Beverage producing unit and machine

A beverage producing unit includes an infusion chamber with a first infusion chamber portion forming a receptacle for receiving a beverage preparing product and is configured to be movable between a loading position, where the first infusion chamber portion is arranged under a product-loading hopper, and a brewing position, where the first infusion chamber portion is configured to co-act with a second infusion chamber portion to close the infusion chamber. A scraper is arranged and configured to level a product heap projecting from the receptacle during movement of the first infusion chamber portion from the loading position towards said brewing position. The receptacle has a top edge surrounding a receptacle inlet aperture. The top edge is provided with a projection extending from the top edge and configured to prevent product from falling out of the receptacle when passing under the scraper.

This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/IB2013/058421, filed on Sep. 10, 2013, which claims the benefit of International Application No. 12184208.2 filed on Sep. 13, 2012. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to beverage producing machines, in particular but not exclusively coffee producing machines, for preparing espresso coffee or other coffee-based beverages. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to beverage producing units using products in bulk form, for example loose coffee powder obtained by grinding coffee beans and beverage producing machines including said units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage producing devices, such as brewing machines for producing espresso coffee, are well-known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,028 discloses a device for the preparation of hot beverages, particularly coffee, comprising a brewing unit including a brewing chamber with a movable first brewing chamber portion and a second brewing chamber portion, designed to co-act one with the other in order to charge coffee powder in the first brewing chamber portion, closing the brewing chamber and brewing coffee by feeding hot pressurized water through the brewing chamber and the coffee powder contained therein, in order to extract the flavors from the coffee powder.

In these known devices the movable brewing chamber portion usually performs a rotary and translation movement in a vertical plane. In a first loading position the movable brewing chamber portion is placed vertically under a charging hopper, through which coffee powder is dispensed from a coffee grinder into a receptacle formed in the first brewing chamber portion. A certain amount of coffee powder or other bulk beverage preparing product is collected inside the receptacle and forms a conical bulk material heap. When the movable brewing chamber portion pivots from the loading position towards the brewing position, the tip of the bulk product heap is flattened by a scraper, so that the height of the heap is reduced by pushing the bulk material towards the base of the conical heap inside the receptacle before closing the brewing chamber, compacting the product and starting the brewing cycle.

In some conditions, part of the product loaded in the receptacle formed in the brewing chamber portion can fall out of the receptacle and soils the interior of the device in which the brewing unit is arranged. Frequent cleaning of the device becomes necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A beverage producing unit is provided, which alleviates or at least partly overcomes the above mentioned problem, reducing or eliminating the bulk product, e.g. coffee powder, which falls out of the receptacle formed by the brewing chamber during movement from the loading position towards the brewing position.

According to the invention, a beverage producing unit, for example a brewing unit, is provided, comprising an infusion chamber with a movable, first infusion chamber portion forming a receptacle for receiving at least one beverage preparing product, and a second infusion chamber portion. The first infusion chamber portion is movable between a loading or first position, wherein the first infusion chamber portion is arranged under a product-loading hopper, and a brewing or second position, wherein the first infusion chamber portion co-acts with the second infusion chamber portion, thus closing the infusion chamber. The beverage producing unit further comprises a scraper arranged and configured for leveling a bulk product heap, which can project from the receptacle, during movement of the first infusion chamber portion from the first position towards the second position. Furthermore the receptacle has a top edge surrounding a receptacle inlet aperture and provided with a projection extending from the top edge. The projection is arranged for preventing the bulk product from falling out of the receptacle when passing under the scraper. In this manner, soiling of the machine by bulk product, such as coffee powder, accidentally falling from the infusion chamber during the closing movement is prevented or reduced. The projection forms a shield arranged behind the scraper, so that the excess bulk material which otherwise could accidentally fall out of the receptacle, is retained by the shield and maintained inside the infusion chamber.

In practical embodiments, the top edge or edge surrounding the aperture of the receptacle of the infusion chamber has a leading portion and a trailing portion, said leading portion moving ahead of said trailing portion during displacement of said first infusion chamber portion from the loading position towards said brewing position. The projection is arranged along the trailing portion of the top edge.

