WO2006122879A1

WO2006122879A1 - Coffee machine

Info

Publication number: WO2006122879A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/062052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Kister
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2005-05-19
Filing date: 2006-05-04
Publication date: 2006-11-23
Also published as: EP1885224A1; DE102005023135A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a coffee machine with a brewing chamber (2), a device for filling the brewing chamber with coffee powder, and with a brewing device (3) in order to brew up the coffee powder in the brewing chamber (2) with hot water to produce the coffee extract. The coffee machine has a revolver mechanism (1) with a plurality of brewing chambers (2), a feeding station (SF), a brewing station (SB) and an emptying station (SE) which are arranged one behind another on the revolver mechanism (1) in such a manner that rotation of the revolver mechanism (1) enables the brewing chambers (2) to be transported in each case in a stepwise manner one after the other from the feeding station (SF) to the brewing station (SB) and on to the emptying station (SE).

Description

coffee machine

The invention relates to a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic espresso machine, with a brewing chamber, a device for filling the brewing chamber with ground coffee and with a brewing device to brew the coffee powder in the brewing chamber to produce the coffee extract with hot water.

In such automatic coffee machines, a basic coffee beverage preparation cycle proceeds as follows:

First, the ground coffee necessary for the beverage preparation is metered into the brewing chamber. This ground coffee is then compressed to a certain value. Subsequently, the brewing chamber is fed by a hot water heater hot water under relatively high pressure. This brews the compressed coffee powder. It will be solved in a relatively gentle manner, the flavors and dyes from the ground coffee. The resulting coffee extract flows through a filter out of the brewing chamber and through a corresponding spout into a suitably placed coffee cup or coffee pot.

The fully automatic espresso machines currently on the market usually have a substantially vertically constructed mechanism, which is referred to as a so-called. Brewing group, which is either permanently installed in a housing or removable in some devices. First, the ground coffee is filled from an integrated into the machine mill or a reservoir from above into the brewing chamber. The brewing chamber is then closed by means of an automatic or user-operated lever mechanism by pushing a piston from above into the brewing chamber, which at the same time compresses the coffee powder. After being brewed under pressure, the brewing chamber is mechanically reopened and the caked-on contents, the so-called filter cake, are ejected. For this purpose, the filter chamber, for example, a piston-like movable bottom, with the filter cake after coffee preparation can be pushed up out of the filter chamber, so that the filter cake can then be pushed laterally out of the range of the filter chamber. The path that the individual parts of the brewing chamber have to cover is determined by means of a lever guided mechanics, which is usually designed as a relatively large-scale backdrop or Drehkulissenmechanik.

In addition, there are already for some time so-called pad coffee machines. In such machines, so-called "coffee pads" are used, which are a ready-dosed portion of ground coffee within an all-round filter element Usually, such pads consist of two filter paper leaflets connected to one another at the edge, which enclose the ground coffee in their central area Such a coffee pad is inserted either manually or automatically into the open brewing chamber of the pad coffee machine, the brewing chamber is closed by means of a locking mechanism, then, as usual, hot water is introduced into the brewing chamber at a relatively high pressure, thus producing the coffee extract which is taken out via the outlet The brewing chamber can then be opened again and the used coffee pad can be automatically or manually removed and disposed of. Another alternative is to add the coffee portions in small plastic containers or the like instead of the coffee pods lead, which are also are disposable.

With all these machines, it takes a relatively long time to produce several portions of coffee or espresso in succession, since the brewing chamber must first be emptied and refilled after the first portion of coffee has been removed. In addition, - especially when the coffee is to be automatically fed and automatically disposed of - all previously known brewing groups mechanically relatively complex, bulky and prone to failure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the previously known coffee machines.

This object is achieved by a coffee machine according to claim 1.

According to the invention, the coffee machine on a turret mechanism with several brewing chambers and a loading station, a brewing station and a discharge station, which are arranged one behind the other on the turret mechanism, that by a rotation of the turret mechanism, the brewing chambers each stepwise be transported in succession from the loading station to the brewing station and on to the emptying station.

