Patent Description:
Machines for preparing coffee beverages are known, with a brewing chamber into which a certain quantity of product is fed on each occasion, with which a hopper can be associated, suitable to contain either coffee beans to be fed to a grinding device, or already ground coffee powder.

Machines with removable type hoppers are increasingly common, to allow consumers to be able to change the type of coffee beans to be used. In these cases, known hoppers comprise a container provided with an outlet aperture for the coffee beans and a closing element with closing means suitable to close the outlet aperture at least when the hopper is disconnected from the machine.

In these known solutions, when the hopper is removed from the machine, both a certain quantity of coffee powder and also a quantity of coffee beans remain in the grinding device.

Consequently, changing the hopper or replacing the type of beans to be used, in order to avoid contamination between different types of beans, or more simply to avoid spillage of the product, it is necessary to empty the grinding device, manually, or by preparing a beverage with the remaining type of beans.

Another disadvantage occurs if the machine is inactive, when the residual powder and/or beans can lose their properties because the grinding device is not watertight.

Another disadvantage is that the doses of coffee beans supplied to the grinding device do not exactly correspond to the quantity of product powder required to deliver the beverage.

Solutions are known which provide dosing devices positioned between the hopper and the grinding device, the function of which is to selectively transport a dose of coffee beans from the hopper to the grinding device. Even in these cases the problem of residues and the consequences indicated above are not eliminated.

<CIT> describes an apparatus for preparing beverages comprising a container for the beans internally provided with rotatable transport means comprising a bottom wall and lateral walls which extend radially and define respective sectors open at the upper part. The function of the transport means of EP'<NUM> is substantially to rotate the coffee beans to provide them with centrifugal acceleration in order to facilitate their exit, through a laterally offset aperture, to a measuring chamber with a volume that defines the quantity of coffee beans to be used for preparing a beverage. One disadvantage of this solution is that, since the total dose of beans for preparing a beverage corresponds to the quantity of beans that can be contained in the measuring chamber, it is not possible to modify this dose as desired.

<CIT> describes a device that can be driven manually to deliver a dose of product in granular or powder form from a container, which comprises a fixed part having an inlet aperture, a mobile part disposed in a space defined by the fixed part and a closing base plate connected to the fixed part and provided with an outlet aperture. The mobile part can rotate with respect to the fixed part by an angle of <NUM>° in one sense and the other, so as to displace a discharge chamber of the mobile part from a first position aligned with the inlet aperture to a second position aligned with the outlet aperture. One disadvantage of this solution is that it does not allow to deliver a plurality of doses successively and quickly, since after the delivery of a first dose it is necessary to bring the mobile part back. This aspect makes it unsuitable to be used in association with a machine for preparing beverages.

There is therefore a need to perfect a hopper for feeding predefined doses of beans which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

To do this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of providing a hopper that can be selectively connected and disconnected from a machine and is able to supply on each occasion a desired quantity of beans suitable to prepare a beverage, avoiding residues in the grinding device.

One purpose of the present invention is in particular to provide a hopper suitable to selectively supply predefined doses of beans at exit, until the desired quantity is reached.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a hopper and a machine for preparing beverages which allow to change the type of beans to be used, avoiding contamination between the previous and subsequent product.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for preparing beverages suitable to feed a correct quantity of beans according to the type of beverage selected.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine which is simple to use for a user.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a beverage which allows the grinding device to be kept substantially empty between two successive beverage preparations.

In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the above technical problem in a new and original way, also obtaining considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a removable type hopper for containing coffee beans comprises:.

The dosing device comprises an upper plate provided with an inlet aperture for the beans, a lower plate provided with an outlet aperture for the beans and a transporter member disposed rotatable between the upper and lower plates, the transporter member being configured to selectively transport a dose of beans from the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture.

The transporter member comprises at least two blades rotatable around the axis of rotation which extend radially and, together with the two plates, define respective angular sectors that are rotatable angularly offset with respect to each other.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the sectors have a fixed volume and are configured to contain a dose of coffee beans corresponding to their volume.

During use, the inlet and outlet apertures of the dosing device are disposed angularly offset from each other by an angle larger than the size of the sectors, and they are preferably disposed in fixed positions diametrically opposite each other.

