Patent ID: 12232518

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Roasting Apparatus

FIG.1shows an illustrative view part of a roasting apparatus1. Functionally, the roasting apparatus1is operable to roast coffee beans hold in a vessel11by means of a flow of hot air introduced inside this vessel. At a first level, the apparatus comprises: a housing15, a roasting unit10and a control system180. These components will now be sequentially described.

Housing of Roasting Apparatus

The housing15houses and supports the aforementioned components and comprises a base151and a body152. The base151being for abutment with a support surface, preferably through feet154that provide a gap between the base and the support surface. The body152is for mounting thereto the components.

Roasting Unit of Roasting Apparatus

The roasting unit10is operable to receive and roast coffee beans.

The roasting unit10typically comprises at a second level of the roasting apparatus1: a vessel11and a heating device12, which are sequentially described.

The vessel11is configured to receive and hold the coffee beans introduced by the operator. A removable cover17enables the introduction and removal of beans. The bottom of the vessel is configured to enable air to pass through, specifically it can be a perforated plate14on which the beans can lie and through which air can flow upwardly.

A chaff collector16is in flow communication with the vessel1to receive chaffs that progressively separate from the beans and due to their light density are blown off to the chaff collector.

The vessel11comprises a handle112in order to enable the user to remove the vessel from the housing15and get the roasted beans.

In the illustrated embodiment the vessel1is at least partially transparent and comprises an upper level line111band a lower level line111adesigned on the vessel. Once the beans have been introduced inside the vessel1, the user is able to check the quantity of beans introduced by reference to these levels111a,111b. In particular, the operator is able to check if the quantity is inferior to the lower level, between the lower and upper levels or above the upper level.

In an alternative embodiment of the roaster, illustrated inFIGS.7bto7d, the roasting unit can comprise a device to automatically detect the quantity of beans introduced inside the vessel1, like a weight scale or a level sensor (capacitive or optical) inside the vessel.

In another embodiment of the roaster, not represented, the roasting unit can comprise a set of different vessels, each vessel being configured to hold a specific quantity of coffee beans. The roasting unit can comprise a vessel recognition device.

The heating device12comprises an air flow driver121and a heater122.

The air flow driver121is operable to generate a flow of air in direction of the bottom of the vessel. The generated flow is configured to heat the beans and to agitate and lift the beans. As a result the beans are homogenously heated. Specifically, the air flow driver can be a fan powered by a motor13. Air inlets153can be provided inside the base151of the housing in order to feed air inside the housing, the air flow driver blowing this air in direction of the vessel11as illustrated by doted lines arrows.

The heater122is operable to heat the flow of air generated by the air flow driver121. In the specific illustrated embodiment, the heater is an electrical resistance being positioned between the fan and the perforated plate14with the result that the flow of air is heated before it enters the vessel11to heat and to lift the beans.

The heater122and/or the air flow driver121is/are operable to apply a roasting profile to the beans, this roasting profile being defined as a curve of temperature against time.

Although the invention is described with a roaster implementing a fluidized bed of hot air, the invention not limited to this specific type of roasting apparatus. Drum roasters and other kinds of roasters can be used.

The roasting apparatus10usually comprises a user interface20enabling the display and the input of information.

The roasting apparatus can comprise a code reader to read a code associated to a type of coffee beans, for example present on the package of coffee beans. Preferably, this code reader is positioned in the apparatus so that the operator is able to easily position a code in front of it. It is preferably positioned at the front face of the apparatus, for example close to a user interface20of the apparatus. Accordingly, information provided by the code can be immediately displayed through the display of the user interface20positioned aside.

Control System of Roasting Apparatus

With reference toFIGS.1and2, the control system180will now be considered: the control system180is operable to control the components of the roasting unit to roast coffee beans. The control system180typically comprises at a second level of roasting apparatus: a user interface20, a processing unit18, sensors23, a power supply21, a memory19, optionally a communication interface24for remote connection, optionally a code reader3, optionally a measuring device4, optionally a database25.

The user interface20comprises hardware to enable a user to interface with the processing unit1, by means of user interface signal. More particularly, the user interface receives commands from a user, the user interface signal transfers the said commands to the processing unit18as an input. The commands may, for example, be an instruction to execute a roasting process and/or to adjust an operational parameter of the roasting apparatus1and/or to power on or off the roasting apparatus1. The processing unit18may also output feedback to the user interface20as part of the roasting process, e.g. to indicate the roasting process has been initiated or that a parameter associated with the process has been selected or to indicate the evolution of a parameter during the process or to create an alarm.

