MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES

Abstract

A machine to prepare beverages comprises at least a source (12) of water, fluidly connected, by means of a circuit (22), to a filtering container (13) suitable to contain an aromatic mixture (11) positionable on each occasion and to be subjected to brewing, a pump (30) to feed the water from said source (12) to said filtering container (13), a heating device (21) for the water, temperature sensor means (28) suitable to measure the temperature of the water in said circuit (22) downstream of said heating device (21), and a control and command unit (34).

Claims

1. Machine to prepare beverages comprising at least a source (12) of water, fluidly connected, by means of a circuit (22), to a filtering container (13) suitable to contain an aromatic mixture (11) positionable on each occasion and to be subjected to brewing, characterized in that said machine comprises a pump (30) disposed along the circuit (22) to feed the water from said source (12) to said filtering container (13), a heating device (21) for the water, temperature sensor means (28) suitable to measure the temperature of the water in said circuit (22) downstream of said heating device (21), and a control and command unit (34), functionally connected to a user interface (35) for the selection of a type and a quantity of beverage to be prepared, and configured to receive the data detected by said temperature sensor means (28) and to condition the functioning of said pump (30) and said heating device (21), optimizing the temperature of the heated water, wherein said heating device (21) comprises a boiler (24) provided with a conduit (25) defining inside it a transit channel (25a) for the water and comprising a first smaller branch (24a) and a second larger branch (24b), wherein said second larger branch (24b) develops along a substantially vertical direction and is disposed downstream of said smaller branch (24a) along the path from said source (12) to said filtering container (13), wherein said smaller branch (24a) has at least one substantially horizontal segment, having an angle with respect to said larger branch (24b).

2. Machine as in claim 1, characterized in that said boiler (24) is substantially L-shaped.

3. Machine as in claim 1, characterized in that said boiler (24) is substantially J-shaped or U-shaped, wherein said first smaller branch (24a) extends at least partly along a vertical direction substantially parallel to said second larger branch (24b).

4. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said boiler (24) comprises an accumulation zone (24c) for the water, disposed upstream of said second larger branch (24b) along the path of the water.

5. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said boiler (24) comprises at least a heating element (26) associated with said conduit (25) and configured to heat the water inside it.

6. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said heating device (21) comprises two heating elements (26, 27) associated with said boiler (24), wherein said heating elements (26, 27) are selectively able to be activated by said control and command unit (34) autonomously and independently with respect to each other.

7. Machine as in claim 4, characterized in that said heating elements (26, 27) have different powers.

8. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a flowmeter (32) disposed upstream of said pump (30) and connected to said control and command unit (34).

9. Method for preparing a beverage in a machine (10) for preparing beverages comprising a source (12) of water, fluidly connected, by means of a circuit (22), to a filtering container (13) suitable to contain an aromatic mixture (11) positionable on each occasion and to be subjected to brewing, characterized in that said method provides to: receive, in a control and command unit (34), a command concerning the organoleptic characteristics and the quantity of a beverage to be prepared, selected by a user by means of a user interface (35); activate a pump (30) to feed the water in said circuit (22) and through a heating device (21), at least as far as temperature sensor means (28); determine at least a temperature value to which to heat the water in said circuit (22) as a function of the beverage selected; deactivate the pump (30) and activate said heating device (21) to pre-heat the water inside it until the temperature of the heated water detected by said temperature sensor means (28) corresponds to said temperature value determined; activate said pump again (30) to feed the heated water into said filtering container (13) to perform the infusion of said aromatic mixture (11) and dispense the quantity of selected beverage into a receptacle (15); and at the end of the delivery operation of the beverage, to restore the conditions of said machine (10) and remove the residual water from said circuit (22).

10. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that said step of restoring the conditions of the machine (10) provides to deactivate said pump (30) and to keep said heating device (21) activated for a period of time suitable to empty and/or dry said circuit (22).

11. Method as in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the activation of said heating device (21) provides to selectively switch on/off two or more heating elements (26, 27) autonomously and independently with respect to each other.

12. Method as in any of the claims from 9 to 11, characterized in that the activation of said pump (30) comprises regulating the flow rate of said pump (30) as a function of the type and quantity of beverage selected.

13. Method as in any of the claims from 9 to 12, characterized in that the activation of said pump (30) comprises regulating the flow rate of said pump (30) as a function of the temperature detected by said temperature sensor means (28).