The size of the inlet and outlet apertures and the number/size of the blades are such that in each position of the transporter member around the axis of rotation the two apertures are each placed in communication with a different sector, preventing the direct transit of the beans between the inlet and outlet.

Preferably, the transporter member comprises at least three blades; however, their number can be even higher, as a function of the quantity of beans that each dose has to contain.

According to some embodiments, the outlet aperture is preferably disposed misaligned with respect to the axis of rotation, and extends at least partly in a lateral wall of the lower plate, on which there can be provided a concave-convex portion in correspondence with the outlet aperture to facilitate the passage of the beans, such portion having a concavity on the internal side and a mating convexity on the external side.

The hopper can also comprise a conveyor member rotatable around the axis of rotation and configured to cooperate with the upper plate and convey the coffee beans toward the inlet aperture in order to speed up the filling of the sectors.

Preferably, the conveyor member and the transporter member are keyed on a same drive pin which is passing through respective holes of the two plates and of the closing base plate and is provided with connection members to connect, during use, to a rotation shaft of a motor.

According to some embodiments, the blades of at least one of either the transporter member or the conveyor member comprise at least one flexible portion made of rubber, silicone, or other flexible, deformable or pliable elastic material, so as to move the beans without breaking them. The flexible portion can flex under the action of a bean, thus reducing friction and interference and the torque required for the rotation of the transporter member and/or the conveyor member. Consequently, there is less stress on the structure, the operating noise is reduced, and it is possible to use a less powerful gearmotor to drive the transporter member and/or the conveyor member.

Some embodiments described here also concern a machine for preparing beverages comprising a removable hopper according to the invention, a grinding device for grinding the coffee beans and a brewing unit.

The machine comprises a containing body provided with a compartment suitable to house the hopper, which is placed in communication with the grinding device.

The compartment comprises coupling members suitable to cooperate with coupling members of the container in order to selectively clamp the hopper, and clamping members suitable to cooperate with the closing base plate in order to clamp it in a fixed position while the container is rotated so as to open the passage aperture for the beans.

According to one aspect of the invention, the machine also comprises drive means, for example comprising a drive shaft connected to an electric motor, which are suitable to engage with the connection members of the drive pin and make the transporter member and, if present, also the conveyor member rotate.

According to another aspect of the invention, the housing compartment comprises a covering door suitable to selectively close it when no hopper is inserted, so as to provide both protection against dirt that could enter the housing compartment and also protection for the user, preventing him/her from touching the grinders.

According to one aspect of the invention, the door comprises engagement members suitable to engage with corresponding engagement members present on the container of the hopper, whereby a rotation of the latter in the housing compartment entails a simultaneous movement of the door so as to open a passage for the transit of the beans toward the grinding device.

According to some embodiments, elastic interference means can be associated with the door which are suitable to keep the door in an open or closed position, preventing any accidental movement thereof.

According to one possible embodiment, the elastic interference means can be disposed in the housing compartment in such a way as to axially cooperate with interference members provided on the door, in order to keep both the door and also the container engaged therewith in a stable position, preventing any accidental movement thereof.

Some embodiments described here also concern a method for preparing a coffee beverage which provides to:.

According to one aspect of the invention, once the number of doses necessary and sufficient to obtain the desired quantity for the selected beverage has been supplied, the method provides to stop the dosing device when the sector containing the last dose of coffee beans required has been emptied.

According to some embodiments, the amount of rotation and the stop position of the sectors are managed by a control unit on the basis of data received from a detection device disposed in the housing compartment and cooperating with identifying elements provided on the dosing device and associated with the sectors to determine their respective position.

According to some embodiments, the method provides to rotate the sectors in the opposite direction to the direction in which the container is rotated in order to clamp the hopper in the machine. In this way, when the container is rotated in the unclamping direction to remove the hopper, the sector adjacent to the last one just emptied is moved away from the outlet aperture, so as to prevent accidental escapes of the beans which could remain stuck between the outlet aperture provided on the container and a passage aperture provided on the base plate, making the closure ineffective.