In a particular embodiment, the user interface can be used:to provide the quantity m of the coffee beans introduced inside the vessel by manual input.to provide identification Nyof the coffee beans introduced inside the vessel by manual input such as selection of an identification type in a list of pre-selected coffee beans or by entering a digital reference of the coffee, for example read from a coffee beans package.to provide the further use uxof the beans introduced in and to be roasted inside the vessel by manual input such as selection of the use in a list of pre-determined uses (uα, uβ, . . . ).

The hardware of the user interface may comprise any suitable device(s), for example, the hardware comprises one or more of the following: buttons, such as a joystick button, knob or press button, joystick, LEDs, graphic or character LDCs, graphical screen with touch sensing and/or screen edge buttons. The user interface20can be formed as one unit or a plurality of discrete units.

A part of the user interface can also be on a mobile app when the apparatus is provided with a communication interface24as described below. In that case the input and output can be transmitted to the mobile device through the communication interface24.

The sensors23are operable to provide an input signal to the processing unit18for monitoring of the roasting process and/or a status of the roasting apparatus. The input signal can be an analogue or digital signal. The sensors23typically comprise at least one temperature sensor231and optionally one or more of the following sensors: level sensor associated with the vessel1, air flow rate sensor, position sensor associated with the vessel and/or the chaff collector.

If the apparatus or the system comprises a measuring device24, this device is operable to provide the input22that is the quantity of coffee beans introduced inside the vessel11. This input22can be the weight of the beans measured by a scale or a volume of beans or a level measured by a level sensor associated with the vessel11.

A code reader3can be provided and operable to read a code on coffee beans package and automatically provide an input that is the identification of the coffee beans introduced in the measuring device4or in the vessel11.

The processing unit18generally comprise memory, input and output system components arranged as an integrated circuit, typically as a microprocessor or a microcontroller. The processing unit18may comprises other suitable integrated circuits, such as: an ASIC, a programmable logic device such as a PAL, CPLD, FPGA, PSoC, a system on a chip (SoC), an analogue integrated circuit, such as a controller. For such devices, where appropriate, the aforementioned program code can be considered programed logic or to additionally comprise programmed logic. The processing unit18may also comprise one or more of the aforementioned integrated circuits. An example of the later is several integrated circuits is arranged in communication with each other in a modular fashion e.g.: a slave integrated circuit to control the user interface20in communication with a master integrated circuit to control the roasting unit10.

The power supply21is operable to supply electrical energy to the said controlled components and the processing unit18. The power supply21may comprise various means, such as a battery or a unit to receive and condition a main electrical supply. The power supply21may be operatively linked to part of the user interface20for powering on or off the roasting apparatus

The processing unit18generally comprises a memory unit19for storage of instructions as program code and optionally data. To this end the memory unit typically comprises: a non-volatile memory e.g. EPROM, EEPROM or Flash for the storage of program code and operating parameters as instructions, volatile memory (RAM) for temporary data storage. The memory unit may comprise separate and/or integrated (e.g. on a die of the semiconductor) memory. For programmable logic devices the instructions can be stored as programmed logic.

The instructions stored on the memory unit19can be idealised as comprising a coffee beans roasting program.

The control system180is operable to apply this coffee beans roasting program by controlling the heating device12—that is, in the particular illustrated embodiment ofFIG.1, the air flow driver121and/or the heater122—usually using signal of the temperature probe231.

The coffee beans roasting program can effect control of the said components using extraction information encoded on a code and/or other information that may be stored as data on the memory unit19or from a remote source through the communication interface and/or input via the user interface20and/or signal of the sensors23.

In particular, the control system is configured to apply a roasting recipe (R) providing the temperature T@t1, T@t2, . . . T@tfinalto be applied at discrete successive times t1, t2, . . . , tfinalrespectively.

With that aim, the processing unit18is operable to:receive an input of the temperature sensor231,process the input according to roasting recipe R,provide an output, which is the roasting recipe R. More specifically the output comprises the operation of at least the heater122and the air flow driver121.

The temperature measured by the temperature sensor231is used to adapt the power of the heater122and/or the power of the motor13of the air driver121in a feedback loop in order to apply the roasting recipe R to the beans.

Depending on the type of control applied in the roaster, the heater122can be powered at one pre-determined power, meaning its temperature is constant, and in that case the power of the motor13of the air driver121can be controlled based on the temperature monitored at the sensor231in order to vary the time of contact of the flow air through the heater during its movement.

