WO2011108016A1 - Innovative domestic appliance with dual function - Google Patents
Innovative domestic appliance with dual function Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2011108016A1 WO2011108016A1 PCT/IT2011/000043 IT2011000043W WO2011108016A1 WO 2011108016 A1 WO2011108016 A1 WO 2011108016A1 IT 2011000043 W IT2011000043 W IT 2011000043W WO 2011108016 A1 WO2011108016 A1 WO 2011108016A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- espresso
- domestic appliance
- coffee
- microwaves
- innovative
- Prior art date
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
- A47J31/547—Water boiling vessels in beverage making machines using microwave energy for heating the water
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- 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
- A47J31/3666—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 whereby the loading of the brewing chamber with the brewing material is performed by the user
- A47J31/3676—Cartridges being employed
- A47J31/369—Impermeable cartridges being employed
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
- H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
- H05B6/80—Apparatus for specific applications
- H05B6/802—Apparatus for specific applications for heating fluids
Abstract
The present invention wants to realize an innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, able to function both as a classic microwave oven, to cook and/or to heat foods and drinks, both as an innovative microwave espresso machine for prepare, in few seconds, espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages. The usage of the domestic appliance (1) as "microwave espresso machine" may also be simultaneously with the usage as "microwave oven". The microwaves generator module and the electronic module of power and control of the domestic appliance (1) are used both for cooking or heating foods and drinks, both to heat the liquid necessary to prepare espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages; in this case, the end-user gets a significant cost savings (because he gets two products in one, among other things realized with the fewest components), a decrease of malfunctions and also a good energy savings because now the liguid (water, milk, rum or other) necessary to prepare the espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages (milk-coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, punch, etc.), is guickly heated by microwaves generator which remains powered for only few seconds (without unnecessary initial intervals of machine heating), just long enough to heat the liquid to a predetermined temperature.
Description
TITLE
INNOVATIVE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE WITH DUAL FUNCTION
Text of the description
A) Reasons, objectives and state of the art
The present invention wants to realize an innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, able to function both as a classic microwave oven, to cook and/or to heat foods and drinks, both as an innovative microwave espresso machine for prepare, in few seconds, espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages.
The usage of the domestic appliance (1) as "microwave espresso machine" may also be simultaneously with the usage as "microwave oven".
The microwaves generator module (magnetron) and the electronic module of power and control are used both for cooking or heating foods and drinks, both to heat the liquid necessary to prepare espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages; in this case, the end-user gets a significant cost savings (because he gets two products in one, among other things realized with the fewest components), a decrease of malfunctions and also a good energy savings because now the liguid (water, milk or other/for example rum) necessary to prepare the espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages (milk- coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, punch, etc.), is guicklv heated by microwaves generator (magnetron) which remains powered for only few seconds (without unnecessary initial intervals of machine heating), just long enough to heat the liquid to a predetermined temperature (for example, for the espresso-coffee the optimal temperature of the water is 85-92 °C).
At present does not exist anything like, known and/or on the market. In the state of the art there are some prior documents, JP2274211 , EP1658795, EP1532909, US4386109, WO2005/079640, US6229128, US2006/191913, EP1541071 , EP0037643, JP3133087, but they are different from the present invention and they haven't its innovative features.
B) Description and operation
The present invention wants to realize an innovative domestic appliance (1) that allows the two following functions:
a) to cook and/or to heat foods and drinks (operation mode as classic "microwave oven");
b) to prepare, in few seconds, an excellent espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages (operation mode as innovative "microwave espresso machine"). These two functions may be used, by end user, even at the same time, i.e. said innovative domestic appliance (1) may be used, also simultaneously, both to cook and/or to heat foods and drinks (operation mode as classic "microwave oven"), both to prepare, in few seconds, the espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages (operation mode as innovative "microwave espresso machine").
