U.S. patent application number 12/004747 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for delivery head for espresso coffee machines.
Invention is credited to Andrea Castellani.
Application Number | 20080105131 12/004747 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35892241 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080105131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Castellani; Andrea |
May 8, 2008 |
Delivery head for espresso coffee machines
Abstract
A delivery head for espresso coffee machines comprises a top
supporting element pivoted to a bottom supporting element in turn
made rigid with the machine body, said bottom supporting element
comprising an infusion recess provided for receiving a coffee
holding capsule, said delivery head further comprising an operating
lever operating at least one of the support elements to define at
least an open position for loading and unloading the coffee
capsule, and a coffee delivery closed position, said head including
perforating means for progressively perforating the capsule and
capsule ejecting means.
Inventors: |
Castellani; Andrea; (Milan,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEDMAN & COSTIGAN P.C.
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
35892241 |
Appl. No.: |
12/004747 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11076736 |
Mar 10, 2005 |
7320274 |
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12004747 |
Dec 21, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/0673 20130101;
A47J 31/369 20130101; A47J 31/3695 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
099/295 |
International
Class: |
A47J 31/00 20060101
A47J031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2004 |
IT |
MI2004A 002350 |
Claims
1. A delivery head for espresso coffee machines, characterized in
that said delivery head comprises a top supporting element pivoted
to a bottom supporting element, said bottom supporting element
being made rigid with a body of said machine; said bottom
supporting element comprising an infusion recess, designed for
receiving a coffee holding capsule; said delivery head further
comprises an operating lever which operates at least one of said
support elements to define at least an open capsule loading and
unloading position, and a coffee delivery closed position, said
head further including perforating means for progressively
perforating said capsule and capsule ejecting means.
2. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said top supporting element comprises a top cover and said bottom
supporting element comprises a bottom cover.
3. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said driving lever is pivoted to said top supporting element for
driving said top supporting element.
4. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said closed delivery position is stably held so as to resist
against a delivery pressure, by locking means.
5. A delivery head, according to claim 4, characterized in that
said locking means comprise a locking lever pivoted to said top
supporting element at a locking lever pivot pin, and having a hook
portion operating on a locking peg rigid with said bottom
supporting element.
6. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said delivery means comprises a delivery nozzle coupled at a bottom
thereof to said bottom supporting element, at an outlet hole formed
through a bottom of said capsule recess.
7. A delivery head, according to claim 6, characterized in that in
said capsule recess is arranged a bottom perforating element,
having a circular tapering cross section, adapted to perforate the
bottom of said capsule as said capsule is pressed against said
bottom perforating element by an overheated water pressure, which
operation is performed after closing said head after having
perforated a top surface of said capsule.
8. A delivery head, according to claim 7, characterized in that a
quadrangular cross-sectional pyramidal top perforating element
coupled to a top perforating support in turn coupled to said top
supporting element is moreover provided.
9. A delivery head, according to claim 8, characterized in that
said top perforating supporting element comprises at lest a
delivery duct, adjoining said top perforating element, for
delivering pressurized water coming from pressurized water
generating elements of said coffee machine.
10. A delivery head, according to claim 9, characterized in that
said top perforating element affects the top surface of said
capsule for perforating said top surface as said head is closed, to
allow pressurized water coming from a delivery duct to pass to the
inside of said capsule.
11. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said capsule comprises an outer film to be perforated by said top
and bottom perforating element, and comprising, in the inside
thereof, a ground coffee holding filtering rigid construction.
12. A delivery head, according to claim 11, characterized in that
said capsule rigid filtering construction comprises, at a top
thereof, a plurality of channels for allowing hot water to be
distributed on the top, said water entering a hole formed by said
top perforating element.
13. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said capsule ejecting means comprise a capsule ejecting fork
element pivoted to a pivot pin applied to said bottom supporting
element and including an annular portion encompassing the top of
said capsule.
14. A delivery head, according to claim 13, characterized in that
said fork element is adapted to be raised by raising said top
supporting element, said fork element comprising a plurality of
tooth elements formed therein and cooperating with respective
slanted surfaces of said top supporting element, said slanted
surfaces operating as linear cams.
15. A delivery head, according to claim 14, characterized in that
said ejecting fork element, as said top supporting element is at
first opened, is held in a rest position thereof.
16. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
upon unloading said capsule, said top supporting element starts to
disengage from said fork element and returning, by gravity, to its
rest position.
17. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said delivery head comprises a plurality of linear cams disengaging
said fork element from said top supporting element during an
opening operation.
18. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said delivery head comprises an ejecting device designed for
automatically ejecting said capsule for introducing said capsule in
an ejected capsule vessel upon ending the coffee beverage delivery
operation and upon raising said top supporting element.
19. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said capsule comprises a perimetrical bearing edge portion.
20. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said delivery head, in an open position thereof, is ready for
receiving a capsule which is partially engaged in the capsule
recess, thereby causing said capsule to abut near the bottom
perforating element without causing said bottom perforating element
to perforate, at least at the start, the bottom surface of said
capsule.
21. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said delivery head is closed by operating said lever and providing
a downward directed pressure to cause said top supporting element
to be closed on said bottom supporting element.
22. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that,
as said top supporting element is closed on said bottom supporting
element, said top perforating element perforates the top surface of
said capsule.
23. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that,
after having closed said delivery head, overheated pressurized
water, introduced into said capsule, causes a perforation of the
bottom surface of said capsule by said bottom perforating
element.
24. A delivery head, according to claim 1, characterized in that,
upon ending a delivery operation, said top supporting element is
raised by operating said lever, thereby also raising said fork
element, due to the provision of said tooth element formed on said
fork element and cooperating with slanted surfaces of said top
supporting element.
25. A delivery head, according to claim 24, characterized in that
said fork element rises said capsule by said annular portion
thereof which engages at a bottom the perimetrical bearing portion
of said capsule.
26. A delivery head, according to claim 24, characterized in that,
upon achieving a set inclination, said capsule slides on said fork
element and, after having passed said annular portion, falls inside
said fork element and, through a passage, is collected in a
collecting vessel formed in said upright.
27. A delivery head, according to claim 26, characterized in that,
after having exceeded a set inclination of said fork element, said
tooth elements of said fork element are disengaged from said
slanted surfaces of said top supporting element, thereby said fork
element can return to its starting position, in abutment on said
bottom supporting element, said annular portion thereof being
arranged at said top edge portion of said capsule recess.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an espresso coffee machine
delivery head,
[0002] As is known conventional espresso coffee machines
conventionally comprise an infusion unit, designed for receiving a
disposable or single use capsule filter including a cylindric body
holding at least a ground coffee portion.
[0003] More specifically, the infusion unit is supplied with
pressurized hot water, produced by hot water producing members
housed in the machine body.
[0004] In general, said infusion unit comprises a horizontal plate,
on which is formed a guide allowing the capsule to slide from a
loading position to an unloading position, by passing through an
infusion middle position.
[0005] To accurately arrange the capsule at the infusion position,
are conventionally used locating means, comprising two jaws
arranged on the side of the guide and rotatively driven according
to vertical axes, as counterbiassed by respective spring
elements.
[0006] The above mentioned mechanisms, used in prior espresso
coffee machines, are affected by a lot of drawbacks due to
pressurized water steam and coffee powder.
[0007] In particular, among the above mentioned drawbacks, it is to
be mentioned the jammings to which the infusion units of the coffee
machines are subjected, and, more specifically, a not perfect
sealing between the coffee capsule and its housing recess, during
the infusion operation.
[0008] Another drawback of prior infusion units is that the loading
of the coffee capsule is rather difficult to be performed and,
sometimes, fails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide
a delivery head, particularly for espresso coffee machines, which
is so designed as to fully overcome the drawbacks of the prior
art.
[0010] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object
of the invention is to provide such a delivery head, in which the
single-use or disposable capsule loading and unloading operations
can be performed in a very easy and safe manner, from a user
standpoint.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
such a delivery head assuring a perfect infusion of the coffee
beverage.