Alternatively, the motor13of the air driver121can be powered at one pre-determined power, meaning the flow rate of air is constant, and in that case the power of the heater122can be controlled based on the temperature monitored at the sensor231in order to heat more or less air during its passage through the heating device.

In a last alternative, both heater122and motor13can be controlled based on the monitoring of the temperature by sensor231.

The processing unit can comprise a communication interface24for data communication of the roasting apparatus1with another device and/or system, such as a server system, a mobile device and/or a physically separated measuring apparatus2. The communication interface24can be used to supply and/or receive information related to the coffee beans roasting process, such as roasting process information, type of the beans, quantity of beans. The communication interface24may comprise a first and second communication interface for data communication with several devices at once or communication via different media.

The communication interface24can be configured for cabled media or wireless media or a combination thereof, e.g.: a wired connection, such as RS-232, USB, I2C, Ethernet define by IEEE 802.3, a wireless connection, such as wireless LAN (e.g. IEEE 802.11) or near field communication (NFC) or a cellular system such as GPRS or GSM. The communication interface24interfaces with the processing unit18, by means of a communication interface signal. Generally the communication interface comprises a separate processing unit (examples of which are provided above) to control communication hardware (e.g. an antenna) to interface with the master processing unit18. However, less complex configurations can be used e.g. a simple wired connection for serial communication directly with the processing unit18.

The processing unit18enables access to different roasting recipes (R1, R2, . . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, . . . ) of beans and to said pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, . . . ).

The recipes and the pre-determined quantities can be stored in a memory19of the processing unit18. Alternatively, these data can be stored in a remote server and the processing unit18can be supplied with access to this remote server through the communication interface24, directly or indirectly through a mobile device establishing connection between the remote server and the processing unit.

These recipes and quantities can be part of a database25stored in the memory unit19or remotely as mentioned above.

In one alternative embodiment, the control system can be provided with the roasting recipes and their associated pre-determined quantities M, during a code reading operation, these pieces of information being encoded inside the code and decoded by the control system.

FIG.3schematically illustrates the type of roasting recipes accessible to the processing unit. Each of the illustrated roasting recipes R1, R2, . . . R5provides the temperature profile to be applied to a corresponding dedicated quantity of beans M1, M2, . . . M5respectively in function of time. For example, the different pre-determined quantity of beans M1, M2, . . . M5can be discrete weights, such as: 50 g, 100 g, 150 g, 200 g and 250 g, of the same type of beans or of the same blend of beans.

These temperature profiles are usually defined by experimentation by defining the optimal profile for a pre-determined quantity of beans.

Usually, one series of roasting recipes R1, R2, . . . R5is adapted for a specific type of coffee beans. The type of coffee beans can relate to specific features such as:the origin of the beans (Arabica, Robusta, . . . ) or a particular mixture of beans of different origins. The mixture can be defined as the blend of beans of different specific origins and by the ratio of these beans of different specific origins,the level of pre-roasting of the beans. The coffee beans to be roasted can be green beans or can be partially pre-roasted beans that is beans having been obtained by heating green coffee beans and stopping said heating process before the end of the first crack. These partially pre-roasted beans can be pre-roasted at different levels with a direct impact on the subsequent roasting.the moisture of the beans,the size of the beans.

FIG.5illustrates three different series of roasting recipes (R1;1, R1;2. . . R1;5), (R2;1, R2;2, . . . R2;5) and (R3;1, R3;2, . . . R3;5) adapted to three different types of beans (Beans 1, Beans 2, Beans 3) and to pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, . . . M5) similarly toFIG.3.

In a particular embodiment, one series of roasting recipes R1, R2, . . . R5can be adapted for a specific further use of the roasted beans. Depending on the desired use of the final roasted beans that is the way to extract a coffee beverage from the roasted beans the sensory profile of the roasted coffee beans can be adapted to this subsequent preparation.

This further use can be:preparation of an espresso coffee with pressurised hot water,preparation of coffee with a French press,preparation of coffee with a drip filter,preparation of coffee by cold brew method,preparation of a coffee whatever the extraction with the final aim to prepare a white cup that is mixing extracted coffee with a white component such as milk, creamer, . . . ,

FIG.6illustrates series of roasting recipes R1, R2, . . . R5adapted to different pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, . . . M5) of different types of beans (Beans 1, Beans 2, Beans 3, . . . ) and to different further uses of said beans (Beans 1—Use 1, Beans 1—Use 2, Beans 1—Use 3, . . . and Beans 2—Use 1, Beans 2—Use 2, Beans 2—Use 3, . . . and Beans 3—Use 1, . . . ).

