Abstract:
A machine which contains a housing ( 14 ) having a placement surface for the beverage container ( 13 ), wherein a removable brewing container ( 8 ) having a drain stub ( 19 ) and having a drain valve ( 10 ) that can be electrically or electromagnetically opened and closed is arranged in the housing ( 14 ). The actual brewing process is automatically controlled by a control unit ( 11 ). The water is pumped by a vibrating armature pump ( 16 ) through a heating system ( 15 ) and through a water outlet in the cover ( 4 ) having an integrated temperature sensor ( 24 ) through the cover ( 5 ) into the brewing container ( 8 ). A pressure sensor ( 12 ) ensures that the water is not heated above the pressure-dependent current boiling point. The control unit ( 11 ) can be programmed by means of a control panel ( 7 ) on the housing, for at least the brewing temperature, the brewing duration, and the start of a brewing cycle. Furthermore, a radio interface and an associated antenna ( 9 ) are present, for the communication of the control unit ( 11 ) with a smartphone by means of an established communication standard such as WIFI or Bluetooth, or with a computer or laptop via the internet, such that the machine can be remotely operated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/070693, filed Sep. 10, 2015, which claims the benefit of both Swiss Patent Application No. CH 01419/14 filed Sep. 19, 2014, and Swiss Patent Application No. CH 0966/15 filed Jul. 3, 2015, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In general, a tea bag or tea powder placed in a sieve container is immersed in hot water or hot water is poured over the tea bag or tea powder for the preparation of a cup of tea and after a certain brewing time the tea as a beverage is ready for serving and drinking. During this preparation an unnecessary amount of electrical energy is consumed, as often more water than the required amount for a cup of tea is heated and the preparation of tea is often associated with sophisticated handling operation: firstly, water has to be poured into a container in which it is heated, thereafter the heated water has to be added to the tea which is contained in a tea bag, which is contained in a cooking vessel and subsequently, after the tea preparation is completed, the tea bag has to be removed from the cooking vessel. Only then, the tea can be consumed as a beverage. 
         [0003]    Machines for brewing tea also exist. These heat the water until the boiling point in a container and the generated vapor passes into a steeping vessel, in which the tea is contained in a permeable capsule. This mode of tea preparation differs from the classical mode of preparation because the brewing time of the tea is limited and the tea is discharged directly into a beverage container. 
         [0004]    This automatic preparation often doesn&#39;t correspond to the “classical mode of tea preparation” as the tea is left only a limited amount of time for brewing or steeping. Thereby a loss of taste results. Too much electrical energy is consumed unnecessarily due to the fact that all machines which contain a heater or are disposed to heat a predetermined amount of water in the shortest possible time contain a heating element which is continuously maintained at an elevated temperature to minimize the temperature difference between the initial temperature and the required final temperature of the water. The permanent tempering of the heating element results in the consumption of an unnecessarily high standby current. The known tea brewing devices are configured such that the user has to be physically present to operate the device directly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This invention relates to a machine, which is used to automatically transform tea from its original state, that means from tea powder, tea leaves or tea bags into a tea beverage, whereby the tea is brewed and it is discharged after the brewing process into a suitable container, for instance in a tea cup. The parameters of the brewing process can be chosen and set individually on a control panel or by an app for a smartphone. 
         [0006]    It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for the preparation of tea which requires only a minimal electrical energy supply and no handling which simplifies the process of preparation to the highest possible degree and also optimizes the duration of the tea preparation process. The machine shall deliver tea in a high quality, equivalent to the quality of classical mode of preparation. The machine shall be remotely controllable from any arbitrary location. 
         [0007]    The object is resolved by a machine for the preparation of tea. Advantageous configurations and variants of the invention are subject of the dependent claims. It is advantageous if an interface, such as a radio communication interface with corresponding antenna is available for communication of the control unit with a smartphone via an established communication standard, such as WIFI, Bluetooth or a computer or laptop via the internet, whereby the machine is remotely controllable. 
         [0008]    A particularly advantageous configuration of the invention implies that the machine is configured such that the specific brew temperature and brew duration for a plurality of different modes for different tea species is attributable via the control panel or smartphone in the control unit and selectable individually on the control panel or the smartphone. 
         [0009]    The typical use of the machine can be described as follows: in a first step the tea, e.g. a tea powder or a tea bag, is placed into the machine or directly into the brewing container. In a subsequent step, a preparation routine is started which is selected by the user directly on the machine or remotely controlled by his smartphone. After the completion of the selected preparation routine by the machine, the prepared tea is discharged automatically into a suitable beverage container. The advantage of the invention resides additionally in the fact that the user, after having placed the tea into the machine and having started the preparation routine, is not required to take care of the preparation and the serving of the tea anymore. The tea is after preparation ready for consumption in the cup. 
