IMPROVED WATER-INJECTION CHAMBER FOR CAPSULE COFFEE MACHINES

Abstract

The invention provides a water-injection chamber for capsule coffee machines that makes it possible to regulate and maintain constant a predetermined temperature of the water to be injected into the coffee capsule, also facilitating the adjustment of the input flow of hot water into the brewing chamber of said coffee machines, making it possible to adjust the temperature and the flow of water to be injected into a capsule according to the specific needs of each capsule without needing to modify or install new elements that increase the production cost and complicate the manufacturing process.

Claims

1. An improved water injection chamber for capsule coffee makers, being those of the type that comprise a boiler where water is heated, connected by means of a duct to a source of tap water or to a reservoir, and an injection chamber for injecting hot water into an infusion chamber containing the coffee capsule, the injection chamber being formed by a lead-free brass block and comprising: an inlet duct for hot water coming from the boiler, a water outlet duct situated downstream from the inlet duct, directing the return water to the boiler, a channel extending from one end to the other of the chamber perpendicular to the ducts, said ducts terminating in the channel, with a fluidic communication between the water inlet and outlet ducts of the chamber and the channel, characterized in that the channel houses in its interior a nozzle regulating the flow rate of water entry into the infusion chamber, cooperating with a connection pipe of an activation means for the water entry into said infusion chamber.

2. The water injection chamber according to claim 1, further comprising a closure at the upper end of the channel and in correspondence with the nozzle closes the channel at the top and serves as a means of adjusting the nozzle.

3. The water injection chamber according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises in its interior a filter for filtering the hot water going to the infusion chamber.

4. The water injection chamber according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet duct to the chamber comprises in its interior a temperature regulating nozzle that controls the temperature of said chamber, modifying the flow rate of entry of hot water into the interior of the chamber and into the channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1: a schematic view of a capsule coffee maker, comprising the chamber of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2: a schematic perspective view of a section of the injection chamber.

[0015] FIG. 3: a cross-sectional view of the injection chamber.

[0016] FIG. 4: a) a schematic view of a flow regulating nozzle; b) a schematic view of a temperature regulating nozzle.

[0017] FIG. 5: a graph showing the results of a test according to Example 1, Configuration 1.

[0018] FIG. 6: a graph showing the results of a test according to Example 1, Configuration 2.

[0019] FIG. 7: a graph showing the results of a test according to Example 1, Configuration 3.

[0020] FIG. 8: a graph showing the results of a test according to the Comparative Example 2.

[0021] In the context of the disclosure, “injection chamber” means the chamber where the water is injected and subsequently goes to an infusion chamber, where the product capsule is situated.

[0022] As can be seen in FIG. 1, capsule coffee makers comprise a boiler (1) where the water is heated, being connected by a duct (2) to a source of tap water or to a reservoir, and an injection chamber (3) for injecting the hot water into an infusion chamber (not shown), where the coffee capsule is situated. Usually, the capsule is accommodated in movable manner, so that the capsule can be loaded and extracted during each operation.

[0023] As mentioned previously, the injection chamber (3) is formed by a brass block.

[0024] In this regard, the brass material (lead-free) is specially adapted to the manufacturing of the chamber of the disclosure thanks to its good thermal conduction properties, being at the same time resistant to corrosion. Furthermore, the use of this material obviates the need for coatings and reduces the need for maintenance of the injection chamber. Since it is an easily reusable product, which can be melted and cast as many times as needed, the present chamber is a recyclable element.

[0025] As is seen in FIG. 1, the injection chamber of the disclosure comprises an inlet duct (4) for hot water coming from the boiler and a water outlet duct (5) located downstream from the inlet duct (4) and directing the return water to the boiler (1).

[0026] As is seen in FIG. 2, the chamber of the disclosure comprises a channel (6) extending from one end to the other of the chamber (3) and perpendicular to the ducts (4, 5), said ducts (4, 5) terminating in said channel (6). As is shown, a fluidic communication exists between the water inlet and outlet ducts (4, 5) of the chamber and the channel (6).

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a zone accessible to the chamber (3) by the user, in the upper part of the chamber (3) in the figure, this channel (6) comprises a nozzle (7) regulating the flow rate of water entering the infusion chamber (not shown), cooperating with a connection pipe (8) for a means of activating the entry of water into said infusion chamber, such as an electric valve. At the upper end of the channel (6) and near the nozzle (7), a means of closure (9) closes the channel (6) at the top and serves as a means of adjusting the nozzle (7).

[0028] In one embodiment, the nozzle (7) comprises a filter to filter the hot water going to the infusion chamber.

[0029] Thus, a simple changing of the flow adjusting nozzle (7) allows a modification of the flow of hot water going from the injector to the infusion chamber (not shown), adapting that flow to the specific characteristics of each capsule. The situation of this nozzle (7) in a zone of the chamber of the disclosure that is accessible to the user facilitates this change, it not being necessary to modify the entire chamber of the disclosure for this purpose.

[0030] For its part, the conduit (4) for entry of water into the chamber (3) comprises inside it a nozzle that regulates the temperature (11) of said chamber, making it possible to control the temperature of the chamber by modifying the flow rate of hot water coming into the interior of the chamber and to the channel (6).

[0031] The combination of the water inlet and outlet conduits (4, 5) of the chamber (3) and the channel (6) allows the heated water arriving from the boiler (1) to maintain the chamber (3) at a desired temperature, adequate for the preparation of the beverage, preventing cold water from arriving in the chamber due to the water movement through the ducts (4, 5) from the boiler (3), thanks to a closed circuit of hot water circulation, using a thermal siphoning effect, when the coffee maker is turned on and in a resting mode.