By purchasing this innovative domestic appliance (1), with dual function, the end users may obtain a significant cost savings (because he gets two products in one: a classic microwave oven and an innovative "microwave espresso machine") and also a good energy savings because, during the preparation of espresso-coffee or other hot beverages, the microwaves generator (magnetron) heats guickly the liquid (water, milk or other) and, in addition, it remains powered for only a few seconds (without unnecessary initial intervals of machine heating), just long enough to heat the liquid to a predetermined temperature (for example, for the espresso-coffee the optimal temperature of the water is 85-92 °C).
Specifically the invention relates an innovative domestic appliance (1) (see drawings 1-6) composed by a "classic microwave oven" and by an innovative "microwave espresso machine" able to prepare the espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages; these two modules will be among them appropriately combined and integrated, for work also in contemporary. The domestic appliance (1) allows to obtain the following advantages for the end users:
- a significant cost savings, because now they get two products in one (a classic "microwave oven" and an innovative "microwave espresso machine");
- a decrease of malfunctions, because inside the espresso-machine there is no passage of liquid, given that now the liquid is contained inside a special disposable cartridge (10); the innovative microwave-espresso-machine is without "liquid container", "pump" and "boiler";
- a good energy savings during the preparation of the hot beverages (espresso-coffee, milk-coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, punch,
etc.), because now the liquid, necessary to prepare the espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages and contained inside said disposable cartridge (10), is quickly heated by microwaves generator which remains powered for only few seconds, just long enough to heat the liquid to a predetermined temperature.
The innovative domestic appliance (1) comprises at least the following components and features (see drawings 1-6, figures 1-8):
- a first chamber (2), used for cooking and heating of foods and/or drinks;
- a second chamber (3), used for preparation of espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages and constructed to allow easy insertion, attachment and removal of a special disposable cartridge (10) containing all the components necessary to prepare the hot beverage (espresso-coffee, milk-coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.), i.e. the liquid (water, milk preferably long-life, or other) and the product, in powder and/or in granules (coffee, cocoa, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.);
- a microwaves generator module (4), used to send the microwaves stream inside the first chamber (2) and/or inside the second chamber (3) and therefore used both for cooking or heating foods and drinks, both to heat the liquid necessary to prepare the espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages; - at least an internal bulkhead (5), openable and closable manually and/or automatically (through specific electrical controls or other), which allows, when is closed, to have said first chamber (2) separate from said second chamber (3), i.e. not in communication, or allows, when is opened, that said first chamber (2) is in communication with said second chamber (3), obtaining in this last case a kind of single chamber that can be crossed by a single stream of microwaves;
- two external doors of security, (6) and (7), that are separated each other and with independent system of opening and closing, being the first external door (6) used to insert and remove foods and drinks for cooking or heating, and the second external door (7) used to insert and remove the disposable cartridge (10) utilized to prepare espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages, and being also used, said two doors (6) and (7), to protect the users by microwaves leaking;
- a compression module (8), used to compress the disposable cartridge (10)
so that the liquid (water, milk or other), contained inside said disposable cartridge (10) and previously heated by microwaves, may be mixed with the product (coffee, cocoa, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.), also it contained inside said disposable cartridge (10), thereby obtaining the desired hot beverage (espresso-coffee, milk-coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.).
Thanks to the opening or closing of said at least one internal bulkhead (5), the users have the ability to cook or to heat foods and drinks (function mode as "microwave oven"), or to prepare only the espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages (function mode as "espresso machine"), or to cook, to heat, foods and drinks and also to prepare, at the same time, the espresso-coffee and/or hot beverages (function mode as "microwave oven" and as "microwave espresso machine").
When said at least one internal bulkhead (5) is closed the users have the ability to use the domestic appliance (1) only as "microwave oven", being in this case crossable by microwaves only the first chamber (2), and when said at least one bulkhead (5) is open the users have the ability to use the domestic appliance (1) as "espresso machine" or as "microwave oven and espresso machine", being now crossable by microwaves both the first chamber (2), both the second chamber (3).