In the system according to the invention, it is possible, in particular, to supply one of the brewing chambers with ground coffee while, at the same time, producing coffee in another brewing chamber located at the brewing station. In parallel with this, the already used ground coffee can be removed from a further brewing chamber in the emptying station so that it can subsequently be filled again in the loading station.

The coffee machine according to the invention can be oriented, for example, as a classic espresso machine, in which the ground coffee is loosely filled, compacted and brewed. In principle, however, it may also be a machine which operates in the manner of a pad coffee machine or in any other way with finished portion units.

Thus, for example, a coffee pad can be inserted automatically or manually in the loading station, which is then fed to the brewing station by rotation of the turret mechanism. Subsequently, the used pedestrian arrives at the emptying station, where it is removed manually or automatically. Instead of a pad, any other form of prefabricated coffee portion can be used.

The dependent claims contain particularly advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention.

In principle, it is possible that the loading station and the emptying station are integrated in a common station, i. H. while coffee is being produced in the brewing station, the old coffee powder is removed from the brewing chamber in parallel in the common loading / unloading station and the brewing chamber is filled with new ground coffee. This variant is particularly preferred for smaller, less expensive machines. In larger coffee machines, however, it is generally more appropriate to provide separate stations for these functions.

According to a preferred embodiment, the turret mechanism on a Brühkammerträger which is rotatably mounted about a substantially vertical axis of rotation. In this case, the brewing chambers circulate on or in the brewing chamber carrier in a circular fashion about the axis of rotation. In a relatively simple and cost-producible embodiment, the brewing chamber carrier is essentially formed by a turntable with a plurality of recesses arranged along the circumference and forming the brewing chambers, each having an upper and a lower opening. It is particularly simple when the brewing chambers forming recesses are formed substantially by vertically extending through the turntable holes. The turntable then has at least in the region of the brewing chambers preferably a (along the axis of rotation) thickness, which is at least equal to or greater than the height of the individual brewing chambers, since the side walls of the brewing chambers are formed by the material of the turntable.

In a preferred development, the loading station has a filling device, which is arranged above an opening of the brewing chamber respectively located at the loading station. In addition, the filling device has a brewing chamber in question from below occlusive floor. When filling it can be z. B. to a hopper, a metering device or the like, which is connected, for example, with a coffee grinder or a reservoir for providing ground coffee. In principle, a corresponding metering device can also be connected to various coffee grinders or storage containers in order to optionally fill one of a number of different types of ground coffee provided.

The brewing station preferably has a closure device, which is arranged above an opening of the respective brewing chamber located at the loading station and which closes off the brewing chamber on the top side. Furthermore, there is an inlet for the hot water at the brewing station. In addition, the brewing station has a close below the brewing chamber in question or tightly introduced into the brewing chamber filter element, such as a fine sieve, with an underlying outlet for the coffee extract on.

The closure device preferably has a piston which can be moved in and out of the recess forming the brewing chamber and which can in particular also serve for compacting the ground coffee. In the brewing chamber, a relatively high pressure prevails during operation. Therefore, in order to ensure a tight connection of the filter element to the brewing chamber, the brewing station therefore preferably comprises a device for sealingly pressing the filter element, ie sealing it around the edge, from below into the brewing chamber forming recess.

Incidentally, the compression of the ground coffee can, moreover, already be carried out in a previous step, for example by arranging a compaction station on the turret mechanism between the loading station and the brewing station. Such a compression station may preferably have a piston which can be moved into and out of the recess forming the brewing chamber and, in turn, a bottom which closes the respective brewing chamber from below.