These temperature profiles are usually defined by experimentation by defining the optimal profile for the pre-determined quantity Miof the specific type Nyof beans and for each specific further use ux.

When a customised quantity m of coffee beans is introduced inside the vessel11in order to be roasted, the processing unit18of the apparatus of the present invention is configured to implement several steps.

First, the processing unit18of the apparatus of the present invention is configured to obtain for beans introduced inside the vessel the quantity m of said type of coffee beans.

Optionally and preferably, the processing unit is configured to obtain the type Nyof said coffee beans.

Optionally, the processing unit is configured to obtain the future use ux of the coffee beans.

As mentioned earlier, these pieces of information about identification, quantity and use can be provided through the user interface20of the roasting apparatus, the display of the user interface guiding the user to enter information for each types of coffee.

Alternatively, for the identification of the coffee type, information can be obtained by means of a code reader3, the user being able or incited to scan the code of the different beans in front of the code reader.

Alternatively, for the quantity of beans, the quantity can be measured and automatically communicated to the control system180, for example by the use of a measuring device4directly connected to the apparatus or indirectly through the communication interface, as illustrated inFIG.8or9.

Then, in a further step, the control system of the roasting apparatus is configured to get access to information related to the roasting of coffee beans and in particular to at least one series of roasting recipes (Ri, Ri+1, . . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (Mi, Mi+1, . . . ) of beans of same type and to said pre-determined quantities Mi, Mi+1, . . . , the roasting recipes Ri, providing the temperatures TMi@tzto be applied to this quantity of beans at discrete successive times tzrespectively. For example, based onFIG.3, the control system is configured to get access to the series of the roasting recipes R1, R2, R3, R4, R5adapted to the roasting of pre-determined quantities M1, M2, M3, M4, M5respectively of the same type. The pre-determined quantities represent successive values of quantity.

In a further step, the control system is configured to determine the roasting recipe (R) to be applied on said obtained customised quantity m of coffee beans introduced inside the vessel.

In one simplest first embodiment, the processing unit18is operable to select one recipe in the accessible series of roasting recipes R1, R2, R3, R4, R5. The selection consists in identifying the roasting recipe Ri, adapted to the roasting of a pre-determined quantity of beans Mi, said pre-determined quantity of beans Mipresenting the smallest difference of quantity with the obtained quantity m.

For illustration, based on the series of recipes R1, . . . R5ofFIG.3to be applied to different pre-determined weights M1, . . . M5of beans such as: 50 g, 100 g, 150 g, 200 g and 250 g, if the input for the quantity m of beans is 210 g, then the processing unit18is operable to select the roasting recipe R4corresponding to the pre-determined quantity M4of beans 200 g because the smallest difference between 210 and the five pre-determined quantities 50 g, 100 g, 150 g, 200 g, 250 g is the difference between 210 g and 200 g.

In the second embodiment, the processing unit18is operable to calculate a specific roasting recipe (R) to be applied on said specific quantity m of coffee beans introduced inside the vessel from the accessible series of recipes (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) as illustrated inFIG.4and explained below.

FIG.4schematically illustrates a series of roasting recipes R1, R2, . . . R5providing the temperature profile to be applied to a corresponding dedicated quantity of beans M1, M2, . . . M5respectively, for example 50 g, 100 g, 150 g, 200 g and 250 g, in function of time for one type of beans, for example pure Arabica beans.

In a first step of determination of the roasting recipe (R), the processing unit identifies, in the series, the two roasting recipes Riand Ri+1adapted to the roasting of two successive pre-determined quantities Miand Mi+1of beans wherein the quantity m is comprised between these two successive pre-determined quantities Miand Mi+1. For example, if the obtained quantity m is 160 g, then roasting recipes R3and R4corresponding respectively to 150 g and 200 g of coffee beans are identified.

In a second step, at discrete successive times t1, t2, . . . , t6, the temperature Tmto be applied to the obtained quantity m of beans at each of said discrete successive times t1, t2, . . . t6is calculated from the roasting recipes R3and R4as follows:
Tm@tz=TMi@tz+[(TMi+1@tz−TMi@tz)·C·(m−Mi)/(Mi+1−Mi)]
with C≤1.