The internal bulkhead (5) can be opened and closed manually and/or automatically (by specific electromechanical actuator -for example a small stepping motor- electronically controlled by microcontroller, or by other suitable electrical and/or pneumatic apparatus), with "linear" movement (vertical or horizontal) or "rotational" (clockwise or not). The internal bulkhead (5) in practice it is a kind of inner panel (which separates or connects the two chambers (2) and (3)), openable and closable manually or using specific electric and/or pneumatic controls.
The special disposable cartridge (10), inserted inside the second chamber (3), used to prepare espresso-coffee and/or hot beverages, contains all components needed to prepare the desired beverage, i.e. the liguid (water, milk or other), contained inside a small tank (11) collapsible, and the product (in powder and/or in granules, coffee, cocoa, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.) contained inside a capsule (12) (preferably with micro-holes, or without holes in its lower part and then later perforated by the machine, using needles),
which is in communication, through small valve or thin membrane, with said tank (11) and it is positioned below it. The tank (11), the capsule (12) and the valve or thin membrane are the principal components of said disposable cartridge (10).
The "compression" module (8) gradually begins to compress the upper zone of the tank (11), so that the hot liquid can flow (through the small valve or thin membrane) inside the capsule (12), containing the product (in powder and/or in granules), thereby obtaining the mixing and the infusion of hot beverage (espresso-coffee or other).
The microwaves generator module (4) comprises at least a magnetron used both to cook or to heat foods and drinks, both to heat the liquid (water, milk or other) contained inside the disposable cartridge (10) and needed to prepare the espresso-coffee and/or hot beverages.
Once finished the heating phase, through microwaves, of the liquid (water, milk or other) contained inside the tank (11) of the disposable cartridge (10), said at least one internal bulkhead (5) is automatically closed, thus separating, between them, the two chambers (2) and (3).
Once finished the heating phase (through microwaves) of the liquid (water, milk or other) contained inside the disposable cartridge (10), the microwaves generator module (4), if not also used, in that moment, for cooking or heating foods and/or drinks, (i.e. if not also used as "microwave oven"), is automatically switched off (by electronic module of power and control).
The compression module (8), used to compress the tank (11) (containing the heated liquid) of said disposable cartridge (10) (belonging to the "espresso- machine"), is preferably realized by a small piston (81), operated electrically by a special electromechanical actuator (82) preferably realized by a small electric motor (stepping motor or other).
The small piston (81) compresses (gradually and/or with different speeds and with some atmospheres pressure, that for coffee usually are more than 7-8) the "upper" part of the tank (11) of the disposable cartridge (10), which of course will be "collapsible", i.e. with a shape as a "bellows" or with a mobile wall as a "syringe" (drawings n. 4, 5 and 6 - figures n. 6, 7 and 8).
Thanks to the use of the specific disposable cartridge (10) and of the compression module (8) the user can choose, through the selecting and the
adjusting (pressing special keys) of the amount of liquid to compress (water, milk or other/for example rum) and of the speed of this compression, the type and the quality of the hot beverage, i.e. he can choose the "length" of the beverage (short, normal or long) and its "concentration" (strong, normal or light). For example, if the user wants to get an espresso-coffee "short" and "strong" (selection via specific keys) the domestic appliance (1) uses (through the compression module (8)) only a part of the water contained inside the tank (11) of the disposable cartridge (10) and initiates the compression (through piston (81)) at a high enough speed.
The second chamber (3) and the second external door (7) (when is closed) constitute a sort of Faraday-cage that prevents at the flow of microwaves the exit from the domestic appliance (1), during the heating phase of the liquid contained in the disposable cartridge (10) and then used (said liquid) to prepare the espresso-coffee and/or other beverages. For this reason, the second external door of security (7), as the first door (6), is preferably composed by a glass connected with a wire mesh.