If you are working with loose ground coffee, make sure that the brewing chamber is closed all the way from filling to brewing downwards. Preferably, therefore, the coffee maker in the aforementioned embodiments, a the brewing chamber from the bottom occlusive floor, which is on Revolvermechanismus, z. B. below the turntable, extends continuously over a range which sweeps the lower opening of the brewing chamber during a rotational movement of the feed station to the filter element located on the brewing station. That is, the bottom in the loading station extends continuously further according to the path which the brewing chamber takes during rotation, up to the brewing station, in which then the filter element adjoins or in the appropriate place in the (continuous) bottom of the filter element is embedded or stored. If the coffee machine has a separate compression station, the bottom extends from the filling station below the compression station to the brewing station.

In a preferred embodiment, the emptying station has an ejection mechanism, for example also in the form of a piston, which simply expels a filter cake located in the brewing chamber after compaction and scalding through the lower opening of the brewing chamber, preferably into a collection container below it. Such a drainage station may additionally have a flushing device for flushing through the brewing chamber.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, behind the emptying station there is still a separate cleaning station which, for example, has a corresponding flushing device for flushing through the brewing chamber.

Depending on the size of the coffee machine, it is possible to arrange a relatively arbitrary number of brewing chambers on the turret mechanism. Accordingly, any number of stations can be provided. Thus, for example, several loading stations can be present one after the other at the revolving mechanism, so that, for B. parallel more adjacent brewing chambers can be filled simultaneously. Optionally, it is also possible to provide a plurality of charging stations which provide different types of coffee, so that these charging stations can be optionally driven with a brewing chamber, depending on which type of coffee the user desires.

Likewise, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of brewing stations arranged one after another on the turret mechanism may also be present, so that coffee can be brewed simultaneously in several brewing chambers at the same time. Of course, it is also possible that the coffee machine several compression stations, emptying stations, etc. has.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using an exemplary embodiment. As far as possible, the same reference numbers are used for the same components. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a turret mechanism with four brewing chambers and three different stations;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a turntable with four chambers for use in a machine according to Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section through the turntable according to FIG. 2; FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section through a filling station for a coffee machine according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section through a brewing station for a coffee machine according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section through a drainage station for a coffee machine according to FIG. 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the coffee machine in the illustrated embodiment has a turret mechanism 1 with a mounted about a vertical axis of rotation R turntable 3, which has a total of four brewing chambers 2. The brewing chambers 2 have been introduced here by simple, parallel to the rotation axis R extending through holes in the turntable 3, so that the individual brewing chambers 2 each have an upper opening 4 and a lower opening 5, which are congruent to each other. The material of the turntable 3 thus forms the side walls of the individual brewing chambers. 2

Along this turntable 3, in the direction of rotation (in clockwise direction here), a feed station SF, then a brewing station SB and, finally, a drainage station SE are arranged circularly behind one another (see FIG. 1). By rotation of the turntable 3 about the rotation axis R, the individual brewing chambers 2 are each transported step by step from the loading station SF to the brewing station SB and further to the emptying station SE. Consequently, three of the four chambers 2 in a particular station SF, SB, SE are located in this structure, whereas the fourth chamber is currently unused.

The modes of operation of these individual stations SF, SB, SE are described below with reference to Figures 4 to 6 in more detail.

The loading station SF has a bottom 7, which closes the chamber 2 positioned in the loading station SF at the bottom. Above the upper opening 4 of the relevant brewing chamber 2 is a filling device 6, here in the form of a Funnel 6, via which a certain amount of ground coffee is introduced into the brewing chamber 2 in a filling direction E. The ground coffee can basically be filled by any mechanism, eg. B. by gravity or by negative pressure, which is generated in the chamber. Various ways of dosing the coffee powder are known in the art and need not be further explained here. The filling device 6 is connected via a suitable rack 8 or through the housing of the coffee machine with the bottom 7.