In a manner known per se, the hopper has a product inlet, a product outlet and a product passage extending downwardly from the product inlet to the product outlet. In advantageous embodiments, the product outlet is surrounded by an outlet edge which comprises two oppositely arranged indentations, aligned along a trajectory of motion of the first infusion chamber portion. The indentations are configured and arranged for allowing the passage of the projection extending from the top edge of the receptacle when the first infusion chamber portion moves under said hopper. This provides better guidance of the product into the receptacle, since less free space or no free space is left between the outlet edge of the hopper and the top or upper edge of the receptacle. At the same time, the indentations prevent collision between the projection and the hopper during closure of the infusion chamber.

In some embodiments the scraper comprises a lower scraping edge and a sliding surface, arranged for co-action with the projection during movement of said first infusion chamber portion from said loading position towards said brewing position. The sliding surface is preferably concave and in particular for example substantially cylindrical for a better leveling effect on the bulk product and optimum co-action with the movable infusion camber portion.

According to a further aspect, the invention also concerns a beverage producing machine comprising a beverage producing unit as described above.

Features and embodiments are disclosed here below and are further set forth in the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description. The above brief description sets forth features of the various embodiments of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, other features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be set forth in the appended claims. In this respect, before explaining several embodiments of the invention in details, it is understood that the various embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which the disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and/or systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Additionally, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment(s). Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

In the following description reference will specifically be made to a coffee producing machine and to a beverage producing unit in the form of a brewing unit comprising a brewing chamber. It shall however be understood that the features disclosed herein can be embodied in a beverage producing machine intended for the preparation of a different beverage, still using bulk ingredients, for example in the form of powder, leafs etc. and including a beverage producing unit with an infusion chamber, different from a brewing unit.

FIG. 1illustrates a coffee machine globally labeled1. The coffee machine comprises a coffee dispensing group3comprised of two coffee dispensing spouts5. In other embodiments a single dispensing spout can be provided. Under the dispensing group3a drip collecting tray7closed by a grid9is arranged. The grid9forms a supporting surface for a cup, glass or other beverage container which the user can place under the spouts5to collect the coffee produced by the machine1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the coffee machine1also comprises a coffee bean container11, a fresh water reservoir13, a grinder15, a brewing unit17and a receptacle19collecting the spent coffee powder discharged from the brewing unit17, these components being schematically represented inFIG. 1; some of them will be described in greater detail reference being made toFIGS. 2 to 8. The coffee machine1also comprises a water pump and a water heater, not shown. The water pump delivers fresh water from the water reservoir13through the water heater and in the brewing unit17. The brewing unit17is illustrated inFIGS. 2 through 8and will be described in greater detail here below.FIG. 2also schematically shows the coffee grinder15which is arranged above the brewing unit17.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings the brewing unit17comprises a supporting structure21, which supports an infusion chamber in the form of a brewing chamber. The supporting structure21comprises a pair of side panels21A, only one of which is shown inFIGS. 2 through 5, the other panel being substantially identical and distanced therefrom forming a space between the two side panels21A. The brewing chamber is arranged between the two side panels21A.

The brewing chamber or infusion chamber is indicated with reference number23. In some exemplary embodiments the brewing chamber23comprises a first brewing chamber portion25, which is movable with respect to the supporting structure21under the control of a suitable actuator, for example an electric motor, known per se and not shown in the drawings. The movement of the first brewing chamber portion25is represented in the sequence ofFIGS. 2 through 5and will be described more in detail later on.

In some embodiments, the brewing chamber23further comprises a second brewing chamber portion27. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the second brewing chamber portion27is supported in a fixed position by the supporting structure21. In other embodiments the second brewing chamber portion27can be provided with a movement relative to the supporting structure21, for example a rectilinear translation movement.

More in detail the first brewing chamber portion25comprises an outer component29defining an inner receptacle31. The product for the preparation of the beverage, for instance coffee powder, is loaded in the inner receptacle31. In some embodiments the inner receptacle31can have a generally cylindrical shape. The bottom of the receptacle31is closed by a movable piston32slidingly received in the outer component29. The movable piston32is supported at the top end of a plunger33. In some embodiments the plunger33can be axially hollow and form a hot water dispensing duct. The coffee beverage is dispensed through the second brewing chamber portion. In other embodiments, the plunger can form a coffee dispensing duct. In this case the hot water will be dispensed through the second brewing chamber portion.