The domestic appliance (1) also comprises a single electronic module of power and control, used for the operation of the domestic appliance (1) both as "microwave oven", both as "espresso-machine" (to prepare espresso- coffee and/or other hot beverages), and being preferably composed, said electronic module, by transformer, rectifiers, capacitors, one or more waveguides, fan, various selection keys (used to choose the operation mode of the domestic appliance (1), as "microwave oven" and/or as "microwave espresso machine", and the "type" of the hot beverage -light, normal, short, long, etc.-), one or more displays, one or more timers, controller, microprocessor and other.
To obtain the maximum safety for users, if they want to prepare an espresso coffee (or other hot beverage) even when the microwaves generator module (4) (magnetron) is already turned on (i.e. already in operation) in operative mode as "microwave oven" (to heat or to cook foods and/or drinks), the domestic appliance (1) will operate in the following way:
a) the internal bulkhead (5), under conditions of absence of coffee preparation (or other hot beverages), will be always "closed", so that it prevents that the microwaves stream penetrates inside the second chamber
(3);
b) the internal bulkhead (5) will be "open" (by a specific control, electric and/or pneumatic), so putting in communication the second chamber (3) with the microwaves generator module (4) (magnetron), only after that the disposable cartridge (10) will be inserted into a specific housing inside the second chamber (3) and only after that has been closed, by the user, the second protection door (7) (connected with the espresso-machine module), thereby obtaining that only from this moment the microwaves, emitted by said magnetron module (4), can heat the tank of liquid (11) (of the disposable cartridge (10)) present inside the second chamber (3) (used only for the preparation of espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages) thus obtaining, for users, the maximum safety from the perspective of hazards due to electromagnetic radiation of microwaves.
The condition of "opening" and "closing" of the external doors of security (6) and (7) can be detected (by control system of domestic appliance (1)) preferably through specific electrical signals on/off.
The "opening" of one or both of the protection doors (6) and (7) is allowed (for users safety) only when said magnetron module (4) (generating microwaves) is turned off; for this purpose it is expected (through a specific electrical command) the immediate shutdown of said module (4) (generating microwaves) when one of said two doors (6) and (7) is manually opened, by the user, during the activity of said microwave module (4).
The two chambers (2) and (3) are adjacent between them, horizontally (i.e. placed in the same plane, or almost) or vertically (i.e. placed one above the other).
The domestic appliance (1) also calculates how many hot beverages have been prepared in a predetermined time interval, thus obtaining the possibility that, in the case where the count is less than a predetermined threshold, the domestic appliance (1) cannot also be used as classic "microwave oven" (in this case there is the disabling -preferably by microprocessor- of magnetron module (4)) until the user has not purchased and consumed, in a given time interval, a minimum number of disposable cartridges (10) for hot beverages (coffee or other). This control is important in case in which the domestic appliance (1) is not sold but is provided with loan free. It would be enough to
count how many times (in a predetermined period of time) is pressed the key to start the preparation of the hot beverage, but, to avoid any deception by users, is preferably that the domestic appliance (1) has an electronic counter preferably and principally composed by an on/off contact sensor and/or a proximity sensor (controlled by microprocessor) which, for each new hot beverage prepared, detects the movement of piston (81 ) (belonging to the compression module (8)), or detects the presence, in its housing, of the disposable cartridge (10), with the consequent update of the total count of hot beverages prepared in a predetermined period of time.
C) Background art
In the state of the art there are some prior documents, JP227421 1 , EP1658795, EP1532909, US4386109, WO2005/079640, US6229128, US2006/191913, EP1541071 , EP0037643, JP3133087, but they are different from the present invention and they haven't its innovative features.
