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WO2025163431A1 - Machine à café - Google Patents

Machine à café

Info

Publication number
WO2025163431A1
WO2025163431A1 PCT/IB2025/050646 IB2025050646W WO2025163431A1 WO 2025163431 A1 WO2025163431 A1 WO 2025163431A1 IB 2025050646 W IB2025050646 W IB 2025050646W WO 2025163431 A1 WO2025163431 A1 WO 2025163431A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cold water
coffee
fluidically connected
metal block
brewing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/IB2025/050646
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Massimo FARAVELLI
Assunto Rosario Marino MAVER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2025163431A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025163431A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • A47J31/46—Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
    • A47J31/461—Valves, e.g. drain valves
    • 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
    • A47J31/3671—Loose coffee being employed
    • 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
    • A47J31/46—Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
    • A47J31/469—Details of hydraulic circuits

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a professional machine for preparing espresso coffee or similar beverages.
  • this invention relates to a professional espresso coffee machine of the multi-assembly type, i.e., comprising multiple brewing assemblies, to which the following description refers for descriptive convenience without any loss of generality thereby.
  • the aim of this invention is to provide a professional coffee machine that represents an improvement over conventional espresso coffee machines in terms of both energy consumption and ease of construction and maintenance.
  • Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective view, an espresso coffee machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 illustrates, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, a detail in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is an exploded view of a detail in Figure 2.
  • Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, in cross section, the detail in Figure 2 in respective operative steps of the coffee brewing process.
  • reference numeral 1 references, as a whole, a professional machine for preparing espresso coffee or similar beverages.
  • the machine 1 comprises an outer body 2, which protects and conceals from view a frame (not shown) designed to support all the functional components of the machine 1, some of which are referred to in the following description for the purpose of understanding this invention.
  • one or more coffee brewing devices 3 (in the embodiment illustrated in the number of four) and a steam wand 4 for dispensing pressurised steam for uses other than brewing coffee, e.g. for heating and frothing milk, are attached to the frame.
  • the functional components of the machine 1 also include a water boiler (not illustrated) for producing hot water or steam supplied to the steam wand 4, and a water pump (not illustrated), with a suction side hydraulically connected to a cold water source, typically water mains, and is controlled, in use, by an electronic control unit (not illustrated) of the machine 1 to supply pressurised cold water to the boiler and coffee brewing devices 3.
  • a water boiler for producing hot water or steam supplied to the steam wand 4
  • a water pump (not illustrated) with a suction side hydraulically connected to a cold water source, typically water mains, and is controlled, in use, by an electronic control unit (not illustrated) of the machine 1 to supply pressurised cold water to the boiler and coffee brewing devices 3.
  • each coffee brewing device 3 comprises a water heating device 5, a water dispensing body 6 and a filter holder 7 designed to be filled, in use, with an amount of loose ground coffee or in the form of a disposable pod or capsule and to be manually removably coupled to the water dispensing body 6 to receive pressurised hot water therefrom for brewing coffee.
  • the water heating device 5 is in the form of an instant electric thermoblock heater, i.e., an electric continuous-flow heater also known as a Thermoblock, and comprises a metal block 8, which is provided with electrical resistive means for heating the metal block 8 itself and a water supply duct 9 formed within the metal block 8 to receive, in use, pressurised cold water from a water inlet 10 fluidically connected to a delivery side of the water pump and to supply the water dispensing body 6 with water heated to a temperature required for brewing coffee.