14. Method as in any of the claims from 9 to 13, characterized in that it provides to activate/deactivate selectively said pump (30) to deliver the water in pulses on said aromatic mixture (11), so as to obtain a particularly slow extraction of the substances from said aromatic mixture (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0088] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a machine for preparing beverages, according to embodiments described here;

[0089] FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic view of a component of the beverage preparation machine in FIG. 1;

[0090] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the control system of the beverage preparation machine according to embodiments described here.

[0091] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0092] Forms of embodiment described here with reference to FIG. 1 concern a machine 10 for the preparation and delivery of a hot or cold beverage, starting from an aromatic mixture 11 in powder form or ground, by brewing, infusing it or mixing it with water.

[0093] According to some embodiments, the machine 10 according to the invention allows a user to select the type and quantity of beverage to be prepared by means of a user interface 35.

[0094] According to some embodiments, the user interface 35 can comprise pressure keys, selection knobs, and/or a touch screen, by means of which the user can select the intensity of the beverage to be dispensed, for example between light, normal, or strong, and the quantity thereof, that is, the size of a receptacle 15 to be used, such as a jug, half jug, cup, mug, glass, or suchlike.

[0095] The machine 10 comprises a tank 12 for the water, fluidly connected to a filtering container 13 suitable to contain the aromatic mixture 11 to be infused, and to an outlet for the beverage 14 through which the infused beverage can be dispensed into the suitable receptacle 15.

[0096] According to some embodiments, the output for the beverage 14 is associated with dispensing means 41, for example a valve 48, which can be selectively activated to open or close the output for beverage 14, and/or to regulate the flow rate through it.

[0097] The tank 12 can generally be a container configured to contain a certain quantity of water to prepare a beverage. For example, the volume of the tank 12 can be equal to at least the quantity of water needed to fill a jug.

[0098] The tank 12 can be provided with an introduction aperture 12a, associated with a lid 60, through which water can be introduced thereto, and an outlet aperture 17 from which the desired quantity of water can be taken on each occasion.

[0099] According to some embodiments, the tank 12 can be positioned inside a housing 20 of the machine 10, or attached thereto, possibly removably, to be subjected to cleaning and/or for filling.

[0100] According to a variant, the tank 12 can be associated with a continuous water supply source.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the filtering container 13 for the mixture can have a funnel shape, and a filtering element 18 can be inserted therein, suitable to retain the solids of the aromatic mixture 11, preventing them from being dispensed together with the infused drink.

[0102] According to some embodiments, the filtering container 13 can be provided with manual or automated closing valves 48, to leave the aromatic mixture 11 infusing for a period of time before dispensing the brewed beverage into the receptacle 15.

[0103] According to some embodiments, access means 61 and/or movement means can be provided, configured to allow access to the filtering container 13 in order to introduce on each occasion a desired quantity of aromatic mixture 11 and/or remove it together with the possible filtering element 18 at the end of delivery of the beverage prepared.

[0104] According to some embodiments, the machine 10 comprises a diffusion head 19, disposed above the filtering container 13 and configured to dispense the water arriving from the tank 12 above the aromatic mixture 11 so as to increase the contact between the water and the aromatic mixture 11.

[0105] According to some embodiments, the diffusion head 19 can be configured to dispense the water in a shower, jets, mist, or also possibly in a continuous flow.

[0106] The machine 10 also comprises a heating device 21, disposed between the tank 12 and the filtering container 13, and configured to heat the water in transit to the desired temperature.

[0107] According to some embodiments, the heating device 21 is disposed along the hydraulic circuit 22 that connects the tank 12 to the diffusion head 19.

[0108] According to some embodiments, the heating device 21 comprises a boiler 24 having at least one conduit 25 defining a transit channel 25a for the water to be heated, and at least one heating element 26 associated with it.

[0109] According to some embodiments, the transit channel 25a defines a segment of the circuit 22. According to possible solutions, the internal walls of the transit channel 25a have a suitable shape to extend the useful heat exchange surface.

[0110] According to some embodiments, the transit channel 25a is internally lined with a material which does not allow the sedimentation of limescale.

[0111] According to other embodiments, the boiler 24 comprises at least one first branch 24a and at least one second branch 24b.

[0112] The second branch 24b is disposed downstream of the first branch 24a along the path of the water from the tank 12 to the diffusion head 19.

[0113] According to some embodiments, the second branch 24b, or larger branch has a longitudinal extension greater than the first branch 24a, or smaller branch.