[0032] When the operating cycle of the coffee maker is activated in order to dispense the hot beverage, that is, when the electric valve is operated for example, hot water can go from the nozzle (7) to the exit opening (10) of the injection chamber in fluidic communication with the infusion chamber, where the coffee capsule is located, allowing the coffee to emerge.

[0033] When this process is finished, the same electric valve, operating through the connection pipe (8) on the nozzle (7), closes the passage of water to the injection chamber, so that the hot water is maintained in said circuit created by the channels (4, 5) and the channel (6).

EXAMPLES

[0034] The following summarizes the tests and comparative tests carried out with the injection chamber of the disclosure and a conventional chamber in regard to the stabilization of the outlet temperature of hot water at the infusion chamber.

Example 1: Temperature Test with the Chamber of the Disclosure Installed in a Conventional Capsule Coffee Maker

[0035] This test evaluated the thermal stability of the mechanical components of the coffee maker by means of temperature probes installed at 4 measurement points for a conventional capsule coffee maker of two groups or services: injection chamber group 1, coffee outlet group 1, injection chamber group 2, coffee outlet group 2. The data of the probes was collected with a Picolog® instrument.

[0036] The test conditions were as follows: [0037] Ambient temperature: 21° C. [0038] Coffee maker used: coffee maker with 2 automatic ejector groups having an injection chamber according to the disclosure [0039] Capsules used: Lavazza Blue [0040] Number of cycles in each configuration: 5 [0041] Flow rate: 40 mL. The flow rate for all the tests is the same, only changing the temperatures and the dispensing time to reach the preconfigured flow rate due to the flow nozzle [0042] Temperature nozzles: different for each group [0043] Flow nozzles: the same in both groups

[0044] Configuration 1:

TABLE-US-00001 Diameter of temperature nozzle Diameter of flow nozzle Group 1 3.5 mm 0.3 mm Group 2 2.5 mm

[0045] The data collected is shown in the following Table 1 and the results are represented in the graph of FIG. 5.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Group 1 Group 2 T chamber T outlet T chamber T outlet Cycle 1 (° C.) 1 (° C.) (2) (° C.) 2 (° C.) 1 103.63 95.86 101.58 93.92 2 103.78 95.88 101.87 93.75 3 103.81 95.79 102.01 93.32 Mean 103.74 95.84 101.82 93.66 Deviation ± 0.18 0.09 0.43 0.6

[0046] It is concluded from the data shown and from FIG. 5 that the dispensing time is long, around 65 s, due to the fact that the flow nozzle of 0.3 mm impedes a smooth movement of the coffee. The temperature of the injection chamber is constant the whole time in both groups. The coffee outlet temperatures are different, due to the temperature nozzles of each group, group 2 having a nozzle of 2.5 mm diameter being always at lower temperature.

[0047] Configuration 2:

TABLE-US-00003 Diameter of temperature nozzle Diameter of flow nozzle Group 1 3.5 mm 0.5 mm Group 2 2.5 mm

[0048] The data collected is shown in the following Table 2 and the results are represented in the graph of FIG. 6.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 Group 1 Group 2 T chamber T outlet T chamber T outlet Cycle 1 (° C.) 1 (° C.) (2) (° C.) 2 (° C.) 1 101.23 94.08 99.75 93.91 2 100.26 94.64 99.22 93.38 3 99.68 94.02 98.81 94.77 4 99.42 94.18 98.39 94.54 5 99.09 94.35 98.36 93.58 Mean 99.93 93.47 98.90 93.60 Deviation ± 2.14 0.09 1.39 1.39

[0049] It is concluded from the data shown and from FIG. 6 that the dispensing time is short, around 25 s, due to the fact that the flow nozzle of 0.5 mm allows a movement of the liquid under better conditions than the preceding one and a greater flow rate. The appearance at the coffee outlet is creamy. The temperature of the injection chamber is constant the whole time in both groups. The coffee outlet temperature is maintained, with a minimal deviation within the optimal parameters. One could say that the configuration of group 1 is ideal for this capsule.

[0050] Configuration 3:

TABLE-US-00005 Diameter of temperature nozzle Diameter of flow nozzle Group 1 3.5 mm 0.75 mm Group 2 2.5 mm

[0051] The data collected is shown in the following Table 3 and the results are represented in the graph of FIG. 7.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 3 Group 1 Group 2 T chamber T outlet T chamber T outlet Cycle 1 (° C.) 1 (° C.) (2) (° C.) 2 (° C.) 1 101.10 90.06 98.72 90.78 2 100.18 93.04 98.76 92.19 3 99.72 91.10 98.87 92.61 4 99.11 89.04 98.60 92.46 5 98.98 92.91 98.98 92.63 Mean 99.81 91.23 98.78 92.13 Deviation ± 2.12 4.00 0.38 1.83

[0052] It is concluded from the data shown and from FIG. 7 that the dispensing time is reduced to around 20 s, due to the fact that the flow nozzle of 0.75 mm allows the coffee to move better and increases the flow rate. The appearance at the coffee outlet is creamy. The temperature of the injection chamber is constant the whole time in both groups. This configuration would be good for a type of coffee only of 2 cups.

Comparative Example 2

[0053] A comparison is carried out for the outlet temperature stability between the group that comprises the chamber of the disclosure and another one that comprises a conventional chamber. The results are shown in FIG. 8.

[0054] In this figure (at left) one observes that, in the case of the conventional chamber, the outlet temperature decreases in each dispensing, starting from 89° C. for the first dispensing and reaching 80° C. in the fifth dispensing. However, in the group with the chamber of the disclosure (at right), one notices that the outlet temperature is maintained stable, one dispensing after another.