Patent Application
20080173180
The present application claims the benefit of priority of European Patent Application No. 07001476.6, filed on Jan. 24, 2007. The entire text of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The disclosure relates to a machine for preparing a hot drink, such as a coffee drink machine.
Machines of this nature, in particular coffee machines, in which brewing water is passed over the brewing medium, e.g. grounds, under pressure, are already known from the state of the art.
Coffee machines of this nature have a brewing chamber, which is sealed against the environment during brewing. The brewing chamber is here generally realized in two parts with at least one part being arranged movable on the machine. In WO2005/072572 a drawer, for example, is described which represents the lower part of the brewing chamber. The upper part of the brewing chamber is fastened to the machine. In EP090471A1 a further method of realizing a brewing chamber of this nature is described. Here, the upper part of the brewing chamber is supported for swiveling.
With all machines the brewing water must be fed to the brewing chamber under pressure. To do this, the joint connection between the brewing water pipe and the brewing chamber must also be sealed against the environment.
Due to this necessary joining of the upper part of the brewing chamber to the machine, the upper part of the brewing chamber cannot be separated from the appliance, or can only be joined to the appliance with complicated and cost-intensive joining mechanisms.
On this basis the object of the present disclosure is to provide a machine for the preparation of a hot drink, which simply and economically facilitates the sealing of the inflowing brewing water at the connection point between the housing and the brewing chamber against the environment without complex sealing mechanisms being required.
According to the disclosure this object is solved in that in the upper part of the brewing chamber a seal is inserted, wherein by inserting the brewing chamber into the machine the seal and the connection region are automatically pressed together such that the connecting point between the connection region and the upper part of the brewing chamber is sealed against the environment.
The present disclosure facilitates reliable sealing between the brewing water connection region, through which brewing water is passed to the upper part of the brewing chamber, and the upper part of the brewing chamber without additional moving parts being required, so that the connection region and the seal can be pressed together already when the brewing chamber is inserted into the machine (i.e. for example, by pushing in). Complex sealing mechanisms can thus be avoided. This means that no eccentrics, plungers on the housing side, etc. are needed. This has a positive effect on the manufacturing costs as well as on the operation and the machine design. Since according to the disclosure no additional moving parts are needed for sealing, there is also no wear due to movement. Since the seal is included in the upper part of the brewing chamber, the complete brewing chamber including the sealing system can be simply removed and cleaned and optionally replaced.
It is advantageous if the seal is formed from elastic material, wherein the seal is automatically compressed in the fitted state by the connection region. In this way the central region of the seal, which is compressed, can at least be partially located on a support for a brewing chamber section. This compression is sufficient to seal the brewing chamber against the housing such that with the introduction of brewing water over the brewing medium, for example the coffee pad, a slight internal pressure can build up in the brewing chamber.
During brewing however the internal pressure in the brewing chamber increases. It is advantageous if the shape of the seal is designed such that with increased internal pressure in the brewing chamber the seal is pressed against the connection region. In this way, depending on the prevailing internal pressure in the brewing chamber, the seal is pressed against the connection region such that a force relationship is established which always seals the inflowing brewing water against the environment.
To achieve this, the seal can, for example, have a central region surrounded by an external region which is spaced from the inner side of the upper part of the brewing chamber and can be pressed against the inner side by an increased pressure in the brewing chamber. The outer region thus transfers the increased pressure in the brewing chamber to the central region of the seal, which is thus pressed more strongly against the connection region.
It is advantageous if the seal is formed such that it essentially extends over the complete upper area of the inner side of the upper part of the brewing chamber, at least however over approximately 25% of the upper area of the inner side. This facilitates an ideal transfer of the internal pressure onto the seal.
According to the present disclosure the seal has an end section, which seals the upper part of the brewing chamber with the lower part of the brewing chamber. Thus the seal for the brewing water pipe can simultaneously be used for sealing the upper part and lower part of the brewing chamber, simplifying the arrangement and rendering it economical. Preferably, the seal is formed in one piece.
According to a preferred embodiment the brewing chamber has in the assembled, closed state a receptacle region, the shape and size of which are formed such that, for example, a pad (coffee pad, tea pad, etc.) with a specified standard size can be accommodated. Then the seal can be formed such that it has a circumferential collar which presses into the pad from above and from the side to hold it and to facilitate a uniform distribution of the brewing water in the pad.