         [0010]    A first aspect of the invention relates to a system for the preparation of team, the system comprising the tea preparation machine as described herein and a mobile communication device, wherein:
       the tea preparation machine is configured to receive a command signal from a mobile communication device; and   the mobile communication device comprises a mobile application stored in computer storage, the mobile application comprising executable instructions that direct the mobile communications device to transmit routine instructions by way of a command signal to the tea preparation machine.       
 
         [0013]    The tea preparation device can be a machine for preparing tea as described herein. The tea preparation device can have a user interface or control panel configured to receive routine information, such as from a user, by way of a keyboard, keypad, touch pad, touch screen, microphone, movement sensor, gesture sensor, camera, rotary switches, knobs, or the like. The user interface can have a display/monitor of any type (LED, LCD, OLED, Plasma, CRT, or the like) and/or sound generators, such as speakers. The routine information can be information related to the process for the preparation of tea, or the preparation routine, for example, without limitation the required amount of water, the infusion temperature of the water and the infusion time or preparation time or brewing time. 
         [0014]    The mobile communication device can be a wireless device being battery powered and adapted to perform wireless communication. The mobile communication device can be a pad computer, such as an iPad, or a smartphone, such as an iPhone. The mobile communication device may be a personal computer, such as a lap top, an electronic reader, an iPod Touch, or the like. The mobile communication device can have a user interface configured to receive instructions, such as from a user, by way of a keyboard, keypad, touch pad, microphone, movement sensor, gesture sensor, camera, or the like. The user interface can have a display/monitor of any type (LED, LCD, OLED, Plasma, CRT, or the like) and/or sound generators, such as speakers. 
         [0015]    The mobile communication device can have a processor configured to determine the instructions to be transmitted. The processor can be an FPGA, ASIC, microchip, hardwired circuit, software controlled processor, DSP, or the like, which can be a monolithic unit or a distributed system. 
         [0016]    The tea preparation machine is configured to receive a command signal, such as from a mobile communication device. The command signal can have routine instructions with information related to the preparation routine, for example, without limitation, the amount of water, the infusion temperature of the water, the infusion time, preparation time, brewing time, the type of tea, pictures of tea species such as tea species packaging, or the like. The routine instructions can render the tea preparation machine able to prepare tea. 
         [0017]    The mobile communication device is configured to transmit a command signal to the tea preparation machine. 
         [0018]    The mobile application is configured to transmit content identification instructions to the tea preparation machine. As used herein, the mobile application may be referred to as a software application or content “App.” 
         [0019]    The tea preparation machine and the mobile communication device can have receivers and/or transmitters. The receivers can be configured to receive instructions from the corresponding device, such as the mobile communication device. The transmitters can be configured to transmit instructions from the corresponding device, such as the mobile communication device, and thus allows a user to send instructions from the corresponding device. The receivers and/or transmitters, and the devices corresponding thereto, can be configured to communicate over a wired connection or over a wireless connection, such as via Ethernet, LAN, WAN, Bluetooth, WiFi, IR communication, or the like. 
         [0020]    Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for preparing tea, the method comprising:
       by a tea preparation machine as described herein: receiving a command signal from a mobile communication device; and   by execution of a mobile application on a mobile communication device: transmitting routine instructions by way of a command signal to the tea preparation machine.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The machine is shown in an advantageous configuration in the drawings and is described and explained in detail in the subsequent description. 
           [0024]    It is shown in: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1 : a sectional view through the interior of the machine showing all required components; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2 : a sectional view of a portion of the machine comprising the brewing container, focusing on the extractable brewing container; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3 : a schematic view of the electrical and mechanical components focusing on the heating system; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4 : three programming steps on a smartphone for the wireless control of the machine; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5 : three programming steps on a touchscreen of the machine; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6 : A sectional view of the machine in the region of the drain valve, focusing on the sliding and locking mechanism of the valve in its open state; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7 : The machine in a section in the region of the drain valve, focusing on the sliding and locking mechanism of the valve in its closed state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The machine is shown in  FIG. 1  in a sectional view. The housing  14  of the machine can have variable design or material depending on the production series. The housing  14  comprises a control panel  7 , consisting of a touch screen or conventional rotary switches or knobs, by which the user can choose the desired preparation routine. The control panel  7  shows the user the required parameters for the infusing process, the process for the preparation of tea, also referred to as the preparation routine. Default values are registered for any parameters which the user can set or program according to his taste. These include: the required amount of water, the infusion temperature of the water and the infusion time or preparation time or brewing time. The machine includes a programmable and storable control unit  11  containing a microchip, which controls and supervises all processes. The user has the following possibilities to choose his settings: 
         [0033]    1. directly on the machine by means of the control panel  7 , 
         [0034]    2. by means of his smart phone or a suitable application software or by means of a computer, which connects via a radio connection with the machine or by means of the antenna  9  belonging to the machine. 
