WO2017097646A1

WO2017097646A1 - A coffee machine for brewing turkish coffee

Info

Publication number: WO2017097646A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/079197
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emre AYAROGLU; Ismail GERZELI; Ahmet Alptekin; Osman Cengiz; Ali Levent Hasanreisoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-12-08
Filing date: 2016-11-30
Publication date: 2017-06-15
Also published as: TR201515604A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coffee machine (1 ) comprising a body (2), a brewing chamber (3) that is disposed within the body (2) and wherein the coffee is mixed with water and brewed, and a pouring port (4) disposed at the base of the brewing chamber (3).

Description

A COFFEE MACHINE FOR BREWING TURKISH COFFEE

The present invention relates to a coffee machine wherein the coffee is transferred from the chamber in which the same is brewed to a cup.

Use of single-use capsules containing coffee in coffee machines is known. In this type of machines, the capsule is placed to a housing disposed in the upper portion of the body of the machine, and the coffee in the capsule is transferred to a brewing chamber that is disposed in the lower portion of the housing by the capsule being blown/opened. The coffee in the brewing chamber is mixed with water and heated by a heater preferably disposed under the brewing chamber. The brewed coffee can be automatically transferred to a cup or can be transferred by the user to a cup. In the coffee machines wherein the coffee is automatically transferred to a cup, the brewing chamber wherein the coffee is brewed is rotated and the coffee can be transferred to the cup. Use of an extra movement mechanism is required to rotate the brewing chamber. When transfer is made by means of a valve disposed at the bottom of the brewing chamber, foam of the coffee cannot be transferred to the cup. With valves having a complex geometric structure, the foam remains on the valve and drying of the foam on the components of the valve adversely affects the liquid transfer. Also ease of cleaning of the valve is important in terms of the user satisfaction.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2011007266, a coffee machine using capsules is disclosed.

In the state of the art Turkish Patent Application No. TR200100549, a coffee machine using capsules is disclosed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a coffee machine wherein the coffee is transferred along with its foam to the cup.

The coffee machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises a flow guide that is disposed at the base of the brewing chamber and that provides the closing of the pouring port which provides the transfer of the coffee to the cup, and a movement mechanism that is connected to the flow guide, that is enabled to move by the movement of a trigger and that thus enables the flow guide to open the pouring port. As the coffee is being transferred to the cup after being brewed, the trigger is activated and moves the movement mechanism. The flow guide connected from one side to the movement mechanism is opened by means of the said movement and extends in an angular manner under the pouring port. Thereby the coffee flowing through the pouring port is directed softly and transferred to the cup. Thus, the coffee can be transferred together with its foam by means of the simple geometry, while also splashing of the coffee around is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism comprises a support that is fixed on the brewing chamber and a joint of which one end is connected to the flow guide and the middle point connected to the support so as to rotate around the point whereto the same is connected. By means of this embodiment, the coffee in the brewing chamber is directly transferred through the pouring port without using complex and complicated geometries. The pouring port, too, is closed by the flow guide which applies pressure thereon and thus prevents the flow of liquid. The flow guide is moved by means the joint and the support that are disposed outside the brewing chamber.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the joint bifurcates from the point where the same is connected to the support toward its free end. By means of an arm in the shape of an inverse T extending between the trigger and the free end of the joint so as to be seated into the joint with the bifurcated structure, the joint is moved. The arm in the shape of an inverse T so as to enable the joint to be pulled upward passes through the bifurcation of the joint and supports the joint from under. In this embodiment, the arm moves in one direction and the joint moves on the arm by sliding. Thus, movement of the arm to left and right is not required. By moving the arm in the vertical direction, the joint turns around the axis where the same is connected to the support. With the rotation of the joint, the flow guide moves downward, thus providing the opening of the pouring port, and moves upward, the providing the closing of the pouring port.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow guide and the joint are joined so that there is an angle smaller than 180 degrees therebetween. Thus, the joint and the pulling arm that provide the opening of the lid are enabled to operate without exceeding the width of the brewing chamber. In other words, the joint is enabled to displace to a lesser extent in the horizontal direction.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the lid that applies pressure on the pouring port is coated with an elastic material. Thus, the sealing provided by the lid by pressing is improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the lid is maintained in the closed position as default by means of a spring of which one end is connected to the support and the other end to the lid. The spring pulls the lid to the position where the same stays closed constantly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow guide is in the form of a receptacle. Thus, the coffee dripping, continuing to flow from the pouring port and that cannot be transferred to the cup as the flow guide is being closed is prevented from pouring. Since there is an ongoing flow of coffee from the pouring port, when the flow guide is closed before the completion of the flow, the last few drops of coffee are prevented from spilling.