The present invention is different from these cited documents, at least for the following reasons:
1) it is able to function, also simultaneously, both as a "classic" microwave oven, to cook and/or to warm food and drinks, as both "innovative" microwave espresso machine for prepare, in few seconds, by using a special disposable cartridge (10), the espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages;
2) it comprises at least the following innovative components and features: 2a) at least an internal bulkhead (5), openable and closable manually and/or automatically (with specific electrical controls), which allows, when is closed, to have the first chamber (2) separate from the second chamber (3), i.e. "not in communication", or allows, when is opened, that said first chamber (2) is "in communication" with said second chamber (3), obtaining in this last case a kind of single chamber that can be crossed by a single stream of microwaves;
2b) two external doors of security, (6) and (7), that are separated each other and with independent system of opening and closing, being the first external door (6) used to insert and remove foods and drinks for cooking or heating, and the second external door (7) used to insert and remove the disposable cartridge (10) utilized to prepare espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages, and being also used, said two doors (6) and (7), to protect the users by
microwaves leaking;
2c) a compression module (8), used to compress the disposable cartridge (10) so that the liquid (water, milk or other), contained inside said disposable cartridge (10) and previously heated by microwaves, is mixed with the product (coffee, cocoa, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.), also it contained inside said disposable cartridge (10), thereby obtaining the desired hot beverage (espresso-coffee, milk-coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.);
2d) the internal bulkhead (5) will be "open", so putting in communication the second chamber (3) with the microwaves generator module (4), only after that the disposable cartridge (10) will be inserted into a specific housing inside the second chamber (3) and only after that has been closed, by the user, the second protection door (7) (connected with the espresso-machine module), thereby obtaining that only from this moment the microwaves (emitted by said magnetron module (4)) can heat the tank of liquid (1 1) (of the disposable cartridge (10)) present inside the second chamber (3) thus obtaining, for users, the maximum safety from the perspective of hazards due to electromagnetic radiation of microwaves.
For the cited reasons and features the present invention may be considered, for the domestic appliances market, as an "alternative and innovative" microwave-espresso-machine (for espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages) used in combination with a classic microwave oven.
For these reasons, therefore, the present invention may be considered an important inventive step.
D) Drawings
The invention consists of 6 drawing boards divided into 8 figures (illustrations).
In drawings n.1 (figures 1 and 2) and n.2 (figures 3 and 4) is represented, schematically, a view from above/in plant of the domestic appliance (1), with highlighted its main components.
In drawing n.2 are also outlined some examples of operation of the domestic appliance (1). It is shown (in figure 3) the case of operation mode only as "microwave oven" (the internal bulkhead (5) is "closed") and (in figure 4) the case of operation mode as "microwave oven" + "microwave espresso machine" (now the internal bulkhead (5) is "open").
In drawing n.3 (figure 5) is represented, schematically, a frontal view of the domestic appliance (1), with highlighted some components and details, especially the external doors (6) and (7), the selection keys and the disposable cartridge (10) for the microwave-espresso-machine; in this case the chambers (2) and (3) are horizontally adjacent between them (i.e. the are placed in the same horizontal plane).
In drawings n.4 (figure 6) and n.5 (figure 7) are represented, schematically, the principal components of the "microwave espresso machine" module and the principal components of the disposable cartridge (10), with the upper part of the tank (11 ) collapsible (for example as a "syringe").
In drawing n.6 (figure 8) are represented, schematically, the principal components of the "microwave espresso machine" module and the principal components of the disposable cartridge (10) with a shape as a "bellows" (i.e. that is collapsible, for example as an "accordion").
ATTENTION: it is in any case wished that invention must not be considered limited to the particular arrangement shown, which is only an exemplificative embodiment of the same, but that different solutions will be possible, all obvious for one skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the same invention, as defined by the following claims.
