Patent Description:
The invention further concerns a coffee machine usable with the improved filter holder.

The invention further concerns a grinder for coffee beans usable with the improved filter holder.

As it is known, the filter holders for coffee machines consist of an essentially cylindrical body, inside which a filter is provided, the cylindrical body constituting a cup-shaped container for containing coffee powder.

The cup-shaped container has a lower truncated conical body provided with a single or double spout for the outflow of the coffee infusion.

The cup-shaped container further has two opposite fins adapted to be engaged, in a known way, with a respective hooking element provided in the coffee machine or in the grinder.

Embodiments, wherein it is provided to equip the filter holder with one or more magnets so that to allow a coffee machine, equipped with appropriate magnetic reading sensors, to recognize the type of filter holder inserted and to behave consequently, are also known.

For example, the document <CIT> describes a coffee machine operable in different modes, said modes being variable depending on the polarity of a magnet housed in the filter holder and detected by the machine itself in order to deliver different types of beverages.

In particular, the filter holder comprises two magnets spaced from each other and arranged so that to have different polarity. Each magnet is arranged on a respective handle of the filter holder.

The magnet arranged on the first handle has a determined magnetic orientation; on the second handle, the magnet has an orientation in which the magnetic North and South poles are opposite those of the first magnet.

The filter holder can further comprise writing and/or logos or other indications to help the user and/or bartender to identify the type of beverage desired.

The coffee machine described in the document <CIT> further comprises a magnetic sensor, for example a Hall effect sensor. Depending on the orientation with which the filter holder is mounted on the coffee machine, the magnetic sensor only detects one of the two magnets.

Depending on the magnetic polarity detected, the coffee machine delivers a beverage rather than another.

It is clear that each filter holder must bear at least two magnets in order to distinguish the filter holders from each other in the case of document <CIT>.

Moreover, the magnets can not be placed near each other because, in this case, the opposite polarities would be countered, thus giving a signal that cannot be read by the Hall effect sensor.

The document <CIT> describes a coffee machine operable in variable modes depending on the capacity of the filter holder used. The machine is controlled by means of magnets positioned on the filter holder; the machine delivers a different quantity of water depending on the number of magnets present on the filter holder.

Also in the case of document <CIT>, several magnets in different positions are necessary for controlling the machine.

A problem of the known art is thus to identify the type of filter holder with the smallest possible number of magnets.

An object of the present invention is thus to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, by means of a filter holder that can be combined with a coffee machine and/or coffee grinder and that can be recognized by the device to which it is applied, also using only one magnet.

A further object of the present invention is to achieve the results mentioned above in a simple and economic way.

The invention thus suggest to achieve the aforesaid objects by means of a filter holder for coffee machines according to claim <NUM>.

The invention further comprises a coffee machine according to claim <NUM>, and a grinder according to claim <NUM>.

Further characteristics of the invention can be deduced from the dependent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident in the light of the following detailed description with the aid of the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:.

The invention will now be described with initial reference to <FIG>, in which a component, known per se, of the present invention is depicted, i.e. a diametral magnet <NUM>.

As it is known, diametral magnets <NUM> are magnetic disks that are configured to have a N-S polarity aligned along a diameter of the magnetic disk itself rather than along an axis passing through the center of the disk and perpendicular to the plane on which the disk is lying.

If for example the diametral magnet <NUM> of <FIG> is rotated in direction of the arrow F by an angle α around an axis passing through the center C of the disk and perpendicular to the plane on which the disk is lying, so that the diameter denoted by X-X in <FIG> is brought to the position denoted by X'-X', the N-S poles of the diametral magnet rotate by a corresponding angle, moving to the position denoted by N'-S' in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows, in a view from above, a filter holder according to an embodiment of the invention, generally denoted by the numerical reference <NUM>.

Firstly, the filter holder <NUM> has an essentially cylindrical body, inside which a perforated filter holder <NUM> is provided, the cylindrical body constituting a cup-shaped container <NUM> for containing coffee powder.

The cup-shaped container <NUM> has a lower truncated conical body provided with a single or double spout for the outflow of the coffee infusion (not depicted for simplicity) and provided with a handle <NUM>.

A visual indicator <NUM>, for example equipped with a different color for each type of filter holder <NUM> so that to visually distinguish between the different filter holders according to the modes shown below, can be provided at an end of the handle <NUM>.

In other words, a determined filter holder <NUM> can be provided with one or more diametral magnets <NUM>, <NUM>' and can be identified by means of a respective visual indicator <NUM> related to the orientation of the diametral magnets <NUM>, <NUM>'.

Each diametral magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' has N-S magnetic poles aligned along a diameter of the magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' itself and can be mounted aboard the filter holder <NUM> with a specific magnetic orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis Y-Y of the filter holder <NUM> itself. The cup-shaped container <NUM> further has two opposite fins <NUM> adapted to engage, in a known way for example with a bayonet mount, with a respective hooking element provided in the coffee machine or in the grinder.

According to an aspect of the invention, a diametral magnet <NUM> having a determined magnetic orientation is incorporated in one of the fins <NUM> of the filter holder <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a detail of the filter holder of <FIG>, in which an alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted which provides for a first diametral magnet <NUM> having a determined magnetic orientation, and a second diametral magnet <NUM>' having a different magnetic orientation.

