The present invention relates to a coffee maker, particularly, to a coffee maker which can prevent the steam from entering into the grinding device.
A coffee maker with auto-grinding function can brew a pot of fresh coffee only by putting coffee beams into the coffee maker and then pressing the button, thus it is favored by the users because compared to traditional coffee maker, this coffee maker with auto-grinding function is more convenient in operations.
However, this coffee maker with auto-grinding function usually causes the problem that the grinding device contaminated by the steam, because in the coffee brewing the stream will be generated, and the steam will enter into the grinding device via the pipe for transmitting ground coffee, the grinding device will be more and more damp, thus the ground coffee or coffee beam in the grinding device can not be used for containing too much humidity. Therefore, after brewing, the entire grinding device of this coffee maker with auto-grinding function must be cleaned and airing before being used again. Thus though this coffee maker with auto-grinding function can brew a pot of coffee conveniently, but the subsequent complex cleaning operations will spend much time and force of the users, therefore, it is not only inconvenient in use, but also can not meet the requirements of the users.
Accordingly, an improved coffee maker with auto-grinding function is needed to overcome the disadvantages that the grinding device contaminated by the stream in traditional coffee maker with auto-grinding function, so as to facilitate the users.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a coffee maker with auto-grinding function, by adding a driving device, the position of the transmitting pipe connected to the grinding device is changed, so that the stream generated by the hot water filled into the brewing device will not enter into the grinding device via the transmitting pipe, thus the problem of the grinding device contaminated by the stream is overcome.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a coffee maker which can prevent the stream contamination, by a railway disposed between the outlet and the brewing device, the stream generated by the hot water filled into the brewing device will be blocked by the railway and will not enter into the grinding device via the transmitting pipe, thus the problem of the grinding device contaminated by the stream is overcome.
According to a preferred embodiment, the coffee maker comprises at least a grinding device, a brewing device and a driving device, wherein the grinding device is used to grind coffee beans into ground coffee. The brewing device is used to receive the ground coffee transmitted from the outlet of the grinding device. The driving device is used to move the outlet of the grinding device, thereby letting an opening of the outlet selectively locate on a brewing chamber of the brewing device.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coffee maker comprises at least a grinding device, a railway, a brewing device and a driving device, wherein the grinding device is used to grind coffee beans into ground coffee. The brewing device is used to receive the ground coffee transmitted from the outlet of the grinding device. The railway disposed between the outlet of the grinding device and brewing device, herein the railway having an opening located on the brewing chamber of the brewing device. The driving device is used to move the outlet with respect to the brewing device to a position between a first position and a second position, herein said first position is on the brewing device, said second position is removed from the brewing device, when the brewing device is receiving the ground coffee from the grinding device, the opening of the outlet is in the first position, when the brewing device is receiving the hot water, the opening of the outlet is in the second position.
According to a preferred embodiment, said brewing device can be, for example, a removable coffee basket.
According to a preferred embodiment, said outlet can be, for example, a transmitting pipe.
According to a preferred embodiment, said grinding device can be, for example, a grinding cutter and a motor connected to said grinding cutter.
The coffee maker with auto-grinding function abovementioned, because it is change the position of the transmitting pipe connected to the grinding device by mounting a driving device on the grinding device, so that the opening of the transmitting pipe is removed from the brewing device, thus the stream generated by the hot water of the brewing device provided by the water-supply device will not enter into the grinding device via the transmitting pipe, therefore, the problem of the grinding device contaminated by the stream is overcome. So compared to the other coffee makers with auto-grinding function, the structure of the present invention can effectively present the steam from entering into the grinding device via the transmitting pipe.
A preferred embodiment of this invention describing its characteristics, purposes and functions is to be detailedly illustrated as follows, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Referring to
In summary, the coffee maker with auto-grinding function of the present invention, characterized by a driving device mounted on the grinding device, the opening position of the outlet of the grinding device is changed by the driving device, when the ground coffee is transmitted by the grinding device, the opening position of the outlet of the grinding device is on the coffee basket, when the hot water is transmitted by the water-supply device the opening position of the outlet of the grinding device is removed from the coffee basket, thereby to prevent the stream generated by the hot water in the coffee basket from entering the grinding device via the outlet by upwardly diffusion, and further prevent the grinding device from being contaminated by the stream. So compared to the other coffee makers with auto-grinding function in prior art, the present invention can effectively present the grinding device from being contaminated by the stream. In the present invention, a railway also disposed between the outlet of the grinding device and the coffee basket, the railway is used to block the opening of the outlet to prevent the stream or other contamination from entering the grinding device via the opening of the outlet, when the ground coffee is to be transmitted to the coffee basket by the grinding device, the opening of the outlet will be on the opening of the railway, therefore the ground coffee can enter into by the opening of the railway, when the hot water is to be transmitted to the coffee basket, the opening of the outlet will be removed from the opening of the railway, therefore to prevent the stream from entering into the grinding device via the opening of the railway, thus can improve the reliability of the coffee maker with auto-grinding function for preventing the grinding device from being contaminated by the stream.
It can be seen from the abovementioned preferred embodiment of the present invention that the coffee maker with auto-grinding function of the present invention has the following advantages: when the stream generated by the hot water diffused upwardly, the opening of the transmitting pipe of the grinding device is not on the coffee basket, thus can effectively prevent the stream entering into the grinding device via the transmitting pipe, therefore the problem of the grinding device contaminated by the stream is overcome. So compared to the other coffee makers with function of anti-stream contamination in prior art (i.e. U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,705), the present invention can effectively prevent the steam from entering into the grinding device from the interspace of the valve via transmitting pipe, which may caused by the not enough effective sealing of the valve or ground coffee adhering on the valve, thus the problem of the grinding device contaminated by the stream is overcome.
The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200610069112.8 | Sep 2006 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CN07/03352 | 11/28/2007 | WO | 00 | 3/25/2010 |