  • the water heating device 5 is supplied by the water pump with water from an external cold water source, typically water mains.
  • the metal block 8 is cantilevered on a support plate 11 that is in turn removably connected to a vertical portion of the frame facing the front side of the outer body 2, and the water dispensing body 6 projects downwards from a lower wall of the metal block 8.
  • the outer body 2 is so shaped that a front portion 12 of it totally or at least partially covers the metal blocks 8 while leaving the water dispensing bodies 6 visible, in whole or in part.
  • Each metal block 8 is preferably laterally delimited by two opposing side walls 13 substantially transverse to the support plate 11 and the above-mentioned electrical resistive means comprise two electrical resistors 14, each of which is housed in a respective seat 15 formed in a respective side wall 13 with its electrical terminals extending through, and attached to, the support plate 11.
  • the water supply duct 9 within the metal block 8 comprises a heating section 16, which is fluidically connected to the water inlet 10 in order to receive cold water therefrom, in particular, at the temperature of the water mains and pressurised, and an outlet section 17, which fluidically connects the heating section 16 to the water dispensing body 6.
  • the heating section 16 extends helically and is delimited partially by the outer surface of a cylindrical hole 18 formed in the metal block 8 and partially by a helical groove 19 that is formed on the outer surface of a cylindrical insert 20 extractably housed in the cylindrical hole 18 and extends helically around a longitudinal axis 21 of the insert 20.
  • the cylindrical hole 18 is formed in a wall of the metal block 8 facing the support plate 11 and the latter has a through opening at the cylindrical hole 18 so that the insert 20 can be inserted into, and extracted from, the cylindrical hole 18 even without disassembling the coffee brewing device 3 from the support plate 11.
  • the heating section 16 is fluidically connected to the water inlet 10 via a connecting section 22, which is part of the water supply duct 9 and comprises, in a direction of flow of the water flowing into the insert 20, a coaxial portion 22A and a radial portion 22B with respect to the longitudinal axis 21, with the radial portion 22B preferably formed to extend downwards from the centre of the insert 20 so as to open into the helical groove 19 at an area of the cylindrical hole 18 below the longitudinal axis 21.
  • the radial portion 22B of the connecting section 22 is preferably formed to extend vertically so as to open into the helical groove 19 of the heating section 16 at the lowest area thereof.
  • the outlet section 17 is formed to be fluidically connected to the helical groove 19 at an area of the cylindrical hole 18 above the longitudinal axis 21.
  • the outlet section 17 is preferably formed to extend vertically to be fluidically connected to the helical groove 19 at the highest area of the cylindrical hole 18.
  • the water dispensing body 6 of each coffee brewing device 3 is generically cup shaped, with a concavity facing downwards, and is provided, on its bottom wall, with a water distribution shower 23 designed to receive pressurised hot water from the outlet section 17, and with a front gasket 24 whose function is to ensure the fluid-tight coupling of the water dispensing body 6 with the filter holder 7.
  • the water dispensing body 6 is made of metal and is integral with the metal block 8 so as to form an enbloc.
  • the water dispensing body 6 is coupled to the metal block 8 by means of screws, while in an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the water dispensing body 6 and metal block 8 are formed in one piece, preferably by moulding, on which the necessary machining is subsequently performed.
  • each filter holder 7 comprises a cup 25 open at the top and a handle 26 extending radially from the cup 25 to allow an operator to couple and uncouple the cup 25 to/from the water dispensing body 6 by means of a releasable quick coupling mechanism (not illustrated), typically a bayonet mechanism.
  • a releasable quick coupling mechanism typically a bayonet mechanism.
  • the cup 25 internally houses a filter 27, which is cup-shaped to contain an amount of loose ground coffee or coffee in the form of a pod or capsule and, when coupled to the water dispensing body 6, defines a brewing chamber with the latter that communicates fluidically, through the shower 23, with the water supply duct 9 for receiving the hot brewing water, and, on the opposite side, communicates fluidically, through a perforated bottom wall of the filter 27, with a coffee dispensing duct 28 formed in the filter holder 7 and coupled, preferably removably, to a beverage dispensing spout 29.