[0114] According to some embodiments, the two branches 24a, 2b have their respective axis of longitudinal development not aligned along a common straight line.

[0115] In other words, a branch, in particular the larger branch 24b, develops substantially in a vertical direction, for the reasons already stated, and for what reported in the following, while the other branch, that is the smaller branch 24a, has at least one substantially horizontal segment, or at least partly curved, having an angle with respect to the larger branch 24b.

[0116] According to some embodiments, the larger branch 24b is disposed in a vertical direction, so as to reduce thermal losses to a minimum.

[0117] When the water flows in a vertical segment, in fact, it is in direct contact with all the internal walls of the transit channel 25a, so that the heat exchange surface is maximized.

[0118] In the horizontal segments, on the contrary, if the pressure and/or the flow of the fed water is not high enough, the quantity of water fed could be insufficient to fill the section of the transit channel 25a, thus reducing the usable heat exchange surface.

[0119] The inlet of the boiler 24 in particular is positioned at a lower height than its output.

[0120] According to some embodiments, the length of the larger branch 24b is predominant with respect to the overall vertical extension of the circuit 22. In other words, the larger branch 24b extends for the most part of the vertical longitudinal development of the circuit 22.

[0121] According to some embodiments, the larger branch 24b extends substantially to the proximity of the diffusion head 19, so as to eliminate or at least reduce as much as possible the thermal losses downstream of the larger branch 24b.

[0122] In this way it is ensured that the water delivered into the filtering container 13 is on each occasion at the desired and required temperature.

[0123] According to some embodiments, the boiler 24 can be L-shaped, providing that the smaller branch 24a is disposed at least partly along a horizontal direction, while the larger branch 24b develops substantially vertically.

[0124] According to possible embodiments, the boiler 24 comprises an accumulation zone 24c, in which possible water residues present in the boiler 24 can be collected at the end of the water supply.

[0125] The accumulation zone 24c is preferably disposed upstream of the larger vertical branch 24b along the path of the water.

[0126] According to some embodiments, for example in the case where the boiler 24 is L-shaped, the accumulation zone 24c can also comprise at least a part of the first branch 24a.

[0127] According to some embodiments, the boiler 24 can comprise two branches 24a, 24b, both disposed along a vertical direction, located on one side and the other of the accumulation zone 24c which defines the intermediate connecting zone.

[0128] According to possible variant embodiments, the boiler 24 can be U-shaped or J-shaped.

[0129] The U or J shape is particularly advantageous since the water possibly present inside tends to accumulate in the accumulation zone 24c, allowing it to be dried by activating the heating element 26.

[0130] According to some embodiments, the heating device 21 comprises two or more heating elements 26, 27 disposed on opposite sides of the conduit 25.

[0131] According to other embodiments, the heating elements 26, 27 can be electrical resistances disposed along most of the longitudinal development of the boiler 24, in a linear manner or in a spiral.

[0132] According to a variant, the heating elements 26, 27 can be activated so that they reach the target temperature, or to modulate their temperature.

[0133] According to some embodiments, the heating elements 26, 27 are autonomous and independent of one another. In particular, the heating elements 26, 27 can be selectively fed according to the temperature to which the water in transit is to be heated and/or depending on the state of progress of the beverage preparation operation.

[0134] According to some embodiments, the heating elements 26, 27 have the same power, that is, each one corresponds to 50% of the overall power of the heating device 21.

[0135] According to possible variants, the heating elements 26, 27 have different powers from each other, thus allowing a further modulation of the heating temperature.

[0136] For example, according to possible implementations, the heating elements 26, 27 can have proportional powers, for example 60%-40%, 70%-30%, 75%-25%, 80%-20%, or intermediate values.

[0137] According to some embodiments, the machine 10 also comprises temperature sensor means 28 disposed along the circuit 22 and configured to detect the temperature of the water in transit.

[0138] According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor means 28 are disposed downstream of the boiler 24 so as to detect the temperature of the water in transit near the area in which it comes into contact with the aromatic mixture 11.

[0139] According to possible variants, the temperature sensor means 28 can be positioned inside the boiler 24, possibly in correspondence with the exit end of the transit channel 25a.

[0140] According to other variants, temperature sensor means 28 can be provided both integrated in the boiler 24 or in the heating device 21, and also disposed downstream thereof and possibly upstream as well, so as to be able to regulate the supply of the one or more heating elements 26, 27 also depending on the difference in water temperature detected upstream and downstream of the heating device 21.