In a version of this embodiment, a groove is provided on the flow guide, that enables the coffee to be directed to and flow into the cup.

In the coffee machine of the present invention, the coffee in the brewing chamber is transferred to the cup without any problem by means of the joint and the pulling arm disposed completely outside the brewing chamber and also by means of the flow guide with simple geometry that enables the coffee to flow from the pouring port and proceed without losing its foam along the path the same proceeds.

The coffee machine realized to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a coffee machine.

Figure 2 - is the cross-sectional view of the brewing chamber when the flow guide is open in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 - is the cross-sectional view of the brewing chamber when the flow guide is closed in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is the front view of the brewing chamber when the flow guide is closed in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 - is the front view of the brewing chamber when the flow guide is open in another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures and the steps are numbered as follows:

Coffee machine
Body
Brewing chamber
Pouring port
Flow guide
Movement mechanism
Support
Joint
Arm
Spring
Groove

T. Triggering mechanism

The coffee machine (1) comprises a body (2), a brewing chamber (3) that is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the coffee is mixed with water and brewed, and a pouring port (4) disposed at the base of the brewing chamber (3).

In the coffee machine (1), the coffee is transferred to the brewing chamber (3) and then the water is transferred from a water tank (not shown in the figures) disposed within the body (2), and the coffee mixed with water is brewed by being heated by means of a heater (not shown in the figures). The brewed coffee is transferred from the pouring port (4) to a cup.

The coffee machine (1) of the present invention comprises a movement mechanism (6) that is disposed on the brewing chamber (3) and a flow guide (5) that is connected from one end to the movement mechanism (6), that shifts to the open position by means of upward movement of the movement mechanism (6) by means of a trigger at the end of the brewing process and that in the open position extends in an inclined manner under the pouring port (4). The pouring port (4) is closed by the flow guide (5). By means of the movement mechanism (6) being triggered by the trigger (T), the movement mechanism (6) enables the flow guide (5) to open and remain in an inclined manner under the pouring port (4). Thus, the pouring port (4) opens and the flowing coffee is directed by means of the flow guide (5). Thereby, the coffee in the brewing chamber (3) is directly transferred to the cup through the pouring port (4) by being directed by the flow guide (5). The flow guide (5) provides the closing of the pouring port (4) as well as the guiding of the coffee to the cup. By means of the present invention, the pouring port (4) is enabled to open widely and the coffee is enabled to be smoothly transferred to the cup. Thereby the coffee is transferred along with its foam to the cup.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (6) has a support (7) that is fixed on the external lateral surface of the brewing chamber (3) and a joint (8) of which one end is connected to the flow guide (5) and that is rotatably connected to the support (7) from the middle point thereof. The joint (8) is triggered by means of the trigger (T) and moves upward. By means of upward movement of the joint (8), the flow guide (5) moves downward, thus providing the opening of the pouring port (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (6) comprises the joint (8) that bifurcates toward the free end thereof, and an arm (9) in the shape of an inverse T so as to be seated to the joint (8) in bifurcated form, that provides the upward movement of the joint (8) by means of the trigger (T). In this embodiment, the arm (9) is movably connected to the joint (8), and when pulled upward, the arm (9) moves by sliding on the bifurcated section of the joint (8). As the arm (9) is pulled upward by means of the trigger (T), the support (7) enables the joint (8) to turn around the axis where the same is connected and the end of the joint (8) connected to the flow guide (5) moves downward and provides the opening of the flow guide (5) by turning around the side of the joint (8) to which the flow guide (5) is connected. Thereby, it is sufficient that the triggering mechanism (T), if any, has a structure that can move in one direction only.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is an angle smaller than the linear angle between the joint (8) and the flow guide (5). By means of this embodiment, by enabling the joint (8) which provides the opening and closing of the pouring port (4) to move outside the brewing chamber (3) less, the joint (8) is enabled to move in the vertical direction and the space wherein the brewing chamber (3) is disposed is efficiently used.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the flow guide (5) facing the pouring port (4) is coated with an elastic material. By means of this embodiment, as the section of the flow guide (5) pressing on the pouring port (4) when the flow guide (5) is closed is coated with the elastic material, the sealing between the pouring port (4) and the flow guide (5) is improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) comprises a spring (10) of which one end is connected to the brewing chamber (3) and the other end to the flow guide (5), thus enabling the flow guide (5) to be kept closed. By means of the spring (10) in this embodiment, the flow guide (5) is enabled to keep the pouring port closed as default at all times, in other words, as long as there is no intervention from the outside. The spring (10) can be attached from one end thereof to the external lateral surface of the brewing chamber (3) or to the support (8) that is connected to the brewing chamber (3).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow guide (5) is in the form of a receptacle. In this embodiment, the base of the flow guide (5) closes the pouring port (4). The side walls of the flow guide (5) enable the coffee flowing from the pouring port (4) to be directed. Moreover, after the flow guide (5) is closed, any coffee dripping or leaking from the pouring port (4) remains on the flow guide (5) by means of the receptacle form thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow guide (5) has a groove (11) that provides the transfer of the coffee when the flow guide (5) is opened as the arm (9) moves by means of the movement mechanism (6). The coffee flowing from the pouring port (4) is directed toward the cup via the groove (11). By means of the groove (11), it becomes possible to transfer the coffee into the cup without any splashing.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the arm (9) is produced as integrated with the joint (8). In this embodiment, as the joint (8) turns, the arm (9) moves both up and down and to right and left as well.