The second brewing chamber portion27is substantially shaped as a closing piston, provided with an outer seal34, for example an O-ring or a lip seal, slidingly and sealingly contacting the inner surface of the receptacle31. Here below the second brewing chamber portion27will also referred to as upper piston27.

As can be appreciated from the sequence ofFIGS. 2 to 5, the movable brewing portion25can take up a first loading position (FIG. 2) and move with a roto-translational movement from said first loading position to a final brewing position illustrated inFIG. 5.

In the first loading position the first brewing chamber portion25is arranged under a hopper35arranged between the supporting structure21and the coffee grinder15and through which the coffee powder produced by the grinder15is fed into the receptacle31of the first brewing chamber portion25.

In the brewing position (FIG. 5) the second brewing chamber portion27is arranged in the receptacle31and brought near the piston32forming the bottom of the brewing chamber. A small space is left between the lower piston32and the upper piston27forming the second brewing chamber portion27. The coffee powder collected in the first brewing chamber portion25is pressed and compacted between the piston32and the upper piston or second brewing chamber portion27to form a compact coffee powder bed or filter through which hot pressurized water flows, in order to extract the flavors from the coffee powder and produce the coffee-based beverage. In some embodiments the final volume available between the pistons27and32can be adjusted based on the amount of coffee powder, e.g to produce a stronger or lighter coffee, or else to produce one or two cups of coffee with one single brewing cycle.

The brewing unit disclosed so far and the brewing cycle performed by said brewing unit are known to those skilled in the art and require no further detailed description.

As can be appreciated from the sequence of movement illustrated inFIGS. 2 through 5, when the coffee powder is loaded (arrow P) through the hopper35into the receptacle31, a heap H of coffee powder is formed inside the receptacle31. The heap can usually be approximately conical. Under certain conditions, the tip of the heap H can project beyond thetop edge31L surrounding the inlet opening of the receptacle31. In other words, the height of the heap H is greater than the depth of the receptacle31. This can depend not only upon the quantity of coffee powder loaded in the brewing chamber portion25, but also upon the steepness of the conical heap, which in turn depends upon the physical properties of the powder. In order to remove the tip of the heap H and ensures that the entire coffee powder loaded is properly collected inside the receptacle31, a scraper37is arranged near the hopper35, so as to project under the lower outlet edge35L of the hopper35.

The scraper37is illustrated in isolation inFIG. 6. In this embodiment the scraper37comprises two pivoting arms37A. The pivoting arms37are provided with pivoting pins39, by means of which the scraper37is swivelingly connected to the hopper35. Resilient members, not shown, for example helical springs arranged around the pins39, bias the scraper37towards a rest position, shown inFIG. 2. The rest position of the scraper37is defined by suitable abutments, for example formed by the supporting structure21and/or by the hopper35.

During the movement of the first brewing chamber portion25from the first loading position ofFIG. 2towards the final brewing position ofFIG. 5, the upper or top edge31L surrounding the inlet aperture of the receptacle31pushes the scraper37causing the latter to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis A-A defined by the pivoting pins39, overcoming the resilient thrust exerted by the resilient members, not shown.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the scraper37is provided with a scraping edge37E arranged at the distal ends of the pivoting arms37A, i.e. at the end opposite the pivoting pins39. In preferred embodiments the scraping edge37E is substantially rectilinear and parallel to the pivoting axis A-A.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, see in particularFIG. 6, in the intermediate portion thereof the scraping edge37E merges with a pushing surface37S. The surface37S is preferably a concave surface, for example a ruled surface, such as a portion of a cylindrical surface. The surface37S extends from the rectilinear scraping edge37E toward a rib41spanning between the two pivoting arms37A. In the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 6the rib41is slightly curved, e.g.in the form of a portion of a circumference. The thickness of the rib41, i.e. the dimension thereof in a direction orthogonal to the pivoting arms37A, is variable along the development of the rib41. More specifically, the intermediate portion of the rib41is thinner than the side portions thereof. The surface37S extends along the intermediate portion of the rib41having the reduced thickness.

