Abstract:
An appliance for dispensing beverages includes a brewing unit through which hot water can flow for extraction, a beverage dispenser coupled to the brewing unit to dispense a prepared beverage into a container, a cooling device to supply ice for cooling a beverage, and a dosage device for ice cubes to automatically dose ice during the beverage preparation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. DE 20 2009 001 489.4, filed on Feb. 6, 2009, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an appliance for dispensing beverages, in particular coffee-based beverages, comprising a brewing unit through which hot water can flow for extraction, wherein a prepared beverage can be filled into a container at a beverage dispensing unit. The appliance further comprises a cooling device which supplies the ice for cooling a beverage. 
         [0003]    German patent document DE 34 05 396 discloses a device for preparing a beverage by extraction, wherein a hot or cold beverage can optionally be prepared. A brewed beverage is prepared which optionally flows through a cooling container with ice. The filling of the cooling container with ice can cool down the brewed beverage. However, the dosing of the amount of ice depends on the user, and the beverage is cooled more or less, depending on the processing time, the size and the number of ice cubes. The resulting taste of the prepared beverage is therefore subject to strong fluctuations. 
         [0004]    A device for crushing or comminuting ice cubes is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,527, by which ice cubes or crushed ice are optionally dispensed. A specific dosing can thus be used for the production of ice cubes, wherein the ice cubes are discharged directly into a container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to create an appliance for dispensing beverages which also allows preparing cooled drinks of high quality. 
         [0006]    The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention wherein there is provided, according to one embodiment, an appliance for dispensing beverages, comprising: a brewing unit through which hot water can flow for extraction; a beverage dispenser coupled to the brewing unit to dispense a prepared beverage into a container; a cooling device to supply ice for cooling a beverage; and a dosage device for ice cubes to automatically dose ice during the beverage preparation. 
         [0007]    Therefore, according to the invention, the appliance for dispensing beverages comprises a dosage device for ice cubes in addition to the brewing unit and cooling device, wherein the dosage device permits an automatic dosing during the beverage preparation. The user is thus ensured that with the aid of a control unit, a specified beverage can be dispensed, which is cooled as desired with the aid of a predetermined amount of ice. A watering-down of the beverage resulting from too much ice or following an excessively long contact of the brewed beverage with the ice is thus avoided or, vice versa, the insufficient cooling due to an excessively short contact time is also avoided. The invention consequently makes it possible to prepare hot as well as cold beverages of high quality. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the dosage device comprises a replaceable receptacle for holding a plurality of ice cubes. The user can thus place the receptacle with the ice cubes into a freezer compartment and, when preparing a cooled beverage, can insert the receptacle with the ice cubes into the appliance, wherein this requires only a few steps. As a result, an involved cooling and the production of ice cubes in the device can be omitted. The receptacle is advantageously embodied in the shape of a tray and comprises several separate chambers with respectively one ice cube arranged therein. 
         [0009]    For a precise dosing, the dosage device can be provided with an ejector for ejecting one or more ice cubes from the receptacle, wherein the receptacle is preferably arranged rotating inside the appliance. The receptacle may be moved to a predetermined position relative to the immovably arranged ejector for the ejection of an ice cube. The ejector can be operated with the aid of a cam shaft and can comprise a lever, which can be moved against a bottom section of the receptacle, such that the ice cube is released from the receptacle as a result of deformation or an ejection force and drops down into a container for a cooling device. To ensure easy handling, the receptacle may be made of a flexible material, in particular rubber, silicon or a plastic material. 
         [0010]    According to a different embodiment of the invention, a holding mechanism is provided in each chamber to prevent an ice cube arranged therein from falling out since the receptacle in most cases is arranged with the open side facing downward. With only a slight melting of the ice cube, it could therefore drop down unintentionally. By installing a corresponding holding mechanism in the chamber, for example in the form of strips, projections or other elements, the ice cubes are prevented from falling out of the receptacle. 
         [0011]    According to a another embodiment of the invention, the dosage device for ice cubes also comprises a device for crushing or comminuting ice cubes. As a result, it is ensured that not only large ice cube pieces, but also crushed pieces are metered out, thereby considerably reducing the time for cooling a beverage since the crushing considerably increases the surface area of the ice cubes. The time during which the beverage remains inside the appliance can thus be reduced noticeably. The ice cubes can optionally be transported to a container where they are collected for cooling the hot, brewed beverage, or directly into a container at a beverage dispenser. 