Claims
C L A I M S
1) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, able to function, also simultaneously, both as a classic microwave oven, to cook and/or to heat foods and drinks, both as an innovative microwave espresso machine for prepare, in few seconds, using a special disposable cartridge (10), the espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages, thereby obtaining, for final consumers, a significant cost savings because they get two products in one, a decrease of malfunctions because inside the espresso-machine there will be no passage of liquid, and a good energy savings because the liguid, contained inside of said special disposable cartridge (10) and used to prepare espresso and/or other hot beverages, is guickly heated by microwaves generator which remains powered for only few seconds, just long enough to heat said liquid to a predetermined temperature, characterized in that said innovative domestic appliance (1) comprises at least the following components and features:
- a first chamber (2), used for cooking and heating of foods and/or drinks;
- a second chamber (3), used for preparation of espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages and constructed to allow easy insertion, attachment and removal of said disposable cartridge (10);
- a microwaves generator module (4), used to send the microwaves stream inside the first chamber (2) and/or inside the second chamber (3) and therefore used both for cooking or heating foods and drinks, both to heat the liquid necessary to prepare espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages; - at least an internal bulkhead (5), openable and closable manually and/or automatically (with specific electrical controls), which allows, when is closed, to have the first chamber (2) separate from the second chamber (3), i.e. not in communication, or allows, when is opened, that said first chamber (2) is in communication with said second chamber (3), obtaining in this last case a kind of single chamber that can be crossed by a single stream of microwaves;
- two external doors of security, (6) and (7), that are separated each other and with independent system of opening and closing, being the first external door (6) used to insert and remove foods and drinks for cooking or heating,
and the second external door (7) used to insert and remove the disposable cartridge (10) utilized to prepare espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages, and being also used, said two doors (6) and (7), to protect the users by microwaves leaking;
- a compression module (8), used to compress the disposable cartridge ( 0) so that the liquid (water, milk or other), contained inside said disposable cartridge (10) and previously heated by microwaves, is mixed with the product (coffee, cocoa, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.), also it contained inside said disposable cartridge (10), thereby obtaining the desired hot beverage (espresso-coffee, milk-coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.).
2) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, thanks to the opening or closing of said at least one internal bulkhead (5), the users have the ability to cook or to heat foods and drinks (function mode as "microwave oven"), or to prepare only the espresso- coffee and/or other hot beverages (function mode as "espresso machine"), or to cook, to heat, foods and drinks and also to prepare, at the same time, the espresso-coffee and/or hot beverages (function mode as "microwave oven" and as "microwave espresso machine").
3) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that when said at least one internal bulkhead (5) is closed the users have the ability to use the domestic appliance (1) only as "microwave oven", being in this case crossable by microwaves only the first chamber (2), and when said at least one bulkhead (5) is open the users have the ability to use the domestic appliance (1) as "espresso machine" or as "microwave oven and espresso machine", being now crossable by microwaves both the first chamber (2), both the second chamber (3).
4) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said disposable cartridge (10), inserted inside the second chamber (3), used to prepare espresso-coffee and/or hot beverages, contains all components needed to prepare the desired beverage, i.e. the liquid (water, milk or other), contained inside a small tank (11) collapsible, and the product (in powder and/or in granules, coffee, cocoa, tea, chamomile, tisane, etc.) contained inside a capsule (12) (preferably with micro-holes) which is in communication, through small valve or thin
membrane, with said tank (11) and it is positioned below it, and being said tank (11), said capsule (12) and said valve or thin membrane the principal components of said disposable cartridge (10).
5) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said microwaves generator module (4) comprises at least a magnetron used both to cook or heat foods and drinks, both to heat the liguid (water, milk or other) contained inside the disposable cartridge (10) and needed to prepare the espresso-coffee and/or hot beverages.
6) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, once finished the heating phase (through microwaves) of the liguid (water, milk or other) contained inside the disposable cartridge (10), said at least one internal bulkhead (5) will be automatically closed, thus separating, between them, the two chambers (2) and (3).
7) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, once finished the heating phase (through microwaves) of the liguid (water or milk) contained inside the disposable cartridge (10), the microwaves generator module (4), if not also used, in that moment, for cooking or heating foods and/or drinks, (i.e. if not also used as "microwave oven"), is automatically switched off.
8) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that to obtain the maximum safety for users, if they want to prepare an espresso-coffee (or other hot beverage) even when the microwaves generator module (4) is already turned on in operative mode as "microwave oven" (to heat or to cook foods and/or drinks), the domestic appliance (1) will operate in the following way:
a) the internal bulkhead (5), under conditions of absence of coffee preparation (or other hot beverages), will be always "closed", so that it prevents that the microwaves stream penetrates inside the second chamber (3);
b) the internal bulkhead (5) will be "open" (by specific control, electric and/or pneumatic), so putting in communication the second chamber (3) with the microwaves generator module (4), only after that the disposable cartridge (10) will be inserted into a specific housing inside the second chamber (3) and only after that has been closed, by user, the second protection door (7)
(connected with the espresso-machine module), thereby obtaining that only from this moment the microwaves (emitted by said magnetron module (4)) can heat the tank of liquid (11) (of the disposable cartridge (10)) present inside the second chamber (3) thus obtaining, for users, the maximum safety from the perspective of hazards due to electromagnetic radiation of microwaves.
9) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the "opening" of one or both of said protection doors (6) and (7) is allowed (for the users safety) only when said magnetron module (4) (generating microwaves) is turned off, and to achieve this objective is expected the immediate shutdown of said microwaves generator module (4) when one of said two doors (6) and (7) is manually opened, by the user, during the activity of said microwave module (4).
10) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said compression module (8), used to compress the tank (11) (containing the heated liquid) of said disposable cartridge (10), is preferably realized by a small piston (81), operated electrically by a special electromechanical actuator (82) preferably realized by a small electric motor.
11) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as defined in claim 1 , characterized in that said second chamber (3) and said second external door (7) (when is closed) constitute a sort of Faraday-cage that prevents at the flow of microwaves the exit from the domestic appliance (1), during the heating phase of the liquid contained in the disposable cartridge (10) and then used to prepare the espresso-coffee and/or other beverages.
12) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, thanks to the use of the specific disposable cartridge (10) and of the compression module (8), the user can choose, through the selecting and the adjusting (pressing specific keys) of the amount of liquid to compress (water, milk or other) and of the speed of this compression, the type and quality of the hot beverage, i.e. the user can choose the "length" of the beverage (short, normal or long) and its "concentration" (strong, normal or light).
13) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said two chambers (2) and (3) are adjacent between
them, horizontally (i.e. placed in the same plane, or almost) or vertically (i.e. placed one above the other).
14) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said domestic appliance (1) calculates how many hot beverages have been prepared in a predetermined time interval, using preferably an electronic counter principally composed by a specific contact and/or proximity sensor, which, for each new hot beverage prepared, detects the presence, inside the domestic appliance (1), of the disposable cartridge (10), with the consequent update of the total count of hot beverages prepared in a predetermined period of time, thus obtaining the possibility that, in the case where the count is less than a predetermined threshold, the domestic appliance (1) cannot also be used as classic "microwave oven" until the user has not purchased and consumed in a given time interval, a minimum number of disposable cartridges (10) for hot beverages (coffee or other), and being important, such control, in case in which the domestic appliance (1) is not sold but it is provided with free loan.
