Coffee Grinder Having Filling Device for Refillable Coffee Capsules

Abstract

Capsule coffee and capsule coffee machines have become very popular, mainly using disposable capsules. The amount of metal or plastic waste per kilogram of coffee is relatively large, as the capsules must be disposed of after single use. Refillable capsules are offered as an alternative. A disadvantage of all refillable capsules is that it is difficult and hardly reproducible to fill same with the optimal amount of coffee powder. The aim of this invention is to enable fast, clean and reproducible optimal filling of refillable coffee capsules. This is achieved by a filling device for refillable coffee capsules or a coffee grinder having such a filling device. This consists of an access opening and a filling tube through which ground coffee powder can fall into the capsule, a plunger that is guided in the filling tube and can be moved up and down therein in order to compress the coffee powder that has fallen into the capsule, as well as a movable receptacle for a capsule, which movable receptacle is located underneath the filling tube.

Claims

1. A coffee grinder for grinding coffee, comprising a filling device for refillable coffee capsules, including a filling tube, comprising an access opening, through which the ground coffee can drop into the filling tube, and furthermore comprising a ram, which is guided in the filling tube and can be moved up and down therein so as to compress the ground coffee that has dropped from the coffee grinder through the access opening and the filling tube into the capsule, characterized in that a receptacle for a refillable capsule is provided beneath the filling tube, which on the top side includes a depression for receiving a refillable capsule and which, by way of a structure having the function of a vertical shaft, is mounted in a mount present at the coffee grinder and can be pivoted to the side, so that the capsule in the depression, in both end positions of the pivoting movement, ends up either beneath the filling tube and can be filled, or can be pivoted out from beneath the filling tube so far so as to be removable toward the top.

2. The coffee grinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the mount for the structure having the function of a shaft is either an integral part of the housing of the coffee grinder, or a separate part that is attached to the coffee grinder.

3. The coffee grinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure having the function of a shaft is fixedly mounted in the mount and can rotate freely in the receptacle for the capsule, or that the structure having the function of a shaft can rotate freely in the mount and is fixedly mounted in the receptacle for the capsule.

4. The coffee grinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the depression for the capsule is not directly introduced into the receptacle for the capsule, but comprises a replaceable insert, which is fastened to the pivotable receptacle for the capsule and in which the depression for the capsule is introduced.

5. A coffee grinder for grinding coffee, comprising a filling device for refillable coffee capsules, including a filling tube, comprising an access opening, through which the ground coffee can drop into the filling tube, and furthermore comprising a ram, which is guided in the filling tube and can be moved up and down therein so as to compress the coffee that has dropped from the coffee grinder through the access opening and the filling tube into the capsule, characterized in that a receptacle for a refillable capsule is provided beneath the filling tube, which on the top side includes a depression for receiving a refillable capsule and which comprises a linear guide that allows a linear movement of the receptacle for the capsule, so that the capsule in the depression, in both end positions of the linear movement, ends up either beneath the filling tube, and can be filled, or can be pulled out from beneath the filling tube so far that the capsule can be removed toward the top.

6. The coffee grinder according to claim 5, characterized in that the depression for the capsule is not directly introduced into the receptacle for the capsule, but comprises a replaceable insert, which is fastened to the receptacle for the capsule and in which the depression for the capsule is introduced.

7. A coffee grinder for grinding coffee, comprising a filling device for refillable coffee capsules, including a filling tube comprising an access opening, through which the ground coffee can drop into the filling tube, and furthermore comprising a ram, which is guided in the filling tube and can be moved up and down therein so as to compress the coffee that has dropped from the coffee grinder through the access opening and the filling tube into the capsule, characterized in that a receptacle for a refillable capsule is provided beneath the filling tube (3), which on the top side includes a depression for receiving a refillable capsule, which includes a structure having the function of a horizontal shaft, which in turn is mounted in a mount present at the coffee grinder and allows a horizontal pivoting movement of the receptacle for a refillable capsule, so that the capsule in the depression, in both end positions of the pivoting movement, ends up either beneath the filling tube and can be filled, or can be pivoted out from beneath the filling tube so far so as to be removable toward the top.

8. The coffee grinder according to claim 7, characterized in that the depression for the capsule is not directly introduced into the receptacle for the capsule, but comprises a replaceable insert, which is fastened to the pivotable receptacle for the capsule and in which the depression for the capsule is introduced.