         [0012]    A sensor for detecting a filling of a chamber or receptacle may be provided, so that the dosage device can also process a receptacle where only some of the chambers are filled with ice cubes. As a result, the receptacle can be reinserted into the appliance even if not all ice cubes have been used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention for dispensing beverages. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are two perspective views from above of the dosage device for the appliance. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view from below of the dosage device for the appliance. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, enlarged representation of the individual components of the dosage device. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  are several perspective views of the receptacle for the dosage device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an appliance  1  for dispensing beverages, in particular coffee. The appliance  1  comprises a device  2  for supplying ice and a brewing unit  3  for producing a hot beverage. The brewing unit  3  is supplied with the aid of a schematically shown feed-line  4  for hot water and a dosage device  5  for an extraction substance, in particular coffee. The desired amount of coffee grounds can be supplied with the aid of a grinder to the brewing unit  3 . A discharge line  6  leads from the brewing unit  3  to a junction  7 , which is embodied such that it can be switched to optionally conduct the brewed beverage either through a line  13  to a beverage dispenser  15  or via a feed line  8  to a collecting container  9 . The lower region of the collecting container  9  is funnel-shaped and comprises a switchable valve  11  on an outlet  10  for opening or closing a discharge  12  to a beverage dispenser  15 . 
         [0020]    The beverage dispenser  15  is shown schematically as a collecting device provided with an outlet below which a container  14 , especially a cup, is positioned. 
         [0021]    A dosage device  16  is arranged above the device  2  for supplying ice and can be operated automatically to release one or a plurality of ice cubes into the device  2 . The dosage device  16  in this case can be a storage container, or a collecting device for ice cubes, or a device for the production of ice cubes. 
         [0022]    The device  2  for supplying the ice cubes comprises a container with a disc  17  arranged therein for crushing or comminuting the ice. A motor drives the disc  17  via a shaft  18 , wherein a gear or clutches can optionally also be used. A projecting circulating element  20  is provided on the disc  17  by means of which ice cubes in the container are moved against a schematically shown blade  23 , so that they can be comminuted or crushed and the crushed ice can be released into the collecting container  9 , as shown with the arrow  21 . The blade  23  may be adjustable so that the size of the crushed or comminuted ice pieces can be adjusted. 
         [0023]    A switchable outlet can be activated if a discharge of the crushed ice into the container  14  is desired, so that the crushed ice is moved directly from the device  2  to the beverage dispenser  15 , as indicated schematically with the line  22  shown herein. 
         [0024]    For dispensing a hot beverage, the brewing unit  3  is filled with hot water and an extraction substance from the dosage device  5 . Subsequently, the brewing unit dispenses the brewed beverage via the line  6  and the line  13  to the beverage dispenser  15 . 
         [0025]    Insofar as the dispensing of a cold beverage is desired, for example ice coffee or ice tea, the brewed beverage may be cooled inside the appliance  1 . To accomplish this, the brewing unit  3  can be activated and at the same time and, parallel thereto, one or several ice cubes can be provided via the dosage device  16  to the device  2  for supplying the ice. In the device  2 , the one or a plurality of ice cubes is then crushed and transferred to the collecting container  9 . In the collecting container  9 , the brewed beverage arriving from the line  8  and the crushed ice cubes from the device  2  are then collected, wherein the valve  11  can be closed for a specified interval, for example ranging from 10 to 60 seconds. During this time, the crushed ice cubes in the collecting container  9  will dissolve and can cool the brewed beverage to the desired temperature. Following this interval, the valve  11  can be opened with the aid of an adjustment element and the cooled beverage can be fed via the dispensing line  12  of the beverage dispenser  15  into the container  14 . A central control (not shown) for the appliance  1  can be used to trigger the brewing unit  3 , the device  2 , as well as the valve  11 . The device illustrated in FIG. 1 is described in more detail in co-owned U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 31928-284237) filed concurrently with this application, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0026]    The dosage device  16  for metering out the ice cubes is illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . A tray-shaped rotating receptacle  25  that comprises individual chambers  26  with respectively one ice cube positioned therein is arranged on the top of the device. The center of the receptacle  25  contains a plug-in coupling  27  which can be made to engage in a drive. 