In particular, at time t1, the temperature Tm@t1to be applied is:
TM3@t1+[(TM4@t1−TM3@t1)·C·(m−M3)/(M4−M3)]
meaning, for example, for the exemplifying above weights:
TM3@t1+[(TM4@t1−TM3@t1)·C·(160−150)/(50]

The calculation is reproduced at each time t2to t6determining the full roasting recipe R for the quantity m of beans.

These discrete successive times can be pre-defined to provide a final roasting recipe with enough points to be implemented by the roasting apparatus. For example, successive times may differ by about 20 to 40 seconds.

In the above formula, the coefficient C is usually fixed experimentally and can vary depending on the roaster specifications (power, vessel size, type of heater, . . . ), the type of the beans and/or the future use of the roasted beans.

In one embodiment, the coefficient C can be set according to the roaster specifications only.

In another embodiment, the coefficient C can be set according to the type of beans. In that case, coefficient C can be set:generally at a high level of definition of the beans such as the origin of the beans, e.g. Arabica or Robusta providing a coefficient CAwhen Arabica beans are roasted and a coefficient CRwhen Robusta beans are roasted,or more precisely for each type of beans Nyby reference to coefficient Cyadapted to specific type of beans Nywith more precise criteria than the two general origins.

In these cases, the control system is configured to obtain the type of beans (Arabica, Robusta or Ni) introduced in the vessel and then to get access to the coefficient CA, CRor Ci corresponding to that type of beans.

Preferably, the coefficient C is set according to the roaster specifications and the type of beans.

In a particular embodiment, the coefficient C can be set according to the further use of the beans. In that embodiment, the coefficient C is preferably set according to the roaster specifications too and in addition, even more preferably, according to the type of beans.

In absence of information about the roaster or the type of beans or the further use, by default, the coefficient C equals 1.

In a third embodiment, the processing unit18is operable to calculate a specific roasting recipe (R) to be applied on said specific quantity m of coffee beans introduced inside the vessel from the accessible series of recipes (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) in a similar way as in the second embodiment, except that in the second step of determination of the roasting recipe (R), the temperature Tmto be applied to the obtained quantity m of beans at each of said discrete successive times t1, t2, . . . t6is calculated from the roasting recipes R3and R4as follows:
ifmis closer toM3, thenTm@ti=TM3@ti+[(TM4@ti−TM3@ti)·C·(m−M3)/(M4−M3)]
ifmis closer toM4, thenTm@ti=TM4@ti−[(TM4@ti−TM3@ti)·C·(M4−m)/(M4−M3)]
with C≤1.

As a result, it means that if the obtained quantity m is 160 g, m is closer to M3that is 150 g and the temperature to be applied at t1is TM3@t1+[(TM4@t1−TM3@t1)·C·(160−150)/50].

But, if the obtained quantity m is 180 g, m is closer to M4that is 200 g and the temperature to be applied at t1is TM4@ti−[(TM4@ti−TM3@ti)·C·(200−180)/50].

In general, if the quantity provided by the measuring device is a volume and not a weight, the weight can be deduced indirectly from an average density of coffee beans or more preferably, the identification of the nature of the beans provides access to the exact density of said beans enabling the calculation of the weight of beans introduced in the vessel.

In the step of processing the output, the processing unit18operates the heating device12usually in a closed-loop control using the input signal from the temperature sensor231as feedback to apply the temperature versus time profile to the coffee beans corresponding to the determined roasting recipe (R).

Where the processing unit is configured to obtain the type Nyof coffee beans introduced inside the vessel, the control system of the roasting apparatus can be configured to get access, for each of the different types of beans (Beans 1, Beans 2, . . . ) to a series of roasting recipes like, as illustrated inFIG.5:the series “Beans 1” (R1;1, R1;2, R1;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 1, andthe series “Beans 2” (R2;1, R2;2, R2;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 2, andthe series “Beans 3” (R3;1, R3;2, R3;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 3.

In that case, the above described first, second or third embodiment can be implemented to determine the roasting profile of the customised quantity m of beans of type Nyintroduced inside the vessel by accessing to the series of roasting recipes (Ryi, Ryi+1, . . . ) adapted to the roasting of beans of said type Ny. For example, if beans of type Beans 2 are introduced inside the vessel and identified, then the step of determining the roasting profile of a quantity m of Beans 2 is based on the series of roasting profiles (R2;1, R2;2, R2;3. . . ) as illustrated inFIG.5.

It is noticed that the invention covers embodiments where, in the different series of curves, the pre-determined quantities Mi, Mi+1, . . . are not the same in all series.