15) Innovative domestic appliance (1) with dual function, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said domestic appliance (1) also comprises a single electronic module of power and control, used for the operation of the domestic appliance (1) both as "microwave oven", both as "espresso- machine" (to prepare espresso-coffee and/or other hot beverages), and being preferably composed, said electronic module, by transformer, rectifiers, capacitors, one or more waveguides, fan, various selection keys, one or more displays, one or more timers, microprocessor and other.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITAN2010A000025A IT1398911B1 (en) | 2010-03-03 | 2010-03-03 | INNOVATIVE APPLIANCES WITH DOUBLE OPERATING MODE |
| ITAN2010A000025 | 2010-03-03 | ||
| ITAN2010A000111 | 2010-07-02 | ||
| ITAN2010A000111A IT1400640B1 (en) | 2010-07-02 | 2010-07-02 | INNOVATIVE APPLIANCE WITH DUPLICATE FUNCTION |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2011108016A1 true WO2011108016A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 |
Family
ID=44170558
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2011/000043 WO2011108016A1 (en) | 2010-03-03 | 2011-02-18 | Innovative domestic appliance with dual function |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2011108016A1 (en) |
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| EP2993407A1 (en) * | 2014-09-04 | 2016-03-09 | Indesit Company S.p.A. | Household cooking appliance |
| WO2018125149A1 (en) * | 2016-12-29 | 2018-07-05 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic melt operation and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic cooking device |
| US10993294B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2021-04-27 | Whirlpool Corporation | Food load cooking time modulation |
| US11041629B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2021-06-22 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for food preparation utilizing a multi-layer model |
| US11051371B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2021-06-29 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and device for electromagnetic cooking using closed loop control |
| US11102854B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2021-08-24 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for controlling a heating distribution in an electromagnetic cooking device |
| US11184960B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2021-11-23 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for controlling power for a cooking device |
| US11197355B2 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2021-12-07 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and device for electromagnetic cooking using non-centered loads |
| US11202348B2 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2021-12-14 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and device for electromagnetic cooking using non-centered loads management through spectromodal axis rotation |
| US11246191B2 (en) | 2016-09-22 | 2022-02-08 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and system for radio frequency electromagnetic energy delivery |
| US11343883B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-05-24 | Whirlpool Corporation | Detecting changes in food load characteristics using Q-factor |
| US11412585B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-08-09 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic anti-splatter operation |
| US11432379B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-08-30 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic liquid heating and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic cooking device |
| US11452182B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-09-20 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for detecting changes in food load characteristics using coefficient of variation of efficiency |
| US11483906B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-10-25 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for detecting cooking level of food load |
| US11503679B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-11-15 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic popcorn popping feature and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic device |
| US11638333B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2023-04-25 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for analyzing a frequency response of an electromagnetic cooking device |
| US11690147B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2023-06-27 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic boiling detection and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic cooking device |
| US11754291B2 (en) | 2020-09-28 | 2023-09-12 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Modulating oven burner control for gas cooking appliance |
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| EP2993407A1 (en) * | 2014-09-04 | 2016-03-09 | Indesit Company S.p.A. | Household cooking appliance |
| US11246191B2 (en) | 2016-09-22 | 2022-02-08 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and system for radio frequency electromagnetic energy delivery |
| US11051371B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2021-06-29 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and device for electromagnetic cooking using closed loop control |
| US11041629B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2021-06-22 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for food preparation utilizing a multi-layer model |
| US10993294B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2021-04-27 | Whirlpool Corporation | Food load cooking time modulation |
| US11197355B2 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2021-12-07 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and device for electromagnetic cooking using non-centered loads |
| US11202348B2 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2021-12-14 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and device for electromagnetic cooking using non-centered loads management through spectromodal axis rotation |
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| US11452182B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-09-20 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for detecting changes in food load characteristics using coefficient of variation of efficiency |
| US11102854B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2021-08-24 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for controlling a heating distribution in an electromagnetic cooking device |
| WO2018125149A1 (en) * | 2016-12-29 | 2018-07-05 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic melt operation and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic cooking device |
| US20200314972A1 (en) * | 2016-12-29 | 2020-10-01 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic melt operation and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic cooking device |
| US11412585B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-08-09 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic anti-splatter operation |
| US11432379B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-08-30 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic liquid heating and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic cooking device |
| US11184960B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2021-11-23 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for controlling power for a cooking device |
| US11483906B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-10-25 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for detecting cooking level of food load |
| US11503679B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2022-11-15 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electromagnetic cooking device with automatic popcorn popping feature and method of controlling cooking in the electromagnetic device |
| US11638333B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2023-04-25 | Whirlpool Corporation | System and method for analyzing a frequency response of an electromagnetic cooking device |
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| US11754291B2 (en) | 2020-09-28 | 2023-09-12 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Modulating oven burner control for gas cooking appliance |
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