The filter holder <NUM> described is configured to interact with a magnetic sensor <NUM> placed aboard a coffee machine or aboard a grinder.

The value of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor <NUM> can depend on the orientation of the diametral magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' placed aboard the filter holder <NUM> with respect to a longitudinal axis Y-Y of the filter holder <NUM> itself.

Thus, each filter holder <NUM> can be identified by a coffee machine or by a grinder and simultaneously identified by an operator by means of a respective visual indicator <NUM> related to the orientation of the diametral magnets <NUM>, <NUM>'.

This way, the operator can use, from time to time and depending on the need, different filter holders, each containing a specific quality and/or blend of coffee or decaffeinated coffee, all as better shown below.

The magnetic sensor <NUM> can be, for example, a Hall sensor. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the magnetic orientation of the diametral magnets <NUM>, <NUM>' placed aboard the filter holder <NUM> can be varied manually.

<FIG> shows a coffee machine <NUM> configured to be used with the filter holder of <FIG>.

The machine <NUM> provides an electronic control unit <NUM> configured for controlling the operations of the machine <NUM>.

In particular, the electronic control unit <NUM> is connected to an electric resistance <NUM> contained inside a boiler <NUM> and is further connected to a pump <NUM>.

The water inflowing and outflowing of the boiler <NUM> can further be controlled by the electronic control unit <NUM> by controlling the inlet valve <NUM> and the outlet valve <NUM>.

The machine <NUM> further comprises at least one sensor <NUM> configured for detecting a value of the magnetic field generated by at least one diametral magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' placed aboard the filter holder <NUM> and for selecting an operating program of the machine depending on the value of the magnetic field detected by the sensor <NUM>.

During the operations of the coffee machine <NUM>, by coupling a determined filter holder <NUM> with the machine <NUM> so that to prepare one or more doses of a beverage, the electronic control unit <NUM>, by reading the specific orientation of the diametral magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' placed aboard the filter holder by means of the magnetic sensor <NUM> aboard the machine <NUM> itself, is able to recognize the specific filter holder <NUM> and can control the operations of the machine <NUM> by acting on parameters such as the volume, flow rate, temperature and pressure of the water or other depending on the type of beverage desired.

In particular, the electronic control unit <NUM> is connected to an electric resistance <NUM> contained inside a boiler <NUM>, for controlling the water temperature depending on the type of filter holder <NUM> detected by the sensor <NUM>.

Moreover, the amount of water inflowing and outflowing of the boiler <NUM> can be controlled by the electronic control unit <NUM>, which is connected to a pump <NUM>, by controlling the inlet valve <NUM> and the outlet valve <NUM>, depending on the type of filter holder <NUM> detected by the sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a coffee grinder <NUM> configured to be used with the filter holder of <FIG>.

The grinder <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> on which at least two coffee bean containers <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted.

The coffee bean containers <NUM>, <NUM> can each contain a different type of coffee (i.e.: Arabica, Robusta, etc.).

In an embodiment of the invention, additional coffee bean containers <NUM> can be provided.

The grinder <NUM> further comprises an electronic control unit <NUM> configured for controlling the operations of the grinder <NUM> itself.

The coffee bean containers can each be provided with a movable element (known per se in the art and not depicted for simplicity) to allow the outflow of the beans to be ground towards a grinding member <NUM>, the opening and closing of said movable elements being controllable by the intervention of the electronic control unit <NUM>.

The grinder <NUM> further comprises at least one sensor <NUM> configured for detecting a value of the magnetic field generated by at least one diametral magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' placed aboard the filter holder <NUM> and for selecting an operating program of the grinder <NUM> depending on the value of the magnetic field detected by the sensor <NUM>.

In the operations of the grinder <NUM>, by coupling a determined filter holder with the grinder <NUM>, the electronic control unit <NUM> aboard the grinder <NUM> is able to recognize the specific filter holder <NUM> and can determine the granulometry, dose and degree of compression of the coffee powder to provide to the filter holder <NUM>, by reading the specific orientation of the diametral magnet <NUM>, <NUM>' placed aboard the filter holder by means of the magnetic sensor <NUM> aboard the grinder <NUM> itself.

In particular, depending on the filter holder <NUM> detected, the electronic control unit <NUM> aboard the grinder <NUM> can act on one or more movable elements which allow the coffee beans to pass from the respective container towards the grinding member <NUM>, thus determining the quantity and type of coffee to be ground.

Claim 1:
Filter holder (<NUM>) for coffee machines, comprising a handle (<NUM>) connected to a substantially cylindrical body, inside which a perforated filter (<NUM>) is provided, the cylindrical body forming a cup-shaped container (<NUM>) for containing coffee powder and being provided with engagement fins (<NUM>), the filter holder (<NUM>) further comprising identification means for identifying the type of filter holder (<NUM>), characterized in that said identification means for identifying the type of filter holder (<NUM>) comprise at least one diametral magnet (<NUM>) whose magnetic orientation can be detected outside the filter holder (<NUM>), wherein said diametral magnet (<NUM>) is a disk-shaped magnet (<NUM>) having a N-S polarity aligned along a diameter of the magnetic disk itself.