9. The coffee grinder according to claim 7, characterized in that the receptacle for a refillable capsule comprises at least one hook, which can be moved about a horizontal shaft, including a handle, which can be moved in such a way that the oblique surface of the hook, during a movement of the receptacle for a refillable capsule against a surface of the mount that is hollow and has at least one opening, strikes against the edge thereof, moves and, during further movement, the oblique surface of the hook slides completely into the opening, and the hook then moves behind the wall of the hollow mount, thereby holding the receptacle for a refillable capsule in a position in which the capsule is located directly beneath the filling tube, wherein, as a result of the handle being pushed, the hook moves in such a way that the tip thereof is no longer located behind the wall of the hollow mount, but moves so far so as to fit precisely through the opening, thus allowing the receptacle for a refillable capsule to be moved into a different end position in which the capsule can be removed.

10. (canceled)

Description

[0026] The following description references the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Coffee grinder shall mean any kind of coffee grinder that outputs the ground coffee through a discharge opening during the grinding process.

[0028] Access opening shall mean a channel through which the ground coffee is able to slide on its own from the discharge opening of the coffee grinder into the filling tube, as a result of a sufficient inclination of the channel. The access opening is fixedly connected to the coffee grinder during use.

[0029] Filing tube shall mean a space that is closed laterally, but open at the top and bottom, in which a ram can be moved vertically up and down, which has a lateral opening through which the ground coffee can drop out of the access opening into the filing tube and, through this filling tube, into the refillable capsule positioned therebeneath. The filing tube is fixedly connected to the coffee grinder during use.

[0030] Receptacle for the capsule shall mean a component that is fastened the coffee grinder so as to be movable with respect to the filling tube, and thus also the coffee grinder, which includes a depression on the top side into which a refillable capsule can be inserted and which is held in this position due to the shape of the depression. The connection to the coffee grinder is established via a mount at which the receptacle for the capsule is movably mounted or movably held.

[0031] Mount shall mean a structure that establishes the connection between the receptacle for the capsule and the coffee grinder. This mount holds a receptacle for the capsule either directly by way of a corresponding shape, or by means of a further component, such as for example a structure having the function of a shaft. The mount can be a separate component which is attached to the coffee grinder, or it may be an integral part of a component of the coffee grinder, for example of a housing part.

[0032] Replaceable insert shall mean a separate component which includes the depression for the capsule, unless the capsule is directly introduced into the receptacle for the capsule. When a replaceable insert is used, it is always mounted in the receptacle for the capsule.

[0033] Structure having the function of a shaft shall mean either one or more separate shafts, or one or more structures, which can be an integral part of either the receptacle for a refillable capsule (5) or of the mount (7) and which allow a rotational movement of another component about itself.

[0034] The vertical structure having the function of a shaft can either be one or more separate shafts, or one or more structures, which can be an integral part of either the receptacle for a refillable capsule or of the mount.

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred exemplary embodiment of a grinder comprising a receptacle for a capsule which can be pivoted to the side, comprising a coffee grinder (1) including a lateral access opening (2) through which the ground coffee finds its way into the filing tube (3) and the ram (4) guided therein. A receptacle for the capsule (5), which can be pivoted toward one side, is located beneath the filling tube (3). This rotates about a vertical structure having the function of a shaft (6), which is a separate component and attached in a mount (7), for example by comprising an external thread at the lower end and being screwed from beneath into an internal thread in the mount (7). The mount (7) is fixedly connected to the housing of the coffee grinder. This may either be a separate part mounted to the coffee grinder (1), or an integral part of the housing of the coffee grinder. The mount (7) is designed here so as to support the receptacle for the capsule (5) from beneath and extends over the same from above. In this way, the receptacle for the capsule (5) can only be removed from the coffee grinder after the structure having the function of a shaft (6) has been removed. As an alternative, the mount (7) can also be designed so as to only support the receptacle for the capsule (5) from beneath, so that the receptacle for the capsule (5) can be placed from above onto the structure having the function of a shaft (6). This is useful when the depression (9) for receiving the capsule is not arranged in a replaceable insert (8), but directly in the receptacle for the capsule (5). The receptacle for the capsule (5) can then simply be pulled off toward the top to dean or replace it. The structure having the function of a shaft (6) can also be designed so as to not be visible from above or from the side, by being a separate component and mounted from above in the mount.

[0036] In this exemplary embodiment, the receptacle for the capsule (5) comprises a replaceable insert (8), which can be removed toward the top from the receptacle for the capsule (5), including a depression (9), which fits a particular type of capsules. A capsule (10) is inserted into the depression (9). In this example, the receptacle for the capsule (5), the structure having the function of a shaft (6), the mount (7), and the replaceable insert (8) are each intended as separate injection-molded plastic parts. However, these can also be made of metal, for example in the form of light metal die cast parts.