         [0035]    After the user has set and started the desired preparation routine, the water contained in the water container  1  for the tea preparation is transported by means of pump  16 , advantageously a vibrating armature pump, through the heating system  15 , where it is heated up to the set temperature and transferred thereafter into the brewing container  8 . 
         [0036]    All processes are controlled by a central programmable and storable control unit. According to a variant, the housing  14  can include a water supply stub to connect a hose from the water supply net as well as a solenoid valve for opening and closing the supply of water electromagnetically for the controlled supply of water to the brewing container  8 . Furthermore, the manipulation can be performed by operation knobs, such as pressure switches and rotary switches instead of the control panel  7 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the brewing container  8  contains an infusing sieve  6  in the configuration of a water permeable recipient, which receives the tea or tea bag and the brewing container  8  can be closed by a lid  5 , which is attached to the housing  14  by a hinge  3  to prevent contaminations and deposits of dust during an inoperative state. The brewing container  8  is disposed with a drain stub  19  with a drain valve  10 . A beverage container  13  can be placed onto the housing  14  under the drain stub  19  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The brewing container  8  can be easily extracted for cleaning. The lid  5  serves as a protection device during the preparation process of the tea to protect the user from burns. In the event, that the machine tilts during the preparation process, the lid  5  prevents the water from pouring out instantly. The lid  5  is disposed with a latch which ensures that the lid only opens according to the desire of the user. The lid  5  contains a water outlet  4  with a built-in temperature sensor  24  which controls the water temperature. A portion of the water temperature control is the pressure sensor  12 , which controls the barometric pressure to ensure that the water is not heated above the boiling point. Furthermore, a sound or signal module  2  is provided on the housing  14  to indicate to the user, that the tea is ready for consumption. The housing  14  is also equipped with a camera  20  for taking pictures of different tea packages as explained below and it is equipped with an antenna  9 . 
         [0038]    The water is heated by the heating system  15  until the temperature set in the preparation routine.  FIG. 2  shows the brewing container  8  in a sectional view. The temperature measurement is made by means of a temperature sensor  24  which is situated in the lid  5  of the brewing container  8  at the water outlet  4 . The infusion process or preparation process or infusion method starts after the desired amount of hot water has been transferred to the brewing container  8 . The amount of water is determined by a time measurement in relation to the flow rate of the pump  16  and is controlled by the programmable and storable control unit  11 . The infusion process takes as much time as preset by the user in the preparation routine. The infusion time is measured by a time measurement. As soon as the infusion process has reached the duration as set out by the preparation routine, the drain valve  10  is opened electromagnetically or electrically triggered by the control unit  11  and the fully prepared tea is discharged from the drain stub  19  into a suitable beverage container  13 , for instance a tea cup. The beverage container  13  is positioned under the brewing container  8  and placed on the housing  14 . Due to this arrangement of brewing container  8  and beverage container  13 , no further pump is required for the transfer of the tea from the brewing container  8  into the beverage container  13 , which results in a further advantage of this configuration of the machine. After the tea has been completely discharged into the beverage container  13 , the user is informed by an acoustic signal, which is generated by the sound or signal module  2 , that the tea is in the beverage container  13  and the beverage container  13  can be removed from the machine. The entire monitoring, supervision and control is performed by a selected preparation routine by means of the control unit  11  which is selected from a plurality of specific preparation routines. For the presetting of the parameters of the desired preparation routine, a smartphone app designed specifically for the machine can be used. The smartphone is connected to the machine by an interface including an antenna  9  ( FIG. 1 ), for instance by WIFI, Bluetooth or any other standard of a computer or laptop via internet, such that the machine is remotely controlled. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows the brewing container  8  in the interior of the machine, of which only the circumference of the housing  14  is shown. The brewing container  8  is extractable from a mount of the machine for cleaning purposes. The lower end of the brewing container  8  is disposed with a drain valve  10 . The brewing container is open on the upper side and closeable by a lid  5 , which is pivotable about a pivoting hinge  3  onto the edge of the brewing container  8 . A water outlet with an inbuilt temperature sensor  24  passes through the lid  5 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows the particular and unique heating system  15  in a schematic representation. The heating system  15  is effective between the water container  1  and the brewing container  8 . The water is pumped through the heating system by a vibrating armature pump  16 . The pumped water reaches initially the preheater  17 , which can include one or also two electric heaters connected in series. An additional heater  18  is arranged subsequently to this preheater  17 . The preheater  17  consists of one or two heating elements arranged in series which a total power of at least 1300 to 1700 Watt. The synchronized additional heater  18  has a power of at least 900 to 500 Watt, such that a total power of at least 2200 Watt is available. This heating system  15  is controllable by the control unit  11 . The vibrating armature pump  16  is also controlled by the control unit  11  with a clocking frequency of 