According to one aspect of the invention, the rotation of the container in the housing compartment entails a simultaneous movement of a door covering the housing compartment to selectively open and close a passage channel for the beans toward the grinding device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method provides to verify whether the coffee powder fed to the brewing unit corresponds to the quantity required for the selected beverage and possibly correct the number of rotation steps of the sectors in the subsequent preparation of a beverage.

According to one aspect of the invention, in order to carry out the verification, the method provides to compact the coffee powder fed into the brewing unit with a defined pressure and measure the height of the coffee mound obtained by comparing it with a pre-stored expected value to verify whether the quantity of coffee powder fed to the brewing unit corresponds to the quantity required for the selected beverage.

It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications, as long as the resulting embodiment is encompassed by the appended claims.

With reference to the attached drawings, a hopper <NUM> according to the invention is described, of the removable type, suitable to supply predefined doses of beans (<FIG>).

By the term "beans" here and hereafter in the description we mean coffee beans, in particular; however, other types of products are not excluded, for example seeds, cereals, grains of salt or pepper, or suchlike.

The present invention also concerns a machine <NUM> for preparing beverages (<FIG>, <FIG>) provided with a housing compartment <NUM> in which the hopper <NUM> can be inserted and connected in a removable manner by means of respective reciprocal coupling and clamping members <NUM> which will be described below.

The hopper <NUM> comprises a container <NUM> for containing the beans provided with a lower aperture <NUM> and a closing base plate <NUM> which is disposed rotatable with respect to the container <NUM>.

The lower aperture <NUM> is associated with a lower plate <NUM> which at least partly closes the container <NUM> and is provided with an outlet aperture <NUM> for the beans.

The base plate <NUM> can rotate with respect to the container <NUM> and with respect to the lower plate <NUM> integral therewith in order to selectively open and close the outlet aperture <NUM> of the beans.

According to one aspect of the invention, the hopper <NUM> comprises a dosing device <NUM> of the volumetric type disposed inside the container <NUM> and configured to selectively supply predefined doses of beans in correspondence with the outlet aperture <NUM>.

The container <NUM> comprises a substantially cylindrical lateral wall <NUM> and it is provided with the lower aperture <NUM> and an upper aperture <NUM>, which can be closed substantially hermetically by means of a lid <NUM>.

The container <NUM> can comprise a lower portion 19a, inside which the device <NUM> is disposed, which has a smaller section than an upper portion 19b in which the beans are introduced and contained.

Inside the container <NUM> there can be provided a support flange <NUM> configured to cooperate with the dosing device <NUM> and keep it in a predefined position.

The base plate <NUM> comprises a bottom wall <NUM> in which a passage aperture <NUM> for the beans is made which, in the open condition, aligns with the outlet aperture <NUM> of the beans, while in the closed condition it is disposed offset with respect thereto and the outlet aperture <NUM> is closed by the bottom wall <NUM>.

The bottom wall <NUM> can also be provided with a central hole <NUM> through which, during use, a drive pin <NUM> is disposed in order to drive the dosing device <NUM> from the outside of the container <NUM>. The pin <NUM> is disposed inside the hopper <NUM> and is provided at the lower part with connection members <NUM> to connect, during use, to drive means <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> can also comprise a lateral wall <NUM> and the passage aperture <NUM> can be delimited by such lateral wall <NUM> or be made through the latter as well.

The base plate <NUM> can be provided with first clamping members, in this specific case a lateral hole <NUM>, suitable to engage with respective second clamping members present in the compartment <NUM>, in this specific case a peg <NUM>, to clamp the base plate <NUM> and allow a rotation of the container <NUM> with respect thereto in order to open the passage aperture <NUM>, as will be better described below.

The bottom wall <NUM> can comprise at least one portion <NUM> made or coated with rubber or other deformable material suitable to guarantee a sealed closure of the hopper <NUM> when the base plate <NUM> is in the closed condition.

The dosing device <NUM> comprises a plurality of sectors <NUM> separated from each other and rotatable around an axis of rotation X, each suitable to contain a defined dose of beans (<FIG>).