[0037] FIGS. 3 and 4 show another exemplary embodiment comprising a linearly movable receptacle for a capsule, comprising a coffee grinder (1), including a lateral access opening (2) through which the ground coffee find its way into the filing tube (3), and a ram (4) guided therein. A receptacle for the capsule (5), which can be pulled out forwardly in a linear movement from beneath the filing tube (3), is located beneath the filling tube (3). For this purpose, a handle (11) is arranged on the front of the receptacle for the capsule (5). The receptacle for the capsule (5) is guided in a mount (7). The inner cross-section in the movement direction corresponds to that of the receptacle for the capsule (5) so as to guide it with little play during the linear movement. As an alternative, the receptacle for the capsule (5) can also include two lateral grooves in the movement direction, in which two tongues engage, which are provided at the mount (7), so as to decrease the contact surface between the receptacle for the capsule (5) and the mount (7), resulting in easier movability. The linear movement of the receptacle for the capsule (5) can be limited by a stop, so that the capsule can only be pulled out of the mount (7) up to a certain point, which allows the capsule (10) to be removed upwardly out of the receptacle for the capsule (5).

[0038] In this exemplary embodiment, the receptacle for the capsule (5) comprises a replaceable insert (8), which can be removed toward the top from the receptacle for the capsule (5), including a depression (9), which fits a particular type of capsules. A capsule (10) is inserted into the depression (9). In this example, the receptacle for the capsule (5), the replaceable insert (8), and the mount (7) are each intended as separate injection-molded plastic parts. The handle (11) is designed as an integral part of the receptacle for the capsule (5). However, all parts can also be made of metal, for example in the form of light metal die cast parts.

[0039] FIGS. 5 and 6 show another exemplary embodiment comprising a horizontally tiltable receptacle for a capsule, comprising a coffee grinder (1), including a lateral access opening (2) through which the ground coffee find its way into the filing tube (3), and a ram (4) guided therein. A receptacle for the capsule (5), which can be tilted forwardly in a horizontal pivoting movement from beneath the filling tube (3), is located beneath the filling tube (3). This rotates about a horizontal structure having the function of a shaft (6), which is fastened in a mount (7).

[0040] In this exemplary embodiment, the shaft is not continuous, but one shaft stub is located on each side of the mount (7). The receptacle for the capsule (5) is designed as an injection-molded plastic part in this example, and is open at the back. The two side walls of the receptacle for the capsule (5), including the two holes for the shafts, can thus be easily bent outwardly, so as to be pushed over the two shaft stubs and then spring back into the original shapes thereof. As an alternative, a separate shaft can also be used, which extends through the receptacle for the capsule (5) and the mount (7) and is then secured by a screw to prevent axial displacement. In this exemplary embodiment, the receptacle for the capsule (5) has to be held by a locking mechanism in the upper position beneath the filling tube (3). This is achieved in the present example in that the movable handle (11) comprises two hooks (12), which protrude on the back of the receptacle for the capsule (5). By way of a shaft, the hooks (12) are movably connected to the capsule, in each case centrally on the inner sides of the receptacle for the capsule (5). Raising of the handle (11) thus causes the hooks (12) on the back of the receptacle for the capsule (5) to be lowered. The handle (11) including the hooks (12) is designed so as to be loaded by a resilient element, which always returns the hooks (12) to the upper position as soon as the handle (11) is released. When the receptacle for the capsule (5) is pushed into the position beneath the filling tube (3), the two hooks (12) move into the two openings (13) in the mount (7). In the process, the oblique upper surfaces of the hooks (12) are pushed downwardly by the upper edge of the openings (13) when these move into the openings (13). When the hooks (12) have moved completely into the openings (13), the hooks (12) snap upwardly behind the wall of the mount (7) and hold the receptacle for the capsule (5) in the position beneath the filling tube (3). If the handle (11) is raised in this state, the hooks (12) are lowered in the openings (13), and the receptacle for the capsule (5) can be pivoted forwardly. In this exemplary embodiment, the depression (9) for receiving the capsule (10) is implemented in a removable insert (8) in the receptacle for the capsule (5), which can be replaced with another insert when a different type of capsule is to be used.

[0041] In this example, the receptacle for the capsule (5), the mount (7), and the replaceable insert (8) are each intended as separate injection-molded plastic parts. The handle (11) is designed as an integral part of the receptacle for the capsule (5). However, al parts can also be made of metal, for example in the form of light metal die cast parts.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0042] (1) coffee grinder [0043] (2) access opening [0044] (3) filling tube [0045] (4) ram [0046] (5) receptacle for the capsule [0047] (6) structure having the function of a shaft [0048] (7) mount [0049] (8) replaceable insert [0050] (9) depression for the capsule [0051] (10) refillable capsule [0052] (11) handle [0053] (12) hook [0054] (13) openings