[0141] According to possible solutions, the temperature sensor means 28 can comprise a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) resistance, located inside a pipe defining a segment of the circuit 22.

[0142] According to some embodiments, the machine 10 comprises a pump 30 disposed along the circuit 22 and configured to draw the water from the tank 12 and feed it through the boiler 24 toward the filtering container 13.

[0143] According to some embodiments, the pump 30 can be selectively activated to take on each occasion the quantity of water suitable for preparing the quantity of beverage selected by the user.

[0144] According to some embodiments, the pump 30 is of the adjustable flow type, so that it is possible to regulate the speed of the water that passes through the boiler 24 and through the aromatic mixture 11.

[0145] According to some embodiments, the machine 10 comprises flow detection means disposed in the tank 12 and/or along the circuit 22 to measure the quantity of water in transit through it.

[0146] According to some embodiments, the flow detection means comprise a flowmeter 32.

[0147] According to some embodiments, the flowmeter 32 is located upstream of the pump 30, allowing a faster and more efficient detection of the flow rate and therefore a dynamic and real-time regulation of the pump 30.

[0148] According to some embodiments, the machine 10 comprises a control and command unit 34, configured to regulate the functioning of the heating device 21 and the pump 30 on the basis of selection made by a user, to heat the water to a temperature suitable for preparation of the selected beverage.

[0149] According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 34 can comprise, or be connected to, a memory unit 33 in which the optimum temperature and/or water speed values can be memorized for each beverage that can be selected by the user, that is, for each combination defined according to the type of aromatic mixture 11, and/or the intensity of the beverage and/or the selected quantity of the beverage.

[0150] The regulation of the temperature makes it possible to prepare, in addition to coffee, tea-based beverages or other vegetable substances, which generally require lower infusion temperatures than those required for coffee.

[0151] By way of example, while for a coffee drink a water temperature preferably comprised between about 92 C. and about 96 C. is required, to prepare tea a water temperature comprised between about 70 C. and about 90 C. is preferable, depending on the quality of the tea used.

[0152] According to some embodiments, described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the control and command unit 34 is also connected to the temperature sensor means 28 and to the flowmeter 32 to receive the data detected by them.

[0153] The control and command unit 34 is also configured to compare the data received with the values memorized in the memory unit 33.

[0154] Depending on the selection made by the user on the type and/or quantity of beverage to be prepared, and on the basis of the data received from the temperature sensor means 28 and the flowmeter 32, the control and command unit 34 can regulate the flow rate of the pump 30 and/or the switching on and off of the heating element 26, 27 of the heating device 21 to obtain the beverage selected.

[0155] According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 34 receives in real time the data relating to the flow rate and temperature of the water and dynamically regulates, with a feedback control, the pump 30 and the heating device 21.

[0156] According to a variant, the control and command unit can regulate the flow rate of the pump 30 and activate the heating device 21 by means of a PID type regulation system, or by other suitable means.

[0157] According to these embodiments, for example, the PID regulation system can receive as inputs the flow rate of the water detected by the flowmeter 32 and the temperature of the water detected by the temperature sensor means 38 and supply as outputs the flow rate of the pump 30 and the power supply of the heating element 26, 27 of the heating device 21.

[0158] In particular, given the same temperature of the heated water, the control and command unit 34 can decrease or increase the flow rate of the pump 30, and hence the water speed, respectively, to extract more or fewer substances from the aromatic mixture 11, and thus regulate the intensity of the beverage.

[0159] For example, it can be provided that the control and command unit 34, to modify the flow rate, acts on the feed power of the pump 30, in such a way as to increase or decrease the number of revs of the motor of the pump.

[0160] According to other embodiments, the pump 30 can be selectively activated/deactivated to deliver the water in pulses, so as to perform a pour-over infusion, that is, to obtain a particularly slow extraction of the substances from the aromatic mixture 11.

[0161] According to other embodiments, the control and command unit 34 can selectively switch on and off the at least one heating element 26, 27 according to a certain duty-cycle, so as to keep it at the suitable temperature.

[0162] According to other embodiments, the control and command unit 34 autonomously and independently switches on and off each heating element 26, 27, so as to suitably modulate the temperature of the heating device 21 according to the operations to be performed.

[0163] For example, the temperature of the heating device 21 can be modulated on the basis of slow preheating operations, temperature maintenance, high temperature delivery, or other.