As can be noted in particular inFIG. 7, the first brewing chamber portion25forming the receptacle31is provided with a projection43. The projection43extends from the top edge or annular edge31L, which surrounds the inlet aperture of the receptacle31formed in the brewing chamber portion25. The projection43develops along a portion of the top edge31L, for example around an arc of approximately 20-40° of the substantially circular top edge31L. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the projection43is in the form of a portion of a substantially cylindrical surface projecting from the top edge31L upwards, towards the hopper35when the first brewing chamber portion25is in its first, loading position (FIG. 2).

The top edge31L surrounding the inlet of the receptacle31can be ideally divided into two symmetrical portions, e.g. according to a median line oriented orthogonal to theFIGS. 2 through 5, thus defining a leading portion and a trailing portion of the top edge31L. The leading portion of the top edge31L is the portion which, when the first brewing chamber portion25is in the loading position (FIG. 2), extends from the media line towards the left in the figure, i.e. towards the second brewing chamber portion27. The trailing portion of the top edge31L is the remaining portion of the top edge31L.

The projection43is arranged in the trailing portion of the top edge31L. The terms “leading portion” and “trailing portion” used to define the two portions of the top edge31L are referred to the movement performed by the brewing chamber portion25when moving from the first, loading position (FIG. 2) towards the final, brewing position (FIG. 5) performing a rotary movement according to arrow f25(FIGS. 3 and 4) towards the second brewing chamber portion27. During this movement the top part of the first brewing chamber portion25and in particular the top edge31L surrounding the inlet aperture of the receptacle31co-acts with the scraper37. More specifically, the scraping edge37E contacts the upper surface of the first brewing chamber portion25and slides along the top edge31L. The scraper37is thereby pushed upwards and pivotally lifted by the first brewing chamber portion25moving thereunder. During this sliding motion, see in particularFIG. 3, the scraping edge37E and the surface37S will eventually impact against the tip of the coffee powder heap H collected in the receptacle31of the first movable brewing chamber portion25. By continuing the movement (arrow f25) of the brewing chamber portion25, the scraper37will level the heap H removing the tip thereof which will fall along the side surface of the heap towards the bottom of the receptacle31.

The projection43extending upwardly beyond the top edge31L is arranged in the trailing portion of the top edge31L and will therefore be the last part of the movable brewing chamber portion25getting in contact with the scraper37. The purpose of the projection43is to prevent the loose product forming the tip of the heap H to be pushed by the scraper37out of the receptacle31. The projection43forms a sort of shield in the trailing part of the top edge31L, which prevents the loose material forming the heap H from falling outside the receptacle31in the machine housing, where the brewing unit17is arranged.

As can be seen inFIG. 4, before losing contact with the first brewing chamber portion25, the surface37S and finally the scraping edge37E of the scraper37will slide on the top of the projection43. InFIG. 4the scraper37has been pushed upwards and pivoted around axis A-A to an end position by the projection43passing beyond the scraping edge37E. When the movement of the movable brewing chamber portion25continues from the position ofFIG. 4to the position ofFIG. 5performing a sliding movement according to arrow f25A, the scraper37will be maintained by the resilient members (not shown) associated therewith in sliding contact with the external surface of the first brewing chamber portion25.

In order to get a better guidance of the coffee powder from the grinder15into the receptacle41formed inside the first brewing chamber portion25, the hopper35develops vertically from an upper product inlet35U towards a lower product outlet35L defining a product path which ends in a position lower than the trajectory performed by the projection43when moving from the loading position ofFIG. 2towards the position ofFIG. 4. In other words, the lower edge of the hopper35, delimiting the product outlet35L is placed in a position lower than the position taken by the projection43during the displacement thereof under the hopper35.

To prevent collision between the projection43and the lower part of the hopper35, the lower rim or edge thereof is provided with two indentations36A and36B shown in particular in the bottom view ofFIG. 8. The two indentations36A and36B are aligned along the trajectory of the first brewing chamber portion25, in order to allow the projection43to move underneath the hopper35without colliding with the lower edge or rim thereof.

While the disclosed embodiments of the subject matter described herein have been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with several exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings, the principles and concepts set forth herein, and advantages of the subject matter recited in the appended claims. Hence, the proper scope of the disclosed innovations should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications, changes, and omissions. In addition, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.