Each of the sectors <NUM> has a defined and substantially closed volume, so that by knowing their size it is possible to know the quantity of beans contained in each one of them. The quantity of beans in a sector <NUM> defines a dose that has a substantially fixed volume which is preferably lower than the quantity required to prepare a beverage, so that as a function of the number of sectors <NUM> which are taken in correspondence with the outlet aperture <NUM> it is possible to vary the total quantity of coffee beans that has to be ground on each occasion to prepare a beverage.

With reference to <FIG>, the dosing device <NUM> comprises an upper plate <NUM> provided with an inlet aperture <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> provided with the outlet aperture <NUM>, which are distanced from each other and substantially parallel to each other, so as to delimit the sectors <NUM> at the upper and lower part.

The dosing device <NUM> also comprises a transporter member <NUM> disposed rotatable between the two plates <NUM> and <NUM>, which is configured to selectively transport a dose of coffee beans contained in one of the sectors <NUM> from a zone aligned with the inlet aperture <NUM> toward the outlet aperture <NUM>.

The transporter member <NUM> comprises at least two blades <NUM>, <NUM> which define, together with the two plates <NUM>, <NUM> and possibly with a lateral wall <NUM>, the sectors <NUM>. In this way, the sectors <NUM> are delimited substantially on all sides, except for when they are located in correspondence with the two inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM> apertures, so that once a sector <NUM> has been filled with a certain quantity of beans in the zone disposed in correspondence with the inlet aperture <NUM>, this quantity of beans is transported toward the outlet aperture <NUM> without it being possible to modify it.

In the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, the transporter member <NUM> comprises four blades <NUM>, <NUM>; however, their number can be different as a function of the quantity of beans that each sector <NUM> has to contain and the overall dimensions of the hopper <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the blades <NUM> can be made of rigid plastic material.

According to a variant shown in <FIG>, the blades <NUM> can comprise at least one flexible portion <NUM> made of rubber, silicone, or other flexible, deformable or pliable elastic material. Preferably, the flexible portion <NUM> faces, during use, toward the upper plate <NUM> and it can have a smaller thickness than a support portion <NUM> which can be made of rigid, non-flexible material so as to delimit the sectors <NUM>. For example, the flexible portion <NUM> can be inserted into a seating of the support portion <NUM> or connected to it by means of same-shape coupling members, or even glued.

According to possible variants, not shown, it can also be provided that the entire blade <NUM> is made of flexible material, and possibly have a reduction in thickness toward the top.

When the blade <NUM> approaches the edge of the inlet aperture <NUM>, if there are beans in correspondence with it, the flexible portion <NUM> can advantageously flex to allow the passage of the beans without breaking them (<FIG>), considerably reducing the friction and interference between the components and the beans and therefore the torque required for the rotation of the transporter member <NUM>.

The size of the inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM> apertures and the number/size of the blades <NUM>, <NUM> are such that in every position of the transporter member <NUM> around the axis of rotation X the two apertures <NUM>, <NUM> are each placed in communication with a different sector <NUM>, preventing the direct transit of the beans between the inlet and outlet.

The blades <NUM>, <NUM> extend radially with respect to a central hub <NUM> provided with a shaped hole <NUM>, for example grooved or in any case having a non-circular section, by means of which the transporter member <NUM> can be keyed on the drive pin <NUM>.

The two plates <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to each other by means of respective connection members <NUM>, <NUM> which can be directly coupled to each other, or which define a common seating in which to insert pegs or other connection means (not shown), so that the respective inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM> apertures are in fixed positions with respect to each other and angularly offset by an angle larger than the size of a sector <NUM>. According to possible solutions, the two apertures <NUM>, <NUM> can be diametrically opposite, offset by about <NUM>°.

According to some embodiments, the lower plate <NUM> comprises a bottom wall <NUM> in which the outlet aperture <NUM> is made through.

According to some embodiments, the dosing device <NUM> comprises a substantially cylindrical lateral wall <NUM>, which can be integrated into the lower plate <NUM> or be defined by an internal surface of the container <NUM>.

According to possible embodiments described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the lateral wall <NUM> extends from one side of the bottom wall <NUM>, distanced from the perimeter edge, enclosing the transporter member <NUM> and cooperating with the ends of its blades <NUM>, <NUM> to define the sectors <NUM> and delimit their volume.