According to a preferred embodiment the housing has a drawer compartment into which the closed brewing chamber can be completely inserted. An embodiment of this nature is particularly advantageous, because the brewing chamber can be completely removed closed and can be opened outside of the machine. The insertion of the brewing chamber facilitates the simple replacement of the brewing chamber in the housing. Thus the connecting point between the connection region and the upper part of the brewing chamber can be sealed against the environment through simply inserting the brewing chamber into the machine.
Here, the connection region, which is arranged in the drawer compartment, and the upper side of the upper part of the brewing chamber are formed such that the central sealing section runs onto the connection region on insertion into the drawer compartment. According to a preferred embodiment the connection region can protrude into the drawer compartment. In order that the central sealing section can easily run on, the upper side of the upper part of the brewing chamber can have an indentation, which extends at least from the central region of the seal outwards in the insertion direction of the brewing chamber. Thus, when the brewing chamber is inserted into the drawer compartment, the connection region, which protrudes into the drawer compartment, is guided in the indentation until it runs onto the seal. For easier insertion of the brewing chamber, the height of the brewing chamber can also increase from the insertion side of the brewing chamber to the central region of the seal. Thus, the brewing chamber can be introduced in a simple manner without the connection region impairing the insertion process.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure the seal has the additional task of distributing the brewing water in the upper part of the brewing chamber in a star-shaped pattern. The central region of the seal has a pipe section for the brewing water, via which brewing water is distributed downwards to the brewing medium and/or via channels outwards in a star-shaped pattern.
According to a preferred embodiment the seal in the non-inserted state has a convex shape and on its underside has grooves running from the pipe section in a star-shaped pattern outwards which form channels when the seal is fitted flat into the upper part of the brewing chamber. This construction facilitates a particularly economical manufacture of the brewing chamber. An important advantage here is that no additional components are necessary for the distribution channels. A further advantage is that the seal, which can be removed from the brewing chamber and replaced, can be thoroughly cleaned, wherein also the channels can be opened by bending the seal and can thus be cleaned. Thus, no contamination or calcification occurs in the channels.
The connection region of the machine can either be molded directly on the housing, i.e. as a suitable connecting nipple on the housing, or inserted as a separate element into the housing. If the connection region is inserted into the housing as a separate element, there is the possibility, for example, of selecting a suitable elastic material.
The present disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to the following drawings:
a shows a plan view of the upper part of the brewing chamber.
b shows a section along the line A-A of
a shows a plan view of the underside of the seal.
b shows a section along the line B-B of
c shows a section along the line C-C of
a shows in a perspective illustration the upper side of the seal according to the present disclosure.
b illustrates the underside of the seal according to the present disclosure.
In the following the present disclosure is described in conjunction with a single-cup machine for the preparation of a hot drink. In particular the present disclosure is described in conjunction with a two-part brewing chamber 3, which can be removed complete as one unit from the housing and which can be inserted into the housing. The present disclosure is in particular of advantage for those types of machines, because frequent changing of the brewing chamber medium in the brewing chamber occurs and it must be frequently and easily removed and cleaned. However, the present disclosure is also suitable for multi-cup systems and for systems in which at least the upper part of the brewing chamber is moved out of the housing.
The size of the region 9 is selected such that a cup 2 can be located there. In the upper region 9 there is the drawer chamber 22, into which the brewing chamber 3, as shown in
Furthermore, the machine only has one button 4 for the complete operation. The button 4, which is formed here as a pushbutton, has an illuminated indicator 5, here in the form of an illuminated ring 5, which indicates the main operating states. The machine 1 has a control unit which is not illustrated and which controls the heating system, a pump and the illuminated indicator.
According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, the brewing chamber 3 is not fastened to the housing 11, but can instead be completely removed.
As can be seen, in particular from
According to the present disclosure, the seal 16, i.e. the central region 16a of the seal and the connection region 40 are automatically pressed together by insertion—here by the insertion of the brewing chamber 3 into the drawer compartment 22 of the machine 1—such that the connecting point between the connection region 40 and the upper part 3b is sealed against the environment. Since the seal 16 here is formed from elastic material, it is slightly compressed (dimension a) by the connection region 40 which protrudes into the chamber 22. To facilitate this, part of the central region 16a, here the collar, lies on a support 41 of the upper part 3b of the brewing chamber. In addition the complete brewing chamber is located on the drawer rail 22a.
This compression is sufficient to seal the brewing chamber against the housing 11 such that with the introduction of brewing water over the brewing medium 23, a slight internal pressure can build up in the brewing chamber.
The connection region 40 has a chamfer which extends upwards in order that, on inserting the brewing chamber into the drawer compartment 22, the central region 16a can run against the lower area of the connection region 40, so that the central region 16a is automatically pressed down and thus a relatively sealed seating is automatically produced. The collar of the central region 16a of the seal can also be chamfered downwards.
