Patent ID: 7322274
Filing Date: 2008-01-29
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
1. A locking device for a coffee brewing apparatus of an automatic coffee maker, the automatic coffee maker including a coffee maker body, a control circuit; and a top cover pivotally connected on top of said coffee maker body about a pivot axis, enabling the coffee maker to be opened and closed; said locking device comprising: a brewing chamber cover fixed at a bottom of said top cover, with at least one locking pin at a periphery of the brewing chamber cover, integral therewith; a brewing chamber body fixed in the coffee maker body; a brewing chamber seat in the coffee maker body disposed around said brewing chamber body and rotatable around a vertical central axis of said brewing chamber body; at least one latching member extending inwardly from said brewing chamber seat, whereby, when said brewing chamber seat is rotated around said vertical central axis, said locking device assumes one of an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein, in the unlocked position, the brewing chamber cover is rotatable about the pivot axis away from the brewing chamber seat, and in the locked position, said brewing chamber seat is locked in a vertical direction with said brewing chamber cover, and said brewing chamber cover can not be rotated about said pivot axis away from said brewing chamber seat; a motor installed in said coffee maker body controlled by said control circuit; a motion transmission mechanism disposed between said brewing chamber seat and said motor to enable said motor to drive said brewing chamber seat to rotate around said vertical central axis between the unlocked position and the locked position; a first sensor for detecting when the locking device is in the unlocked position and a second sensor for detecting when the locking device is in the locked position, which are both connected with said control circuit; wherein, when coffee is to be brewed, said top cover is closed on said coffee maker body, said motor is started by pressing down a start button, whereby under the control of said control circuit said brewing chamber seat is driven via said motion transmission mechanism to rotate about said vertical central axis towards the locked position; when said brewing chamber seat arrives at the locked position, the second sensor is triggered, and said motor is stopped under control of the control circuit, thereby locking said brewing chamber cover with said brewing chamber seat, so as to form a sealed brewing chamber; and wherein, after coffee is brewed, said motor is re-started under the control of the control circuit, and said brewing chamber seat is driven via said motion transmission mechanism to rotate about said vertical central axis towards the unlocked position; when said brewing chamber seat arrives at the unlocked position, the first sensor is triggered, and said motor is stopped under control of the control circuit, thereby unlocking said brewing chamber cover and enabling said brewing chamber cover to be rotated about said pivot axis away from said brewing chamber seat.