[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above
mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will
become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a delivery head
for espresso coffee machines, characterized in that said delivery
head comprises a top supporting element pivoted to a bottom
supporting element, said bottom supporting element being made rigid
with a body of said machine; said bottom supporting element
comprising an infusion recess, designed for receiving a coffee
holding capsule; said delivery head further comprises an operating
lever which operates at least one of said support elements to
define at least an open capsule loading and unloading position, and
a coffee delivery closed position, said head further including
perforating means for progressively perforating said capsule and
capsule ejecting means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following
detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive,
embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an
indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying
drawings, where:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, as longitudinally
cross-sectioned, of the delivery head according to the invention,
being shown in a delivery position thereof;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a further side elevation view, as partially
longitudinally cross-sectioned, of that same delivery head, shown
in a capsule ejecting position thereof;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front elevation view of the
delivery head, shown in a delivery position thereof;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of that same delivery head;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation view showing the delivery
head, as longitudinal cross-sectioned according to a section plane
different from that of FIG. 1 and shown in a broken away
condition;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a partially broken away side elevation view
illustrating a coffee machine including the delivery head according
to the present invention, being shown in a delivery position
thereof;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the
coffee machine during a capsule ejecting operating step;
[0021] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show three side cross sections of the
bottom supporting element, the top supporting element and the
ejecting fork element and, more specifically:
[0022] FIG. 8 shows a rest position of the ejecting fork
element;
[0023] FIG. 9 shows an initial opening position of the top
supporting element, the ejecting fork element being held in its
rest position;
[0024] FIG. 10 shows a maximum opening position of the top
supporting element before disengaging the fork element upward
driving means in which, at the end of the coffee capsule unloading
operation, the top supporting element starts to disengage from the
fork element which will return to its rest position by gravity;
[0025] FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the elements illustrated in
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 and, more specifically, said FIG. 11 clearly
shows the two linear cams disengaging the fork element of the top
supporting element during an opening step.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] With reference to the number references of the above
mentioned figures, the delivery head according to the present
invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference
number 1, can be applied to an espresso coffee machine, generally
indicated by the reference number 2, including a base or bottom 3
and an upright 4.
[0027] Said upright comprises, in the inside thereof, driving
devices designed for driving said espresso coffee machine, said
driving devices including, in a per se known manner, a pressurized
hot water source, supplying the delivery head.
[0028] According to the present invention, the delivery head 1
comprises a top supporting element 6, pivoted, through a pivot pin
30, to bottom supporting elements 5, in turn made rigid with the
upright 4 of the coffee machine.
[0029] As shown, the top supporting element 6 comprises a top cover
8, and the bottom supporting element 5 likewise comprises a bottom
cover 7.
[0030] The bottom supporting element 5 comprises moreover a recess
9 provided for housing, during the coffee delivery, and as it will
become more apparent hereinafter, a ground coffee holding capsule
10.
[0031] An operating or driving lever 11 is pivoted, through a pivot
pin 31, to the top supporting element 6 for driving it, so as to
define at least two operating positions: a first position closed on
the bottom supporting element for delivery coffee, and a second
open position for loading and ejecting the coffee capsule 10.
[0032] The closed delivery position can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1,
3, 5 and 6, whereas the capsule loading and ejecting open position
can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 7.
[0033] More specifically, the delivery closed position is stably
held so as to resist against the delivery pressure, by locking
means including a locking lever 12 pivoted to the top supporting
element 6 at a locking lever pin 13 and having a hook shaped
portion 14, affecting a locking peg 15, rigid with said bottom
supporting element 5.
[0034] According to the present invention, the delivery head 1
comprises delivery means, including perforating means for
progressively perforating the coffee capsule 10.
[0035] In particular, said delivery means comprise a delivery
nozzle 16, formed in the bottom supporting element 5, at an outlet
hole formed in the bottom of the coffee capsule 10 housing recess
9.
[0036] In this position, according to the invention, is arranged a
bottom perforating assembly 17, preferably of circular
cross-section tapering configuration, adapted to perforate the
bottom of the coffee capsule 10.
[0037] Such a perforation is obtained as the coffee capsule 10 is
pressed against the bottom perforating assembly 17, under the
pressure provided by an overheated water flow, introduced into said
coffee capsule 10, and providing a downward directed pushing of the
bottom wall of said coffee capsule 10 against the bottom
perforating assembling or element 17.
[0038] The perforating means comprise moreover a top perforating
assembly or element 18, having a quadrangular tapering
cross-section, and being coupled to a support 19 for the top
perforating element 18, in turn coupled to the top supporting
element 6.