In order that the brewing chamber 3 can be easily inserted into the drawer compartment 22, the height of the brewing chamber 3 can, for example, increase from the insertion side of the brewing chamber 3 to the central region of the seal 16a, as is clear from
The compression of the central sealing section 16a explained above thus enables the brewing chamber to be adequately sealed against the housing when a slight internal pressure is established in the brewing chamber 3.
The flat shape of the seal in the brewing chamber enables the seal 16 to be pressed further against the connection region 40 by the internal pressure (dimension b). For this, the seal 16 has a region 16b arranged around the central region 16a and which is spaced from the inner side 42 of the upper part 3b of the brewing chamber by the dimension b and due to an increased pressure in the brewing chamber presses in the direction towards or against the inner side 42 of the upper part 3b of the brewing chamber. Thus the increased pressure in the brewing chamber is transferred to the seal 16, wherein furthermore the central region 16a is pressed against the connection region 40, increasing the sealing performance. Thus, depending on the prevailing internal pressure in the brewing chamber, the seal is pressed against the connection region such that a force relationship is established which always seals the inflowing brewing water against the environment.
The flat-shaped seal 16 is here formed such that it essentially extends over the whole upper area of the inner side 42 of the upper part 3b of the brewing chamber, at least however over 25% of the upper area of the inner side, so that the pressure in the inner chamber can be adequately transferred to the seal and thus to the connection region 40.
In this embodiment the seal is realized in one piece and also has the task of sealing the upper part 3b of the brewing chamber with the lower part 3a of the brewing chamber.
The expression that the region 16b is arranged around the central region 16a is not intended to imply that the outer region 16b, which is spaced from the inner side 42, borders directly with the central region 16a, which extends through the opening 50, as is the case in the figures. It is also possible that the outer region initially borders the inner side 42 and a spacing to the inner side 42 is only produced thereafter in the radial direction.
As can be seen in particular from
The arising brewing pressure also causes axial forces on the parts of the brewing chamber 3a, b. Pressure on the brewing chamber can be prevented by
a) positively locked joining of the parts of the brewing chamber 3a, b with the housing 11. Here, the dimensions of the drawer compartment 22 and the brewing chamber 3b are formed such that the surface of the upper part 3b and the underside of the lower part 3a contact the drawer compartment 22 at least partially. Thus, the axially acting force can be taken up by the housing 11 with the result that the brewing chamber is not subject to pressure, and
b) the parts of the brewing chamber 3a, b being firmly locked, as previously described, outside of the machine via the locking mechanism 24. This locking system then takes up the arising axial forces. A combination of the measures a and b is particularly effective, in particular in combination with the sealing section 16c.
Advantageously, the drawer compartment 22 is dimensioned such that the brewing chamber 3 partially contacts the drawer compartment at the side. Thus the parts of the brewing chamber 3a, b are also fixed with one another in the radial direction after insertion in the drawer compartment 22. Radial brewing forces are then taken up directly by the parts of the brewing chamber 3a, b and the adjacent housing 11.
As can be seen, in particular from
Apart from the function of sealing the connection region 40, which passes the brewing water to the upper part 3b of the brewing chamber, against the upper part of the brewing chamber and optionally also sealing the two halves of the brewing chamber, the seal 16 can take on a further function, namely that of distributing the brewing water in a star-shaped pattern in the upper part of the brewing chamber. As can be clearly seen from
Thus, brewing water channels can be produced in a simple manner without additional components or a complicated manufacturing method being necessary. An embodiment of this nature for the channels 47 also has the advantage that when cleaning the brewing chamber, the seal can be removed, wherein the channels can be opened for cleaning by simply turning the seal 16 inside out and they can also be cleaned in this way.
In
According to the present disclosure no additional moving parts are needed for sealing the connection region 40 in the upper part of the brewing chamber, which makes the system extraordinarily economical. Since no moving parts are arranged on the machine, there is no wear due to movement. The complete brewing chamber including the sealing system can be simply removed and cleaned and optionally replaced. In a convenient manner the seal 16 can here take on various functions, such as the sealing of the connection region 40 and of the brewing chamber 3 with low and high pressures in the brewing chamber, sealing of both halves of the brewing chamber and the star-shaped distribution of the brewing water. In particular this sealing system is especially suitable for single-cup systems, because here in each case after one cup, the brewing chamber is removed, emptied, cleaned, filled and used again.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07001476.6 | Jan 2007 | EP | regional |