The outlet aperture <NUM> is preferably disposed misaligned with respect to the axis of rotation X and to a central hole <NUM>, and it extends at least partly outside the lateral wall <NUM>, on which a concave-convex portion <NUM> can be provided in correspondence with the outlet aperture <NUM> to facilitate the passage of the beans, the concave-convex portion <NUM> having the concave part facing toward the outlet aperture <NUM> and the convex part facing outward.

Preferably, the outlet aperture <NUM> has at least one portion disposed aligned underneath a sector <NUM> so that the beans can also fall by gravity.

The dosing device <NUM>, in particular the lower plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, can comprise respective coupling and guide means <NUM> configured to rotatably couple the two elements together, for example comprising an annular seating 45a disposed on the bottom wall <NUM> and suitable to house the lateral wall <NUM> of the base plate and engage with a protruding edge 45b thereof (<FIG> and <FIG>).

The hopper <NUM> can comprise a conveyor member <NUM> rotatable around the axis of rotation X and configured to cooperate with the upper plate <NUM> and convey the beans present in the upper portion 19b of the container <NUM> toward the inlet aperture <NUM>. The conveyor member <NUM> can comprise a central sleeve <NUM> and a plurality of blades <NUM> which extend radially therefrom and have a shape substantially mating with that of the surface portion of the upper plate <NUM> with which they cooperate.

According to some embodiments, the blades <NUM> can comprise at least one flexible portion <NUM> made of rubber, silicone, or other flexible or deformable elastic material, so as to allow the movement of the beans without breaking them. The at least one flexible portion <NUM> is facing toward the upper plate <NUM> and cooperates with it. Similarly to what described above with reference to the blades <NUM> of the transporter member <NUM>, the flexible portion <NUM> can be connected to a possibly rigid support portion <NUM>, or the entire blade <NUM> can be made of flexible material. This embodiment, therefore, also contributes to generating less stress on the structure and reducing the operating noise, and it allows to use a less powerful gearmotor.

Preferably, the conveyor member <NUM> and the transporter member <NUM> are keyed on the same drive pin <NUM> through respective holes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> made through in the plates <NUM>, <NUM>, in the transporter member <NUM> and in the base plate <NUM>.

Above the conveyor member <NUM> there can be provided a protection element <NUM> also called "finger guard".

According to some embodiments, described with reference to <FIG>, the hopper <NUM> and the housing compartment <NUM> are provided with respective coupling and clamping members <NUM> configured to cooperate with each other in such a way as to allow a reciprocal coupling in an axial direction along the axis of rotation X, at the same time preventing a reciprocal rotation around it.

These members <NUM> can comprise at least one fin <NUM> protruding radially from the lateral wall <NUM> of the container <NUM> and at least one mating cavity or groove <NUM> disposed in the housing compartment <NUM>, suitable to create a bayonet coupling.

Preferably, two fins <NUM>, <NUM> are provided, each suitable to be inserted in its own cavity or groove <NUM>, <NUM>, which are disposed angularly offset with respect to each other and advantageously have different sizes to allow a univocal positioning of the hopper <NUM>.

A microswitch <NUM> or other device suitable to detect the presence of the fins <NUM>, <NUM> can be disposed inside at least one cavity <NUM>, <NUM>. Once the fins <NUM>, <NUM> have been inserted in the respective cavities <NUM>, <NUM>, the peg <NUM> (<FIG>) engages with the lateral hole <NUM> and the container <NUM> can be rotated so as to clamp it in the housing compartment <NUM>, for example by an angle of about <NUM>°-<NUM>°.

The rotation of the container <NUM> entails the alignment between the outlet aperture <NUM> of the dosing device <NUM> and the passage aperture <NUM> on the base plate <NUM>, allowing the transit of the beans through them.

During use, the transporter member <NUM> is driven by means of the drive pin <NUM> in order to take, on each occasion, an empty sector <NUM> in alignment with the inlet aperture <NUM> to receive the beans and a full sector <NUM> in alignment with the outlet aperture <NUM> (<FIG>).

Preferably, the member <NUM> is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction in which the container <NUM> is rotated, in order to clamp the hopper <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the container <NUM> is rotated in the clockwise direction F1 in order to clamp it in the housing compartment <NUM>, while the transporter member <NUM> is rotated in the counterclockwise direction F2.