After filling with ground coffee then the turntable 3 is further rotated by 90 ° in the direction of the brewing SB, so that the filled with ground coffee brewing chamber 2 is suitably positioned in the brewing SB. The construction of the brewing station SB can be seen from FIG. So that the ground coffee can not get out of the brewing chamber 2, the bottom 7 extends continuously from the loading station SF in the coffee machine to a bottom part T in the brewing station SB (FIG. 1). In the brewing station SB also a sieve tray 10 is arranged with a very fine screen structure as a filter element 10. The bottom part T is thicker here compared to the bottom 7 preferably integrally connected to the bottom 7 ', since in this bottom part T a suitable Abdrückvorrichtung 12 is arranged to push the sieve bottom 10 from below something in the brewing chamber, so as to make a tight connection of the sieve tray 10 in the brewing chamber 2 to provide. In addition, below the sieve bottom 10 in the bottom part T there is an outlet 11 for the finished coffee extract.

On the upper side, the brewing station SB has a closure device 13, here in the form of a piston 13, which is pressed from above into the brewing chamber 2 in the compression direction V and compresses the ground coffee located therein. The piston 13 is held at the top in a piston guide 14, which is firmly connected again via a rack 15 or the housing of the coffee machine with the bottom part 7 ', so that it does not lead to a displacement of the various components of the piston 13 even with a greater pressure Brühstation SB can come together.

Both the movement of the piston 13 and the movement of the sieve bottom 10 upwards into the brewing chamber 2 can take place mechanically, hydraulically or electromechanically. Through an inlet 9 can then be introduced into the brewing chamber 2 under relatively high pressure hot water WH. The resulting coffee extract passes through the sieve tray 10 and the spout 1 1 in a positioned below coffee cup or coffee pot.

After the extraction process, the piston 13 is moved back up from the brewing chamber 2. Likewise, the sieve tray 10 is again moved a piece down and thus repealed the seal of the sieve tray 10 relative to the brewing chamber 2 again.

The turntable can then continue to turn in the next position by 90 °, so that the relevant brewing chamber 2 is located in the emptying station SE.

As shown schematically in FIG. 6, in the emptying station SE the filter cake (not shown) located in the brewing chamber 2 is ejected downwards into a collecting container 17 by means of an ejection piston 16 mounted in a further rack 18. The collecting container 17, when it is full, removed by the user and the contents are disposed of, so that then the empty collection container is re-inserted into the coffee machine.

In addition, this emptying station SE also serves as a cleaning station here. For this purpose, it has over the upper opening 4 of the brewing chamber 2 on the rack 18 nozzles 19, from which z. B. hot cleaning water WR is flushed through the emptied brewing chamber 2. This water WR can first get into the collecting container 17 and drain there, for example, through a sieve or the like into a connected drain. Subsequently, the brewing chamber 2 can then be further rotated in the free position and then passes in a further movement back to the loading station SF.

Cleaning of the sieve tray 10 in the brewing station SB can be done, for example, by rinsing hot water there, for example through the inlet 9, which then passes on either through the outlet into a collecting container positioned below or an outflow. Alternatively, at the outlet 1 1, a valve may be arranged so that during the cleaning operations, the water required for cleaning by a separate, adjacent to the illustrated coffee spout outlet is disposed of. Such cleaning of the coffee filter can, for example, always take place when an unfilled brewing chamber 2 is located in the brewing station SB.

Likewise, it is also possible that during the movement of the turntable 3, for example in an intermediate position, when the brewing station SB is located on the turntable 3 between two brewing chambers 2, the sieve bottom 10 is lowered even more and by special lateral cleaning nozzles (not shown) is cleaned. The sieve tray 10 is then freshly cleaned each time between two brewing operations.

