. The support (8) interacts with a switch (13) connected in the supply circuits of one or more indicator lights (14, 15) and preferably also the circuit of the water pump (5) which draws water from the reservoir (4). When the water is nearly exhausted the support (8) rises, causing the extinction of a green light (15) and/or the lighting of a red light (14) and/or the stopping of the pump (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Espresso coffee machine for domestic use The present invention relates to an espresso coffee machine for domestic use, of the type comprising a casing body having a vertical housing in which a water reservoir is removably inserted, and a pump for drawing water from the reservoir.

Espresso coffee machines for domestic use, as is known, must be switched off when the water in the reservoir is nearly exhausted in order to avoid damage to the machine itself.

For this purpose various safety devices have been proposed of the type using, for example, floats or other level sensors located in the reservoir which indicate the exhaustion of the water, and possibly stop the pump.

In the case of the espresso coffee machines most widely used at present, to which the present invention refers, the water reservoir is removable and safety devices of the aforesaid type are difficult to adapt to them; moreover such devices can break or deform or be put out of action because of the more or less frequent handling of the water reservoir with which they are associated.

The object of the present invention is to provide an espresso coffee machine for domestic use having both a removable reservoir and a device for indicating an insufficient level of water in the reservoir, which is particularly simple in construction and in use.

According to the present invention there is provided an espresso coffee machine of the aforesaid type, which includes a support in the vertical housing which is resiliently yieldable under the weight of the reservoir itself, a switch fixed to the casing body and operated by the support when the reservoir has a predetermined position in the housing, and at least one indicator light controlled by the switch.

To advantage, the yieldable support comprises a first-order lever pivoted on the casing body, having one arm extending into the housing for supporting the reservoir, and a calibrated spring acting on the lever, the switch being operated by the other arm of the lever.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an espresso coffee machine for domestic use according to the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine of Fig. 1 with the reservoir full of water; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the machine of Fig. 1 in which the water in the reservoir is close to exhaustion.

An espresso coffee machine 1 for domestic use according to the invention comprises a casing body 2 having a vertical housing 3; a water reservoir 4 is removably inserted in the housing 3.

The machine 1 further includes a water pump 5 which draws water from the reservoir 4 through a flexible tube 6 and delivers it to the boiler (not illustrated, since it is entirely conventional). The flexible tube 6, which has an essentially inverted U-shape, enters the reservoir 4 from above and extends vertically therein, drawing the water from close to the bottom 7 of the reservoir 4.

The machine 1 further includes a first-order lever 8 pivoted internally to the body 2 about a horizontal axis. The lever 8 has a first arm 9 which projects horizontally into the housing 3 close to a horizontal bottom ledge 10 of the housing 3. Spring means act between the lever 8 and the body 2 so as to oppose downward movement of the arm 9; these means, in this example, comprise a spring 11 tensioned between the body 2 and the second arm 1 2 of the lever 8. The lever 8 is thus movable between a first position in which the arm 9 is level with the bottom ledge 10 of the housing 3 and a second position in which the arm 9 is raised. The lever 8 so disposed thus forms a resiliently yieldable support for the reservoir 4 in the housing 3.

To advantage, the spring 11 is calibrated so that the moment exerted thereby on the lever 8 is equal and opposite to that exerted on the same lever 8 by the reservoir 4 when the water contained therein is at the level held to be the minimum level for safe operation of the machine.

The arm 1 2 of the lever 8 operates a switch 1 3 fixed to the body 2; more particularly, the switch 1 3 is of the push-button type, which is pressed by the arm 1 2 when the lever 8 is in its first position.

The switch 13, in an entirely conventional manner, controls the pump 5 allowing it to operate when the switch is pressed by the lever 8 in the first position of the latter, that is, when the level of the water in the reservoir 4 is sufficient.

The switch 1 3 also controls, in an entirely conventional manner, a first alarm indicator light 14 and a second indicator light 15: the light 14, preferably red, is connected so as to be lit when the switch 1 3 is not pressed (that is, when the level of water in the reservoir 4 is insufficient); the light 15, preferably green, is connected in the opposite manner, that is, so as to be lit when the switch 1 3 is pressed (that is, when the level of the water in the reservoir 4 is sufficient). The lights 1 4 and 1 5 are mounted on the outside of the body 2.

The operation of the espresso coffee machine 1 is as described below.

The reservoir 4 rests on the arm 9 of the lever 8; when the reservoir 4 is full of water the weight of the reservoir 4 acting on the arm 9 depresses the latter, against the action of the spring 11. The lever 8 is thus in the first position described and the switch 1 3 is pressed, whereby the pump 5 can operate and the green light 1 5 is lit, indicating correct operation. The reservoir 4 rests on the bottom ledge 10 (Fig. 2).

As the level of water falls, the weight of the reservoir 4 diminishes; at a certain level, prefixed as the minimum, the moment exerted on the lever 8 of the spring 11 is greater than that exerted by the reservoir 4 and the lever 8 moves into the second position, lifting the reservoir 4 off the bottom ledge 1 0. The switch 1 3 is thus released, stopping the pump 5, switching off the green light 1 5 and switching on the red light 14, which thus indicates the need to refill the reservoir 4 with water, when the reservoir 4 has a predetermined position in the housing 3.

In order to effect the refilling, it is necessary to remove the reservoir 4 from the housing 3; this operation is not obstructed in the least by the tube 6, which is flexible. Once removed, the reservoir 4 can be filled directly from a tap.

After refilling, the reservoir 4 is replaced in the housing 3, and the flexible tube 6 is put back in position. The weight of the full reservoir 4 returns the lever 8 to its first position, switching on the green light 1 5 and allowing the pump 5 to operate again.

It will be evident that many variations may be made in the invention as described. For example, the pump 5 and the lights 1 4 and 1 5 may be controlled by different switches operable by the resiliently yieldable reservoir support.

Claims

1. An espresso coffee machine for domestic use, comprising a casing body having a vertical housing in which a water reservoir is removably inserted, and a pump for drawing water from the reservoir, in which the machine further includes a support in the housing which is resiliently yieldable under the weight of the reservoir itself, a switch fixed to the casing body and operated by the support when the reservoir has a predetermined position in the housing, and at least one indicator light controlled by the switch.

2. An espresso coffee machine according to Claim 1, in which the yieldable support comprises a first-order lever pivoted on the casing body and having one arm extending into the housing for supporting the reservoir, and a calibrated spring acting on the lever, the switch being operated by the other arm of the lever.

3. An espresso coffee machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the pump is also controlled by the switch.

4. An espresso coffee machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the pump is controlled by a separate switch operable by the resiliently yieldable reservoir support.

5. An espresso coffee machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.