Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02536286 2006-02-14
Apparatus and process for filling and emptying a
brewing chamber
The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a
process for filling and emptying a brewing chamber, in
particular a brewing chamber of a coffee machine.
There are coffee machines which, for the purpose of
filling a brewing chamber, contain an accommodating
means into which a portion pack can be introduced. The
accommodating means can be closed via a housing cover,
with the result that the accommodating means is
manually filled and emptied. The disadvantage with this
filling method is that, following each brewing
operation, the portion pack has to be removed manually
from the accommodating means, which is a laborious task
precisely when a number of portions of coffee are
brewed one after the other. It is only following manual
emptying that a new portion pack can be introduced, the
tasks of filling and emptying requiring a comparatively
high level of effort from the user.
One of the objects of the present invention is thus to
provide an apparatus and a process for filling and
emptying a brewing chamber which allow the brewing
chamber to be easily filled and emptied with only a
small number of process steps.
This object is e.g. achieved by an apparatus which has
the features of claim 1 and by a process which has the
features of claim 10.
According to the invention, the apparatus preferably
has a brewing chamber which is open on one side and on
which is arranged a displaceable base. The base here
can be moved in relation to an opening of the brewing
chamber for emptying purposes, with the result that a
portion pack contained in the brewing chamber is
automatically removed from the latter and can drop into
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a collecting container. There is therefore no need for
the user to grip the portion pack by hand, which is
considered to be considerably more convenient in
handling terms. Furthermore, the brewing chamber can be
pivoted together with the base, with the result that
the opening can be filled from above with portion
packs, this making it possible for the emptied brewing
chamber to be easily filled with one or more portion
packs. All that is required here is for the user to
introduce the new portion packs from above and then
move the actuating mechanism.
According to a preferred configuration of the
invention, the brewing chamber can be latched in the
filling position with the opening oriented upward. It
is thus possible for the user to maintain the filling
position until such time as the portion packs have been
introduced.
For easy actuation, the base and the brewing chamber
can be moved via in each case one preferably plate-like
curved guide. An actuating element may be provided here
in order for it to be possible to move both the base
and the brewing chamber, so that the user only has to
operate this one actuating element for the movement
operations.
For a straightforward mechanical configuration of the
ac*_uating mechanism, the base is coupled to a first pin
and the brewing chamber is coupled to a second pin,
these being mounted together on a rotatable curved
guide. Pivoting of the actuating element together with
the rotatable curved guide thus makes it possible to
achieve a corresponding movement of the brewing chamber
and of the base. The actuating element here may be
coupled to a covering which releases the brewing
chamber only in the position in which it is to be
filled. As soon as the brewing chamber has been filled,
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it can be concealed from the outside by virtue of the
actuating element and the covering being pivoted.
In the case of the process according to the invention,
the first step is movement of the base within the
brewing chamber in relation to an opening in order to
eject used-up portion packs, before the base is drawn
into the brewing chamber in order to form a cup-like
brewing chamber. The brewing chamber is then pivoted
such that the opening of the brewing chamber is
accessible from above, in order that one or more
portion packs can be inserted. Thereafter, the brewing
chamber is pivoted in relation to a nozzle assembly,
which covers over the opening of the brewing chamber,
in order that a brewing operation can be initiated. The
process according to the invention allows automatic
emptying of the brewing chamber and easy handling,
where all that is required is for the cup-like brewing
chamber to be filled from above.
Following the brewing operation, the brewing chamber is
first of all preferably moved away from the nozzle
assembly and the base is moved in the opposite
direction in the brewing chamber, it also being
possible for the two movements to be executed
simultaneously. The movement of the brewing chamber
away from the nozzle assembly has the advantage that
the portion packs contained in the brewing chamber can
drop downward into a collecting container.
The invention is explained in more detail ~:ereinbelow
by way of an exemplary embodiment (which shall not be
construed to limit the scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims) and with reference to
the attached drawings, in which:
figure 1 shows a sectional side view of a coffee
machine with an apparatus for filling
and emptying a brewing chamber; and
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figures 2-5 each show perspective views of the
apparatus for filling and emptying the
brewing chamber in different process
positions.
A coffee machine 1 which is shown in figure 1 comprises
a storage container 2 for clean water, the storage
container having provided on it an outlet valve 3 which
is connected to a pump 5 via a line 4. By means of the
pump 5, the water can be led to a heating plate 6 which
contains helical through-passages 7 in which the water
can be heated. Provided alongside this is a plate 8
which forms part of a nozzle assembly and in which is
provided a supply line 30 for the heated water.
Installed on the plate 8 is a mount 9 for a sealing
element 20 which is of essentially annular design and
has a nozzle 11 provided in its center. Via the nozzle
11, the heated water can flow into a brewing chamber 19
which is enclosed by a housing 10. Provided on the
opposite side of the nozzle 11 is a base 12 which is
intended for bounding the brewing chamber 19 and which
contains an outflow, with the result that the fluid
brewed flows through a funnel-like outlet 13 to an
extension arm 14, on which an outlet opening 15 is
provided for the purpose of filling coffee cups.