100 ms-400 ms which can be switched on and off intermittently, such that the water can be pumped slowly and controlled through the heating elements for heating of the water passing from the water container  1  to the brewing container  8 . The pressure sensor  12  serves for measurement of the atmospheric pressure. Its signals are fed into the control unit  11  and are considered by the control unit, as there is a difference if a tea is prepared at sea level or in the mountains due to the fact that the boiling point of water changes with pressure. The control unit  11  controls the different heating elements of the preheater  17  and the additional heater  18 . The temperature sensor  24  senses the temperature of the water from the water container  1  heated by the heating system and supplied to the brewing container  8  directly before the discharge into the brewing container  8 . The signal of the temperature sensor  24  is transferred via a cable to the control unit  11 . An electrical or solenoid drain valve  10  is arranged at the lower end of the brewing container  8 , such that hot water can be discharged from the brewing container  8  according to the settings of the control unit  11 . The control procedure of the hot water preparation is completed as follows: initially the preheater  17  and the additional heater  18  are switched on. The vibrating armature pump  16  is switched on in the “synchronized mode” with a clocking frequency of 100 ms-400 ms. As soon as the discharged water has reached the temperature preset by the user in accordance with the measurement by the temperature sensor  24 , the vibrating armature pump  16  is switched to continuous mode. Subsequently the temperature is controlled by switching the vibrating armature pump  16  between “synchronized mode” and “continuous mode”. In case the temperature increases too much in “continuous mode”, the additional heater  18  is synchronized with a clock frequency in the range of seconds. In case the temperature becomes too low, the preheater  17  and the additional heater  18  are switched on and the clock frequency of the vibrating armature pump  16  is decreased until the set temperature is reached. The pressure sensor  12  checks the barometric pressure and guarantees thereby that the discharging water remains in the liquid state by monitoring the boiling point of the water depending on the pressure and whereby it is ensured by the control that the boiling temperature is never reached nor exceeded. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows an example how a smartphone app could look like by which the specific preparation routines are configured. A picture shows the tea and its species and the preparation temperature which is applied to the tea species shown on the picture. The picture is recorded by the user either with the digital camera  20  built into the machine or the camera of the smartphone. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows in the same way as the graphical representation of  FIG. 4  a further example, how the user interface, namely the touch screen built into the machine can be configured in the control panel  7  so to allow a configuration of the specific preparation routines. A picture shows the tea and the preparation parameters which are applied to the tea species shown on the picture. 
         [0043]    The individual programming allows the user to generate a plurality of preparation routines for different tea species, whereby pictures of the packaging of different tea species are taken by the inbuilt digital camera  20  or the smartphone app and then displayed on the touch screen of the machine. Thereby the choice of the desired tea preparation routine is facilitated for the user, which he has previously adapted to the different tea species. The user only needs to tip on the picture of the corresponding packaging of the tea species and the correct preparation routine is processed by the control unit  11  when started. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows a portion of the drain valve  10  when the drain valve  10  is in the “open” state. A sliding mechanism  10   c  is shown, through which the drain stub  19  connected to the brewing container  8  passes after leaving the brewing container  8 . There is also shown a locking slide  10   a  which is actuated by a solenoid and a tension slide  10   b , which is also actuated by a solenoid. The valve  10  is in this state if the machine is in the standby mode or if the tea or hot water is discharged. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows a portion of the drain valve  10  when the drain valve  10  is in the “closed” state. The sliding mechanism  10   c  is shown, through which the drain stub  19  connected to the brewing container  8  passes after leaving the brewing container  8 . There is also shown the locking slide  10   a  with the solenoid for its actuation and the tension slide  10   b , which can also be actuated by a solenoid. The valve  10  is in this state if the infusion process is performed or the brewing container  8  is filled with hot water. 
         [0046]    Thereby the electromagnet of the tension slide  10   b  is activated briefly and the drain stub  19  is squeezed. As soon as the tension slide reaches its closed position, the locking slide  10   a  is activated by excitation of the corresponding electromagnet and the electromagnet for the tension slide  10   b  is switched off. This construction makes it possible to use small electromagnets and to exert a minimal thermal stress on the parts which prolongs the lifetime of the parts. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  water container 
           2  sound or signal module 
           3  hinge for lid 
           4  water outlet in the lid 
           5  lid 
           6  infusing sieve 
           7  control panel 
           8  brewing container 
           9  antenna 
           10  drain valve 
           11  control unit 
           12  pressure sensor 
           13  beverage container 
           14  housing 
           15  heating system 
           16  vibrating armature pump 
           17  preheater 
           18  additional heater 
           19  drain stub 
           20  camera 
           10   a  solenoid, locking slide 
           10   b  solenoid, tension slide 
           10   c  sliding mechanism 
           24  temperature sensor