In this way, when the container <NUM> is rotated in the unclamping direction F3 in order to remove the hopper <NUM>, the full sector <NUM>, adjacent to the last sector <NUM> just emptied, is moved away from the outlet aperture <NUM>, so as to prevent accidental escapes of the beans which could remain stuck between it and the passage aperture <NUM>, making the closure ineffective.

According to the embodiments described with reference to <FIG>, the housing compartment <NUM> can comprise a bottom wall <NUM> from which the peg <NUM> extends and in which there is provided an inlet <NUM> of a transit channel <NUM> for the beans. The housing compartment <NUM> can comprise a covering door <NUM> suitable to selectively close the channel <NUM> when no hopper <NUM> is inserted.

The door <NUM> can comprise first engagement members <NUM> suitable to engage with corresponding second engagement members <NUM> present on the container <NUM> in a manner such that a rotation of the latter in the compartment <NUM> entails a simultaneous movement of the door <NUM> in order to open or close the inlet <NUM> to the channel <NUM>.

The first engagement members <NUM> can comprise a protruding portion <NUM> suitable to slide in a guide slot <NUM> made through in the bottom wall <NUM>, and the second engagement members <NUM> can comprise a seating <NUM> suitable to receive the protruding portion <NUM>, for example made in at least one fin <NUM>.

When the container <NUM> is rotated toward an open condition, the door <NUM> also rotates until a through hole <NUM>, or a recess <NUM> made in it, aligns with the inlet <NUM> (<FIG>). When the container <NUM> is rotated toward a closed condition, a solid portion 60a of the door <NUM> is positioned below the inlet <NUM>.

The selective opening and closing of the channel <NUM> therefore occurs by manually rotating the container <NUM> in one direction or the other.

According to some embodiments, elastic interference means can be associated with the door <NUM>, which are configured to keep the door <NUM> in the closed or open position, preventing an accidental movement thereof. The interference means can comprise elastic elements <NUM>, for example a spring, associated with a pin <NUM> which interacts with respective recesses <NUM> present in the door <NUM> and causes an interference to the sliding in correspondence with the open and closed positions.

The interference means <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to cooperate axially with the recesses <NUM>, in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation X.

When the elastic means <NUM> thrust the pin <NUM> inside a recess <NUM>, the protruding portion <NUM> is in turn kept thrust against the seating <NUM> of the fin <NUM> present on the container <NUM>, thus helping to also keep the hopper <NUM> stationary in a stable position.

Drive means <NUM> are provided in the compartment <NUM>, for example comprising a drive shaft <NUM> connected to a drive member <NUM>, which are suitable to engage with the connection members <NUM> of the drive pin <NUM> in order to make it rotate. The drive shaft <NUM> and the drive member <NUM> can be connected to each other directly or by means of one or more intermediate gears and transmission members <NUM>.

At least one detection device <NUM> can be provided in the compartment <NUM>, or below it, for example a sensor of the magnetic type, configured to cooperate with identifying elements <NUM> associated with the sectors <NUM>, for example magnets disposed on each of the blades <NUM>, <NUM>.

Returning to the machine <NUM>, this also comprises, in a known way, a grinding device <NUM>, a brewing unit <NUM> and a containing body <NUM> in which the housing compartment <NUM> is provided.

The machine <NUM> can comprise a user interface <NUM> able to receive a command for preparing a beverage and a control unit <NUM> configured to determine, on each occasion, the quantity of coffee powder necessary to prepare the required beverage and to command the drive means <NUM> in order to drive the dosing device <NUM> and supply the grinding device <NUM> only with the necessary quantity of beans.

The dosing of the beans occurs as described below. The drive member <NUM> is made to rotate at a known and constant speed by making the drive pin <NUM> and therefore the transporter member <NUM> and, if present, the conveyor member <NUM> rotate.

The grains fall by gravity through the inlet aperture <NUM> and, on each occasion, fill the sector <NUM> aligned with it. By means of the rotation of the transporter member <NUM> the beans are then transported toward the outlet aperture <NUM> and through the latter and the passage aperture <NUM> they fall by gravity into the channel <NUM> for transit toward the grinding device <NUM>, where they are ground by the grinders <NUM> obtaining coffee powder with a desired granulometry.