  • a filter 27 is cup-shaped to contain an amount of loose ground coffee or coffee in the form of a pod or capsule and, when coupled to the water dispensing body 6, defines a brewing chamber with the latter that communicates fluidically, through the shower 23, with the water supply duct 9 for receiving the hot brewing water, and, on the opposite side, communicates fluidically, through a perforated bottom wall of the filter 27, with a coffee dispensing duct 28 formed in
  • the filter 27 is preferably made of metal, conveniently stainless steel, and is detachably mounted to the cup 25 so that it can be replaced with another filter designed to contain a different dose of coffee or a different pod/capsule.
  • each coffee brewing device 3 comprises a valve assembly 30 comprising a three-way solenoid valve 31 arranged upstream of the cold water inlet 10 and having an inlet port 32 fluidically connected to the water pump (not illustrated) via a delivery duct 33, a first outlet port 34 fluidically connected to the water inlet 10 via a delivery duct 35, and a second outlet port 36 fluidically connected to a discharge duct 37.
  • Each valve assembly 30 further comprises a two-way solenoid valve 38, which has an inlet port 39 fluidically connected to the outlet section 17 via a drainage duct 40 formed in the metal block 8, and an outlet port 41 fluidically connected to another discharge duct 42.
  • the architecture of the machine 1 described above and, in particular, the architecture of the coffee brewing device 3 allows several advantages, listed below, to be achieved, deriving both from the intrinsic structural characteristics of the coffee brewing device 3 and from the management of the latter via the electronic control unit of the machine 1:
  • thermoblock heater connected to each coffee brewing device 3 and supplied directly with cold water is more energy efficient, and therefore more economical, than conventional systems with a single boiler and exchangers or multiboiler systems because only the amount of water necessary for brewing coffee is heated; in addition, the heating is instantaneous and no stagnant water is used;
  • the fact that the metal block 8 of the heating device 5 and the dispensing body 6 are made to be a single block (whether they are connected together to form an integral assembly or made of a single piece) means that the assembly has a thermal mass such as to achieve better thermal transmission and temperature uniformity to the advantage of both the instantaneous heating of the water to the optimal temperature for brewing coffee and maintaining the heat of the dispensing body 6, with a consequent positive effect on the stability of the temperature of the coffee produced;
  • the provision of a pair of electrical resistors 14 applied to the thermal block 8 allows optimised management of water heating.
  • the electronic control unit of the machine 1 can be programmed to manage the switching on of the electrical resistors 14 independently of each other so that, for example, only one of the two electrical resistors 14 can be switched off to decrease consumption and have greater energy savings and, at the same time, keep the coffee brewing device 3 operative so as to keep the thermal mass always hot with minimum consumption;
  • each coffee brewing device 3 can be replaced in the field with a simple and quick operation, by disconnecting the respective support plate 11 and the hydraulic connection of the heating device 5 from the frame 2, without waiting times related to the cooling and pressure of the hydraulic circuit as in professional machines with conventional single -boiler and exchanger systems or multiboiler systems;
  • valve assembly 30 makes it possible to solve the major problem that normally afflicts instant electric thermoblock heaters, namely the formation of limescale, which, as is well known, requires frequent and complex maintenance, if not, very often, the total replacement of the heater after a relatively short period of use.
  • the valve assembly 30 ensures that, at the end of each coffee brewing process, the water supply duct 9 inside the heating device 5 can be completely, or almost completely, emptied of the residual brewing water.
  • the electronic control unit of the machine 1 is programmed to manage the solenoid valves 31 and 38 as follows:
  • the solenoid valve 31 is controlled in such a way as to place the inlet port 32 and the outlet port 31 in fluidic communication to allow a flow of pressurised cold water to be fed to the heating device 5 via the cold water inlet 10, while the outlet port 36, which gives access to the discharge duct 37, is closed; the solenoid valve 38 is instead controlled in such a way as to close the fluidic communication between the inlet port 39 and the outlet port 41.
  • the solenoid valve 31 is controlled in such a way as to place the outlet port 31 in fluidic communication with the outlet port 36, thereby connecting the delivery duct 35 with the discharge duct 37; the solenoid valve 38 is instead controlled in such a way as to fluidically connect the inlet port 39 and the outlet port 41, thereby connecting the drainage duct 40 with the discharge duct 42.
  • the water supply duct 9 is fluidically communicating with the discharge duct 37 on the side towards the water inlet 10, and with the discharge duct 42 on the side flowing into the brewing chamber.
  • the water supply duct 9 is emptied and limescale is prevented from forming inside it, in particular, inside the heating section 16.
  • emptying the residual water allows the used coffee tablet to dry out in the brewing chamber.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une machine à café (1) comprenant un ou plusieurs dispositifs d'infusion de café (3), chacun avec une entrée d'eau froide (10) pour recevoir de l'eau froide sous pression. Chaque dispositif d'infusion de café (3) comprend un dispositif de chauffage d'eau froide (5), un corps de distribution d'eau chaude (6) et un porte-filtre (7) conçu pour contenir, en utilisation, une quantité de café et pour être manuellement accouplé de manière amovible au corps de distribution d'eau chaude (6) pour recevoir de l'eau chaude sous pression à partir de celui-ci pour une infusion. Le dispositif de chauffage d'eau froide (5) est un dispositif de chauffage à thermobloc électrique instantané et comprend un bloc métallique (8) avec des moyens de résistance électrique (14) conçus pour chauffer le bloc métallique (8), et un conduit d'alimentation en eau (9) formé dans le bloc métallique (8) et raccordé de manière fluidique d'un côté à l'entrée d'eau froide (10) pour recevoir de l'eau froide sous pression à partir de celle-ci et, de l'autre côté, au corps de distribution d'eau chaude (6) pour fournir de l'eau chauffée sous pression à celui-ci pour infuser du café. Chaque dispositif d'infusion de café (3) comprend en outre un ensemble vanne (30) comprenant une électrovanne à trois voies (31) disposée en amont de l'entrée d'eau froide (10) et ayant un orifice d'entrée (32) raccordé de manière fluidique à un conduit de distribution d'eau froide (35), un premier orifice de sortie (34) raccordé de manière fluidique à l'entrée d'eau froide (10), et un second orifice de sortie (36) raccordé de manière fluidique à un conduit d'évacuation (37). Chaque ensemble vanne (30) comprend en outre une électrovanne à deux voies (38) ayant un orifice d'entrée (39) raccordé de manière fluidique à une section de sortie (17) du conduit d'alimentation en eau (9) par l'intermédiaire d'un conduit de drainage (40) formé dans le bloc métallique (8), et un orifice de sortie (41) raccordé de manière fluidique à un conduit d'évacuation supplémentaire (42).
PCT/IB2025/050646 2024-01-29 2025-01-22 Machine à café Pending WO2025163431A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202400001668 2024-01-29
IT102024000001668 2024-01-29
IT102024000001662 2024-01-29
IT202400001662 2024-01-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2025163431A1 true WO2025163431A1 (fr) 2025-08-07

Family

ID=94733257

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2025/050646 Pending WO2025163431A1 (fr) 2024-01-29 2025-01-22 Machine à café

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2025163431A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130061760A1 (en) * 2010-05-21 2013-03-14 Nestec S.A. Ergonomic dispenser interface
US8850957B2 (en) * 2008-04-22 2014-10-07 Nestec S.A. Modular assembly of a beverage preparation machine
AU2015202472A1 (en) * 2014-05-09 2015-11-26 Sunbeam Corporation Pty Ltd Espresso machine
ES2945336A1 (es) * 2021-12-31 2023-06-30 Cecotec Res And Development S L Sistema de limpieza del brazo de vapor de una cafetera y metodo asociado

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8850957B2 (en) * 2008-04-22 2014-10-07 Nestec S.A. Modular assembly of a beverage preparation machine
US20130061760A1 (en) * 2010-05-21 2013-03-14 Nestec S.A. Ergonomic dispenser interface
AU2015202472A1 (en) * 2014-05-09 2015-11-26 Sunbeam Corporation Pty Ltd Espresso machine
ES2945336A1 (es) * 2021-12-31 2023-06-30 Cecotec Res And Development S L Sistema de limpieza del brazo de vapor de una cafetera y metodo asociado

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