As the above-described exemplary embodiment shows by way of example, it is very well possible with the illustrated method to produce several portions of coffee rapidly one after the other. Thus, during the use of a brewing chamber 2 in a certain position, for example, for emptying the filter cake, the opposite brewing chamber 2 are filled at the same time, wherein in a further brewing chamber 2 located between these two brewing chambers 2 coffee can be brewed at the same time. The entire mechanics required for the machine can be made in a relatively flat design. Due to the relatively flat and simple mechanism, the production of such machines is inexpensive and the machines are also more robust than previous machines in which in particular the automatic placement of coffee powder and emptying and cleaning the brewing chambers must be performed with relatively high mechanical complexity. In particular, it is also possible with this machine, in an embodiment with a plurality of chambers parallel to produce several portions of coffee. With the help of an appropriate control, it is also possible to produce coffee portions of the same variety or coffee portions of different types of coffee, optionally in several chambers at the same time. The mechanics are relatively well scalable, d. H. It can be used without great constructive changes in different sizes for very small to very large machines.

Finally, it is pointed out once again that the preceding coffee machines described in detail are exemplary embodiments which can be modified by the person skilled in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, it is again pointed out at this point that the basic principle according to the invention is not limited to the use of loose ground coffee, but that on which the invention is based Principle also for pad coffee machines or a similar coffee machines with pre-portioned portions of coffee can be used.

Claims

claims

1 . Coffee machine with a brewing chamber (2), a device for filling the brewing chamber with ground coffee and with a brewing device (3) to brew the ground coffee in the brewing chamber (2) with hot water to produce the coffee extract, characterized by a turret mechanism (1) with several brewing chambers (2), a loading station (SF), a brewing station (SB) and a discharge station (SE), which are arranged one behind the other on the turret mechanism (1) such that by rotation of the turret mechanism (1) the brewing chambers (2) each step by step from the loading station (SF) to the brewing station (SB) and on to the emptying station (SE).

2. Coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the loading station (SF) and the emptying station (SE) are integrated in a common loading / emptying station.

3. Coffee machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the turret mechanism (1) comprises a about a substantially vertically extending axis of rotation (R) rotatably mounted brewing chamber carrier (3).

4. Coffee machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the brewing chamber carrier (3) a turntable (3) arranged with a plurality along its circumference, the brewing chamber (2) forming recesses, each having an upper and a lower opening (4, 5).

5. Coffee machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the brewing chamber (2) forming recesses substantially vertically through the turntable (3) extending bores.

6. Coffee machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the charging station (SF) a filling device (6), which above the opening (4) of each located at the charging station (SF) brewing chamber (2) angeord- is net, and a respective brewing chamber (2) closing from below bottom (7).

7. Coffee machine according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the brewing station (SB) has a closure device (13) which closes the brewing chamber (2) on the top side tight and having an inlet (9) for the hot water, a bottom side tight to the brewing chamber (2) adjoining or tightly introduced into the brewing chamber filter element (10) and arranged below the filter element (10) arranged outlet (1 1) for the coffee extract.

8. Coffee machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the closure device (8) comprises in the brewing chamber (2) forming recess retractable and extendable piston (8).

9. Coffee machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the brewing station (SB) comprises a device (13) for pressing the filter element (10) tightly from below into the brewing chamber (2) forming recess

10. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by a arranged between the charging station and the brewing station compression station.

1 1. Coffee machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the compacting station has a piston which can be moved into and out of the recess forming the brewing chamber and a bottom which closes the relevant brewing chamber from below.

12. Coffee machine according to one of claims 6 to 1 1, characterized by a brewing chamber from the bottom closing the bottom (7), which extends over a region which the lower opening (5) of the brewing chamber (2) during a rotational movement of the loading station (SF) to the filter element (10) located at the brewing station (SB).

13. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the emptying station (SE) comprises an ejection mechanism (16), which in the brewing chamber (2) after compression and scalding filter cake through the lower opening (5) the brewing chamber (2) ejects.

14. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by a brewing station downstream cleaning station.

15. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the emptying station (SE) and / or the cleaning station has a flushing device (19) for flushing the brewing chamber (2).

16. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by several successively on the turret mechanism (1) arranged feed stations.

17. Coffee machine according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by a plurality of successively on the turret mechanism (1) arranged Brühstationen.