In the coffee machine (1) of the present invention, the pouring port (4) at the base of the brewing chamber (3) is closed by means of the flow guide (5) which has a simple geometry and the coffee flowing from the pouring port (4) when the flow guide (5) is open is enabled to be transferred along with its foam to the cup. The flow guide (5) is opened as the joint (8) of the movement mechanism (6) that is connected to the flow guide (5) rotates around the axis where the joint (8) is connected to the support (7) disposed on the brewing chamber (3). Thus, the movement mechanism (6) that provides the opening of the flow guide (5) can be positioned so as to remain outside the brewing chamber (3) and coffee and foam are prevented from sticking on the joint (8) or the arm (9) during the flow.

Claims

A coffee machine (1) comprising a body (2), a brewing chamber (3) that is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the coffee is mixed with water and brewed, and a pouring port (4) disposed at the base of the brewing chamber (4), characterized by a movement mechanism (6) that is disposed on the brewing chamber (3) and a flow guide (5) that is connected from one end to the movement mechanism (6), that shifts to the open position by means of upward movement of the movement mechanism (6) by means of a trigger at the end of the brewing process and that in the open position extends in an inclined manner under the pouring port (4).
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the movement mechanism (6) which has a support (7) that is fixed on the external lateral surface of the brewing chamber (3) and a joint (8) of which one end is connected to the flow guide (5) and that is rotatably connected to the support (7) from almost the middle point thereof.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the joint (8) which bifurcates toward the free end thereof and an arm (9) in the form of an inverse T so as to be seated on the joint (8) in the bifurcated form, which provides the upward movement of the joint (8) by means of the trigger (T).
A coffee machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the joint (8) which joins with the flow guide (5) such that there is an angle therebetween which is smaller than the linear angle.
A coffee machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the flow guide (5) of which the surface facing the pouring port (4) is coated with an elastic material.
A coffee machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a spring (10) of which one end is connected to the brewing chamber (3) and the other end to the flow guide (5), thus enabling the flow guide (5) to be kept closed.
A coffee machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the flow guide (5) that is in the form of a receptacle.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the flow guide (5) which has a groove (11) that provides the transfer of the coffee when the flow guide (5) is opened by means of the movement mechanism (6).