[0039] The support 19 for the top perforating element 18 comprises
at least a delivery duct 20, adjoining the top perforating element
18, designed for delivery pressurized water coming from the
pressurized water generating members of the coffee machine.
[0040] More specifically, the top perforating element or assembly
18 affects the top surface of the coffee capsule 10 to perforate
it, as the head is closed, to allow pressurized water supplied by
the delivery duct 20 to enter the capsule 10.
[0041] Said capsule 10 comprises an outer film element, which can
be perforated by the top 18 and bottom 17 perforating elements or
assemblies, and being provided with an inner rigid filtering
construction holding the ground coffee powder.
[0042] At the top thereof, the filtering rigid construction of the
coffee capsule or cartridge 10 comprises a plurality of channels
allowing top water entering the hole formed by the top perforating
element 18 to be distributed at the top.
[0043] Further, according to the present invention, the delivery
head 1 comprises moreover coffee capsule 10 ejecting means,
including a capsule ejecting fork element 21 pivoted to the pivot
pin 30 applied to the bottom supporting element 5 and including an
annular portion 22 designed for encompassing the top of the coffee
capsule 10, which is suitably provided with a perimetrical bearing
edge portion 23.
[0044] The delivery head 1 according to the present invention
operates as follows.
[0045] At the start, the delivery head 10 is arranged in an open
position, shown for example in FIG. 2, in a ready condition for
receiving a coffee capsule or cartridge 10, which is partially
engaged in the capsule recess 9, to locate the powder capsule near
the bottom perforating assembly or element 17, without causing said
perforating element 17 to perforate, at the start, the bottom
surface of the coffee cartridge or capsule 10.
[0046] Then, the head 1 is closed by actuating the lever 11 under a
downward pressure, to cause the top supporting element 6 to be
closed on the bottom supporting element 5.
[0047] As the top supporting element 6 is closed on the bottom
supporting element 5, said top supporting element 18 will perforate
the top surface of the coffee capsule or cartridge 10.
[0048] Then pressurized water is delivered which, through the
delivery duct 20 and the hole formed by the top perforating element
18 can enter the coffee capsule and diffuse therethrough owing to
the provision of suitable channels formed inside said capsule
10.
[0049] Thus, the overheated water pressure will cause a further
perforation of the bottom surface of the capsule by the bottom
perforating element 17, thereby said bottom surface is pressed
downward against the bottom perforating element 17 in a subsequent
operating step, with respect to the perforation of the top surface
of the coffee capsule 10.
[0050] In particular, water passes through the capsule 10 and exits
the delivery nozzle 16 thereby providing the coffee beverage, which
is collected in a cup or the like, not specifically shown.
[0051] At the end of the delivery operation, the top supporting
element 6 is raised by operating the lever 11 pivoted to the pivot
pin 31.
[0052] In particular, as the top supporting element 6 is raised,
also the fork element 21 is raised owing to the provision of tooth
elements formed on the fork element 21 and cooperating with
respective slanted planes or surfaces of said top supporting
element 6, which operate as linear cams 40.
[0053] Thus, the fork element 21 will rise said capsule 10, by its
annular portion 22, which engages at the bottom thereof the bearing
perimetrical edge portion 23 of the capsule 10.
[0054] Upon achieving a set inclination, as is clearly shown in
FIG. 2, the capsule 10 will slide on the fork element 21 and, after
having passed the annular portion 22, will fall inside the fork
element 21 and, through a specifically designed passage, will be
collected in a collecting vessel formed in the upright 2.
[0055] Then, as the mentioned inclination is exceeded, the tooth
element of the fork 21 will be disengaged from the slanted surfaces
of the top supporting element 6.
[0056] Accordingly, the fork element 21 can return to its starting
position in which it abuts against the bottom supporting element
5.
[0057] The annular portion 22 thereof, in particular, will be
arranged at the top edge portion of the capsule 10 recess 9.
[0058] Thus, the coffee machine will be ready for delivery a new
coffee cup.
[0059] It has been found that the invention fully achieves the
intended aim and objects.
[0060] In fact, the invention provides a delivery head for espresso
coffee machines which is adapted to provide a perfect infusion of
the coffee beverage, and, moreover, being of very easy and safe
operation.
[0061] In practicing the invention, the used materials, and the
contingent size and shapes can be any, according to requirements
and the status of the art.
* * * * *