         [0027]    An ejector  34  in the form of a lever, which is positioned rotating around an axis  36 , is provided on respectively one chamber  26  of the receptacle  25 . The ejector  34  can be activated by a cam  37  on the side opposite the axis  36 , wherein this cam moves the ejector  34  counter to the force of a spring  35  toward a bottom section of a chamber  26  and, in the process, pushes an ice cube out of the chamber  26 . 
         [0028]    A motor  50  shown in  FIG. 3  is provided for rotating the receptacle  25 , so that a filled chamber  26  can arrive at the ejector  34 , wherein this motor is positioned with the aid of a bearing  51  and rotates the receptacle  25  via a drive wheel  55  and a belt  54 . 
         [0029]    The individual components of the dosage device are shown in  FIG. 4 . The receptacle  25 , open in a downward direction, is provided on the underside with a plurality of guide shoes  29  (see  FIGS. 5B and 5C ) between the individual chambers  26 , which are supported on a bottom surface  31  in a recess of a housing  30 . The recess furthermore contains a journal  32  in the center for positioning the receptacle  25 . 
         [0030]    The ejector  34  and the drive elements are located in a recess  33  of the housing  30 , wherein the ejector  34  is rotatably positioned rotating on the housing  30  via an axis  36  (see  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  4 ). A compression spring  35  is provided to move the ejector  34  back to the starting position, wherein a cam  37  is rigidly positioned on a shaft  38 , so as to rotate along. The shaft  38  comprises a web-type end section  42  which is inserted into a corresponding slot-shaped receptacle  43  of the cam  37 . The shaft  38  is driven with the aid of a motor  39  that is arranged non-rotating on the housing  30  with the aid of a bearing  40  for the motor. A bearing block  41  is furthermore provided for positioning the shaft  38 . 
         [0031]    Also arranged on the housing  30  is the motor bearing  51  for the motor  50  that rotates the receptacle  25 . With the aid of a drive shaft  52 , the motor  50  drives a first drive wheel  53  which in turn drives a second drive wheel  55  with the aid of a belt  54 . The drive wheel  55  is coupled via a coupling  58  to the receptacle  25 , so that the receptacle  25  can be rotated intermittently inside the housing  30 . 
         [0032]    A sensor  47  is provided for detecting the filling level of a chamber  26 , wherein this sensor can also detect whether or not a chamber  26  contains an ice cube. 
         [0033]    A fixed cover  46  and a movable cover  45  are furthermore provided on the housing  30 . 
         [0034]    If the user wants to obtain a cooled beverage instead of a hot beverage from the appliance  1 , a request for first inserting a receptacle  25  filled with ice cubes is sent following a program selection via a display (not shown). For this, the cover  45  can be pivoted away so that the user can insert a receptacle  25  into the housing  30 , wherein the receptacle  25  is either filled completely or partially with ice cubes. 
         [0035]    With the aid of a control unit (not shown), it is then determined whether one or several ice cubes  26  are required for preparing the selected beverage. The respective number of ice cubes is released via the ejector  34  into a container of the cooling device  2  in which the ice cubes are subsequently crushed and from which they are optionally released into the storage container  9  or directly into the beverage dispenser  15 . 
         [0036]    Once all the cooled beverages have been prepared in the appliance  1 , the receptacle  25  can be removed once more from the appliance  1  and deposited in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, if applicable by filling it with water for producing further ice cubes. 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 5A to 5C , the receptacle  25  is shown in further detail. The receptacle  25  consists of a flexible material, in particular rubber or silicon, and comprises a plurality of chambers  26 , opened in a downward direction, for accommodating the ice cubes. Each chamber  26  contains a holding mechanism in the form of bars  60  that form a tapered throat section which is followed by an expanded section  61 . As a result, an ice cube is held inside the chamber  26  even if a melting process has started on the walls of the ice cubes. The bars  60  form a tapered cross section which allows the ice cube to drop down only if in the expanded head section  61  the melting process has led to such a change in the geometry of the ice cube that this ice cube fits through the narrowed cross section and through the bars  60 . The side walls  62  are embodied so as to be tapered outward in downward direction, which is designed to prevent undesirable holding or frictional forces from developing and to allow an easier ejection of the ice cubes. 
         [0038]    The receptacle  25  can also take on other shapes for producing the ice cubes. In particular, it is possible to produce ice cubes having a round, square, rectangular or other geometry in place of the segment-shaped chambers. It is furthermore possible to embody the chambers  26  of the receptacle  25  with extremely low volume, so that a device for crushing or comminuting the ice cubes can be omitted. 
         [0039]    It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.