According to some embodiments, the grinding device <NUM> can be programmed or commanded by the control unit <NUM> to grind the whole quantity of beans fed into it so that no beans remain inside it. To guarantee that the grinding device <NUM> is emptied completely, this is kept in operation for an extra amount of time, for example equal to about <NUM> sec.

In order to determine when to stop the grinding device <NUM>, it can be provided to make a comparison between the difference in electrical absorption of the motor <NUM> or the difference in the speed of the rotation of the motor <NUM> or of the grinders <NUM>, for example detected by means of suitable sensors, not shown.

For example, considering four sectors <NUM>, each of about <NUM>° and each suitable to contain 5cc of volume corresponding to about 2gr of coffee, depending on the beverage, the dosing device <NUM> can be driven according to the table below:.

The amount of rotation and the stop position of the sectors <NUM> and of the transporter member <NUM> are managed by the control unit <NUM>, possibly on the basis of the data received from the detection device <NUM>, so as to perform on each occasion the correct number of rotations to supply the necessary amount of coffee.

In the case of a transporter member <NUM> with four blades <NUM>, <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can therefore accurately manage portions of rotation equal to <NUM>/<NUM> of a revolution, each corresponding to one sector <NUM>.

In general, it can be provided that each sector <NUM> has a volume comprised between <NUM> and 8cc, preferably between <NUM> and 6cc.

Since the beans, in particular coffee beans, can also have a volume and a specific weight that vary greatly, both within the same origin type and also within a blend of beans of different origin, the machine <NUM> can comprise detection sensors <NUM> configured to detect the quantity of powder actually fed to the brewing unit <NUM>. In this case, the method according to the invention can provide to compact the coffee powder fed into a chamber <NUM> of the brewing unit <NUM> with a defined pressure, measure the height H of the coffee mound obtained by means of the detection sensors <NUM> and compare it with a pre-stored expected value to verify whether the quantity of coffee powder fed to the brewing unit <NUM> corresponds to the quantity required for the selected beverage.

In the event that the quantity of coffee powder in the brewing unit <NUM> does not correspond to the required quantity, the control unit <NUM> can perform a feedback adjustment to adjust the number of rotations to be made in order to prepare a subsequent beverage.

It can also be provided that the control unit <NUM> adjusts the number of rotations of the dosing device <NUM> as a function of the type of coffee beans to be used. For example, the control unit <NUM> can receive, through the user interface <NUM>, indications regarding the type of coffee beans to be used and determine the number of rotations on the basis of data and predefined tables that correlate the volume to the weight for a given type of coffee beans, which can be stored in a storage unit or accessed remotely.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hopper <NUM>, to the machine <NUM> and to the method for preparing a beverage as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of hopper <NUM>, machine <NUM> and method for preparing a beverage, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claim 1:
Hopper (<NUM>) for feeding predefined doses of beans, comprising a container (<NUM>) for beans provided with a lower aperture (<NUM>) with which there is associated a closing base plate (<NUM>) provided with a passage aperture (<NUM>) and disposed rotatable with respect to said container (<NUM>) in order to selectively open and close an outlet aperture (<NUM>) of a dosing device (<NUM>) disposed inside said container (<NUM>), wherein said dosing device (<NUM>) comprises a lower plate (<NUM>) provided with said outlet aperture (<NUM>) which, in an open position, aligns with said passage aperture (<NUM>), an upper plate (<NUM>) provided with an inlet aperture (<NUM>) and a transporter member (<NUM>) disposed between said upper plate (<NUM>) and said lower plate (<NUM>) and comprising at least two rotatable blades (<NUM>; <NUM>), which define at least two sectors (<NUM>) with said plates (<NUM>, <NUM>), said two sectors (<NUM>) having a pre-defined volume and being suitable to each contain a defined dose of beans, said transporter member (<NUM>) being able to be driven in order to rotate said sectors (<NUM>) with respect to an axis of rotation (X) so as to selectively take one of them in correspondence with said outlet aperture (<NUM>).