HOT BEVERAGE PREPARER WITH A DRAINAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A hot beverage preparer (1) has a flow control system (2) with a water source (14), a brewing unit (40) with a brewing chamber (41) to hold brewing material (51) and an inlet line for supplying water to the brewing chamber (41), a heating device (9) for heating the water supplied to the brewing chamber (41), a pump (8) configured to convey the water from the water source (14) to the brewing chamber (41), a control device (18) to activate and deactivate actuators (8, 9, 72) for preparing a selected beverage, and a drainage device (50) having a collection tray (34) for collecting liquid (AW), with an inlet opening (53) and an outlet opening (52) for draining the collected liquid (AW). The collection tray (34) has a bottom (51) with a slope toward the outlet opening (52) and with at least one trough (56).

Claims

1. A hot beverage preparer (1) comprising a flow control system (2) with a water source (14); a brewing unit (40) having a brewing chamber (41) to hold brewing material (51) and an inlet line for supplying water to the brewing chamber (41), a heating device (9) for heating the water supplied to the brewing chamber (41), a pump (8) configured to convey the water from the water source (14) to the brewing chamber (41), a control device (18) to activate and deactivate actuators (8, 9, 72) for preparing a selected beverage; and a drainage device (50) including a collection tray (34) for collecting liquid (AW), the collection tray having an inlet opening (53), an outlet opening (52) for draining the collected liquid (AW), and a bottom (51) with a slope extending in a direction toward the outlet opening (52) and the bottom (51) of the collection tray (34) is equipped with at least one trough (56).

2. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one trough (56) extends transverse to the slope.

3. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one trough is at least two troughs (56).

4. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 3, wherein the at least two troughs are several troughs (56) arranged successively in the direction of the slope.

5. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 3, wherein the at least two troughs (56) have a distance from one another in the direction of the slope in the range of 1 cm to 5 cm.

6. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one trough (56) has a depth in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

7. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the collection tray has a width transverse to the direction of the slope and the trough (56) or the troughs (56) are arranged across the entire width of the collection tray.

8. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 7, wherein the troughs (56) have interruptions (59) with a width of 1 mm to 5 mm.

9. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one trough (56) is curved in a bow-like shape, having a convex side (57) facing the outlet opening (52).

10. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one trough (56) is configured to have a sawtooth shaped profile with a steep flank (61) facing away from the outlet (52) and a more gently descending flank facing the outlet (52), the more gently descending flank being less steep than the steep flank.

11. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 1, wherein the bottom (52) has a bottom plane (E), with at least one recess deviating from the bottom plane forming the at least one trough (56) or with bulges or protrusions (60) deviating from the bottom plane (E) delimiting the at least one trough.

12. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 11, wherein the at least one trough (56) consists of a combination of recesses and bulges (60).

13. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 12, wherein each of the recesses transitions into an elevation (60) toward the outlet opening.

14. The hot beverage preparer according to claim 11, wherein the at least one trough (56) is at least two troughs formed from a combination of recesses and bulges (60), so that at least one of the at least two troughs (56) is configured as a recess and at least one additional trough (56) of the at least two troughs (56) is configured as a bulge (60).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the drawings,

[0023] FIG. 1: shows a hot beverage preparer in a partial, cross-sectional representation;

[0024] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the drainage device in various configurations; and

[0025] FIG. 4: shows the bottom of the collection tray in a detailed view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows the example of a hot beverage preparer 1 configured as an upright unit, with all relevant components for the preparation of a hot beverage. The beverage preparer 1 comprises inter alia a housing 11, in which the supply container 71 for coffee beans is located, with the grinding unit 70 with motor located underneath, the water container 14 and also a possibility for placement of the flow control system 2. In the front region of the hot beverage preparer 1 there is a height-adjustable outlet 20 in which a plurality of sampling devices are accommodated. The sampling device 21 represents an outlet line or outlet nozzle 21 for dispensing coffee beverages. A brewing unit 40 with a brewing chamber 41 in the interior of the device 1 is used for preparing the beverage, wherein the coffee powder is introduced into the brewing chamber 41 and is subsequently flooded with hot water, so that the finished coffee beverage is dispensed to the outlet line and through the dispensing nozzle 21. In this configuration the outlet nozzles 21 are height-adjustable so that they can be adapted in height to a drinking vessel placed upon the placement surface 33, without any spraying of the beverage occurring upon dispensing. A drip plate 32 equipped with openings and slots forms the upper termination of the placement surface 33 in order to divert residual liquid into a collection tray 34 provided underneath the drip plate 32. Furthermore, the hot beverage preparer 1 features a grounds container 35 in which the consumed material, such as the compressed coffee “cake” can be discarded after completion of beverage preparation. The device 1 further comprises a control unit 18 configured to control the individual functional assemblies, such as the pumps 8, valves V and heating apparatus 9 and grinding mill 70, when used, as are each necessary for preparation of the selected beverage. The control unit 18, which is configured as a microcontroller μC with an associated memory, in this embodiment is further configured to control the valves V of the flow control system 2 so that the hot water is pumped through the brewing chamber 41.