The coffee machine 1 comprises a brewing chamber 19 in
which it is possible to inser-- one or more portion
packs with coffee. Provided for this purpose is a
cylindrical covering 16 on which is formed a handle 17,
via which the housing 10 can be released from the
nozzle assembly and pivoted via an actuating mechanism,
with the result that the brewing chamber 19 is filled
from above. The covering 16 is then closed and the
housing 10 is moved into the position shown. Following
the brewing operation, the portion packs are then
emptied into a collecting container 18 in order for the
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brewing chamber 19 to be filled anew, as will be
explained in detail hereinbelow.
The apparatus for filling and emptying the brewing
chamber 19 comprises an extension arm 21 which is
coupled to the base 12 and on which a pin 22 is
secured. The pin 22 is mounted, at the end, in a curved
element 23 of a curved guide 24. In a similar way, the
housing 10 of the brewing chamber 19 is coupled to a
pin 25, which is fixed in the center of the plate-like
curved guide 24. Figure 1 illustrates only the plate-
like curved guide 24 on one side, although, for uniform
guidance, a mirror-symmetrical curved guide is also
provided on the opposite side of the pins 22 and 25.
The operations of filling and emptying the brewing
chamber 19 will be explained in more detail with
reference to figures 2 to 5.
In figure 2, the brewing chamber 19 is located in the
brewing position, although, for reasons of clarity,
there is no portion pack illustrated in the brewing
chamber 19. The brewing chamber 19 is bounded by the
housing 10, the base 12 and the schematically
illustrated nozzle assembly 9 or nozzle 11. The portion
pack here is accommodated in an essentially form-
fitting manner in the brewing chamber 19 in order to
avoid a bypass bv wav of flow caps during the brewing
operation. Following extract-on, the fluid flows
through a discharge means 40 tc zhe funnel 13.
In the brewing position, the covering 16 is located on
a housing of the coffee machine 1 such that the brewing
chamber 19 is concealed by the housing 10. Figure 2
illustrates both the position at the beginning of the
brewing operation and that following the brewing
operation with the used-up portion pack still remaining
the brewing chamber 19.
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Figure 3 shows the position in which the portion pack
has been ejected from the brewing chamber 19. For this
purpose, the base 12 moves in relation to the opening
of the brewing chamber 19 on account of pivoting of the
actuating element 17 with the covering 16 and in
accordance with the curved guides 24, by means of
corresponding spring elements (not illustrated
specifically here) or other devices, with the result
that no more space remains for the portion pack within
the brewing chamber 19. The pivoting movement of the
actuating element 17 simultaneously moves the housing
10 of the brewing chamber away from the nozzle assembly
9 or the nozzle 11, this resulting in the formation,
between the housing 10 and nozzle assembly 9, of a gap
through which the used-up portion pack can drop into
the collecting container 18.
In order to fill the brewing chamber 19, the actuating
element 17 is rotated further, as a result of which the
position which is shown in figure 4 is reached. The
further pivoting of the actuating element 17, on the
one hand, has drawn the base 12 into the brewing
chamber 19 again via the pin 22 and a fixed curved rib,
with the result that this brewing chamber forms a cup-
like accommodating means for new portion packs. On the
other hand, the housing 10 has been pivoted with the
brewing chamber 19 such that the opening of the brewing
cham.ber 19 is oriented upward and, from there, can
easilv be filled with new portion packs.
The pivoting of the actuating element 17 has also
removed the covering 16 from the top region, with the
result that the opening of the brewing chamber 19 is
released. In this position, the actuating element 17
can be latched in order for the brewing chamber 19 to
be filled in a rest position.
For a further brewing operation, the actuating element
17 is then pivoted back again, as is illustrated in
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figure S. In a first step, the housing 10 of the
brewing chamber 19 is thus pivoted into an essentially
horizontal position again, in which the opening of the
brewing chamber 19 is located opposite the nozzle
assembly 9. The base 12 remains in the drawn-in
position and provides the portion packs with sufficient
space in the brewing chamber 19.
If the actuating element 17 is pivoted further from the
position which is shown in figure 5, the brewing
chamber 19 is located once again in the position which
is shown in figure 2, the covering 16 covering over the
housing 10 and the base 12 butting against the portion
pack in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore, the housing
10 is arranged in a sealed manner on the nozzle
assembly 9 in order that the next brewing operation can
be carried out.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the brewing
chamber 19 and the base 12 can be moved in the desired
manner by virtue of the pivoting movement of an
actuating element 17. It is also possible, instead of
the curved guides 24 shown, to use other mechanical
means, for example levers, slides, gearwheels, etc., in
order to execute the desired movement of the brewing
chamber and of the base.
For filling and emptying purposes, it goes without
saying that the Filling position does not require the
opening to be oriented precisely in the vertical
direction; rather, all that is required is for the
opening to be directed essentially upward in order that
it can be easily filled. It is also the case that the
brewing position need not be oriented precisely
horizontally; all that is necessary is for the nozzle
assembly 9 and the brewing chamber 19 to form a sealed
unit.
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Furthermore, the actuating element 17 can be
prestressed into the closed position in order to allow
smooth closure and to prevent the situation where the
covering 16 is only incompletely closed. It would also
be possible for testing of the closed position of the
brewing chamber to be sensed via a sensor, in order to
prevent the brewing operating from being initiated when
the brewing chamber is partially open.