[0164] The possibility of dynamically modifying both the flow rate of the pump 30 and also the temperature of the heating device 21, and hence of the water, allows to optimize the extraction of the substances of the aromatic mixture 11 to obtain the desired intensity of the beverage as selected by the user, without needing to provide a pre-infusion step, thus meeting the requirements for high quality.

[0165] According to possible variants, however, it can be provided to perform a pre-infusion step of the aromatic mixture 11 before dispensing the brewed beverage.

[0166] According to other embodiments, the housing 20 is provided with a support base 37 for the receptacle 15.

[0167] According to possible variants, the support base 37 can be provided with additional heating means 38 which can be selectively activated by the control and command unit 34 to keep the beverage dispensed in the receptacle 15 warm.

[0168] For example, the additional heating means 38 can comprise a Positive Coefficient Temperature (PCT) resistance.

[0169] According to possible embodiments, not shown, other support bases can be provided, possibly folding or mobile, configured to bring the receptacle 15 closer to the outlet of the beverage 14 so as to prevent any splashes of the beverage, if the receptacle 15 used is either a cup, or a glass.

[0170] The embodiments described here also concern a method for preparing a beverage which, on the one hand, provides to dispense the selected beverage at its respective optimum temperature, and on the other hand to restore the same conditions of the machine 10 at the end of each beverage preparation operation.

[0171] The method for preparing a beverage according to the invention provides to receive, in a control and command unit 34, a command relating to a type and quantity of beverage to be prepared by a user by means of a user interface 35.

[0172] Based on the command received and on the parameters memorized, the control and command unit 34 can determine the values of water temperature and speed specific to the selected beverage and can selectively activate the pump 30 and the heating element 21 to obtain the above values.

[0173] According to some embodiments, at the start of a beverage preparation operation, the method provides to activate the pump 30 at least to fill the circuit 22 with water, preferably at least up to the temperature sensor means 28.

[0174] In this step of activating the pump 30, the heating device 21 can be kept switched off.

[0175] Subsequently, the method provides to deactivate the pump 30 so as to stop the water supply to the circuit 22 and to activate the heating device 21 to heat the water inside it to the specified temperature value.

[0176] This, in particular, is made possible by the particular configuration of the boiler 24, thanks to which the water remains inside it even when the pump 30 is deactivated, and can therefore be heated rapidly and effectively.

[0177] According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor means 28 are advantageously located in a vertical pipe segment, so that the water supplied by the pump 30 remains confined inside the pipe itself even when the pump 30 is deactivated.

[0178] According to some embodiments, in order to obtain a rapid heating of the heating device 21, the control and command unit 34 can switch on both the two or more heating elements 26, 27.

[0179] Subsequently, when the water downstream of the heating device 21 has reached the specified temperature value, the method provides to activate the pump 30, possibly regulating its flow rate, to infuse the aromatic mixture 11 and dispense the selected beverage in the receptacle 15.

[0180] According to some embodiments, during the dispensing step, the control and command unit 34 can selectively switch on and off one or both of the heating elements 26, 27, to keep the specified temperature value.

[0181] At the end of the beverage dispensing operation, the method provides to deactivate the pump 30, stopping the water supply in the circuit 22, and to restore the initial conditions of the machine 10.

[0182] According to some embodiments, in particular, the method provides to empty and dry the circuit 22, leaving the heating device 21 activated for a period of time suitable to empty the circuit 22 by means of a convective motion, and possibly to empty the water remaining inside it.

[0183] The form of the boiler 24 allows in particular to accumulate any residual water in the accumulation zone 24c, allowing it to be removed effectively.

[0184] According to some embodiments, during the emptying step, the control and command unit 34 can selectively switch on and off one, or both, the heating elements 26, 27.

[0185] According to some embodiments, the emptying step is carried out immediately at the end of the delivery of the beverage. In this way, the water remains inside the circuit 22 for a negligible time, allowing to prevent unwanted contamination of subsequent beverages.

[0186] In the case of sequential delivery, it is advantageous to keep the heating device 21 active at the end of each single dispensing operation, since it reduces the energy consumption for the subsequent delivery.

[0187] In this case, the heating device 21 remains hot and therefore the water for subsequent delivery reaches the desired temperature in less time.

[0188] According to other embodiments, the method can provide, at least in the case where the selected receptacle 15 is a jug, to activate the additional heating means 38 to keep the dispensed beverage hot.

[0189] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the machine 10 and method for preparing a beverage as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

[0190] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of machine 10 and method for preparing a beverage, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.