[0027] The brewing chamber 41 is of cylindrical configuration in all the embodiments explained herein, whereas the layering of substances S1, S3 and S3 is viewed as progressing from the front side of the bottom. The upper front side is sealed with the brewing screen 43 after the filling step, wherein the brewing screen 43 presses down the substances in the brewing chamber 41. The hot water is introduced into the inlet 42 at the bottom front side, wherein the brewing liquid moves through the brewing sieve 43 and preferably through a downstream pressure valve 46 to the outlet nozzle 21.

[0028] The operating and display apparatus 19 is arranged on the outside, at the front wall of the housing 11. In this example it is configured with a touch panel and a display or as a touch screen to enable inputs with respect to the beverage selection and additional settings relating to water quantity, taste intensity or type of bean. The operating and display apparatus 19 is connected to the control unit 18 and/or to the microprocessor μC for the exchange of data.

[0029] The control unit 18 with a microcontroller μC and a memory unit MEM is used for preparation of the beverage, wherein the activation of the heating unit 9, the valves of the valve apparatus V, and also of the pump 8, the brewing chamber 40 with the displaceable brewing chamber 41 and other components, if necessary, such as a grinding mill 70 proceeds by means of corresponding signal connections (not depicted).

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the outlet device 50 in a detailed view. The collection tray 34 as central functional component comprises a tray bottom 51 configured with a slope to the outlet opening 52. The slope operates like a funnel in order to guide the outlet water AW arriving in the collection tray 34 to the outlet opening 52. The tray 34 is open on top and provides the inlet opening 53 for the arriving outlet water AW. In the illustration the diagonal diameter of the inlet opening 53 is bolded in order to illustrate the maximum, large cross-section. Several troughs 56 are arranged in the collection tray 34 and/or on the bottom 51 of the collection tray 34. In the illustrated example the troughs 56 extend across the entire width of the collection tray 34. The outlet opening 52 is outlet connected to the outlet tube 54 provided for connection to an outlet water channel. A one-way valve 55 can be arranged in the outlet opening 52 or directly behind it in order to prevent the exit of outlet water from the collection tray 34 when it is pulled out from the device 1. These named components and their arrangement are largely evident also in FIG. 1. In the illustrated example, the troughs 56 are of a curved configuration, wherein the bulging of the apex region 57 points to the outlet 52.

[0031] FIG. 3 depicts the drainage device 50 in a schematic view having a configuration with straight troughs 56. The collection tray 34 features a bottom 51 with a slope toward the outlet opening 52. In this case the outlet opening 52 is located preferably at the lowest point in the collection tray 34, which is not so clearly depicted in the sketch. The line 54 is connected to the outlet opening 52 and guides the filtered outlet water AWF to the outside and can be connected to an outlet channel. Possible sources of the outlet water AW can be the beverage outlet 20 and/or the outlet nozzle 21 and the brewing unit 40. Additional components, such as drain lines or valves V for draining rinse liquid or cleaning solution are also possible sources. The outlet water AW from these sources moves into the collection tray 34 and thus to the bottom 51, which in this example is located beneath the inlet opening 53.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts a section of the bottom 51 in a side view. The surface 58 located on the inside of the collection tray 34 is provided with protrusions to create a trough 56. The web-like protrusions 60 are curved, each with an apex region 57. The protrusions 60 are provided with a steep flank 61, in this case, roughly at a right angle to the plane E of the bottom surface 58; this steep flank is positioned opposite the flow direction of the fouled outlet water AW. The top side 63 of the particular protrusions 60 is configured as slanted and gently descending. This produces a sawtooth-shaped configuration of the flanges 60. The produced troughs 56 herein are each configured as approximately sawtooth-shaped or as sawtooth-shaped. The interruptions 59 (FIG. 2) can be located in the apex region 57 or in the end regions 62 of the curved bar segments 60. In an additional, not illustrated embodiment, the troughs 56 can be molded onto or milled into the collection tray bottom 51. Thus no material protrudes from the plane E of the surface 58.