In the same manner, where the processing unit is configured to obtain the type Nyof coffee beans introduced inside the vessel and the further use uxdesired by the operator, the control system of the roasting apparatus can be configured to get access, for each of the different types of beans (Beans 1, Beans 2, . . . ) and for each further use of sais beans (Use 1, Use 2, . . . ) to a series of roasting recipes like, as illustrated inFIG.5:series (R1;1;1, R1;1;2+, R1;1;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 1 for the further Use 1, andseries “Beans 1—Use 2” (R1;2;1, R1;2;2, R1;2;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 1 for the further Use 2, andseries “Beans 2—Use 1” (R2;1;1, R2;1;2, R2;1;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 2 for the further Use 1, andseries “Beans 2—Use 2” (R2;2;1, R2;2;2, R2;2;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 2 for the further Use 2, andseries “Beans 3—Use 1” (R3;1;1, R3;1;2, R3;1;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 3 for the further Use 1, andseries “Beans 3—Use 2” (R3;2;1, R33;2;2, R3;2;3. . . ) adapted to the roasting of different successive pre-determined quantities (M1, M2, M3, . . . ) of coffee beans of type Beans 3 for the further Use 2.

System

FIG.7aillustrates a system10of a roasting apparatus1and a measuring device4, preferably a scale. The roasting apparatus comprises a vessel11configured for holding beans during the roasting operation. The measuring device2is configured to measure the quantity of coffee beans and to communicate the measured quantity input22through a communication interface to the control system180of the roasting apparatus.

FIG.7billustrates an alternative system10of a roasting apparatus1and a measuring device4, preferably a scale. The measuring device2is part of the roasting apparatus, precisely it is integrated in the same frame as the roasting apparatus, aside from the roasting apparatus. The measuring device2is configured to measure the quantity of coffee beans and to communicate the measured quantity input22to the control system180of the roasting apparatus.

FIG.7cillustrates an alternative system10of a roasting apparatus1and a measuring device4. The measuring device4is part of the roasting apparatus. In one mode, the measuring device can be a scale, and, in its roasting position, the vessel11can be suspended to the scale. In that mode, the vessel is weighted before the vessel is completely locked in the roasting apparatus to apply roasting.

In another mode, the measuring device can be a level sensor, and, in its roasting position, the level of beans can be measured. The measuring device2is configured to communicate the measured quantity as an input22to the control system180of the roasting apparatus.

FIG.7dillustrates an alternative system10of a roasting apparatus1and a measuring device4. The measuring device4is a scale that is part of the roasting apparatus. Precisely in its roasting position, the vessel11lays on the scale. The scale4is configured to weight coffee beans and to communicate the measured weight as an input22to the control system180of the roasting apparatus. Then the vessel is locked inside the roasting apparatus and roasting can be applied.

FIG.8illustrates a system100where the roasting apparatus10and the measuring apparatus4are physically separated. In this system, the coffee beans5are introduced and measured in an intermediate container6before being introduced inside the vessel11of the roasting apparatus1.

This system is particularly useful when the vessel is not removable form the roaster, for example in case of drum roasters.

The measuring device6is connected through a cable (USB, Serial) to the roasting apparatus and is able to supply the control system of the roasting apparatus with the measured quantity of beans22. Alternatively, the connection can be established through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

FIG.9provides an alternative embodiment of the system ofFIG.8where the vessel11is removable from the roasting apparatus and can be placed on the measuring apparatus4in filling and measuring position before being positioned back on the roasting apparatus in a roasting position. Preferably the measuring apparatus4comprises a receiving area configured for holding the vessel11of a roasting apparatus so that it is securely hold during filling and measuring. For example, the measuring device can present an interface matching with the bottom of the vessel. Preferably, the measuring device is configured to automatically provide the weight of beans without the tare weight of the vessel.

The roasting apparatus of the present invention presents the advantage of providing the operator with flexibility in terms of quantity of beans to be roasted while guaranteeing a constant quality of roasting.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.

Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

As used in this specification, the words “comprises”, “comprising”, and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean “including, but not limited to”.

LIST OF REFERENCES IN THE DRAWINGS

roaster1roasting unit10vessel11levels111a,111bhandle112heating device12air flow driver121heater122motor13perforated plate14housing15base151body152air inlet153feet154chaff collector16cover17processing unit18control system180memory19user interface20power supply21measured quantity input22sensor23temperature sensor231communication interface24database25measuring device2measured quantity input22code reader3measuring device4coffee beans5intermediate container6system100