DRINKS PREPARATION MACHINE WITH A PLACEMENT ELEMENT FOR POSITIONING DIFFERENT VESSELS FOR RECEIVING THE DRINK

Abstract

A drinks preparation machine with a placement element for positioning different vessels in the drinks preparation machine for receiving the prepared drink. The placement element can be arranged relative to the outlet of the drinks preparation machine in a first alignment and in a second alignment different from the first alignment. A vessel for receiving the prepared drink can be placed on the placement element during the drinks preparation in the first alignment and in the second alignment.

Claims

1. A drinks preparation machine, comprising: an outlet for the delivery of a prepared drink, a receiving region for receiving a vessel for receiving the prepared drink, a placement element comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the placement element can be arranged relative to the outlet in a first alignment and in a second alignment which is different from the first alignment, wherein a vessel for receiving the prepared drink can be placed on the placement element during the drinks preparation in the first alignment as well as in the second alignment, wherein the placement element is an L-shaped element.

2. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the first region is arranged horizontally in the first as well as in the second alignment, wherein a vessel for receiving the prepared drink can be placed on the first region in the first as well as in the second alignment during the drinks preparation.

3. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein in the second alignment, the second region extends in a vertical direction and supports the first region towards a base of the drinks preparation machine.

4. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 3, wherein in the second alignment, the second region engages into an opening of the drinks preparation machine, wherein the opening extends from an exposed horizontal surface in the vertical direction.

5. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment differs from the second alignment in that the placement element is arranged rotated about a horizontal axis.

6. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the placement element is arranged in the drinks preparation machine in a loose and exposed manner in the first as well as in the second alignment.

7. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the placement element in the first as well as in the second alignment is arranged in a region between the outlet and a drip tray, wherein a holding region of the placement element engages into a structure of the drip tray such that a movement of the placement element along a horizontal direction and/or a rotation of the placement element about a horizontal axis is prevented.

8. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the placement element is a single-piece element.

9. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the placement element is formed from a plate-like starting body.

10. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 9, wherein the placement element is formed from the plate-like starting body in such a manner that the placement element forms no volume for receiving a solid object or a liquid.

11. The drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the placement element in the first alignment as well as in the second alignment delimits the receiving region in a direction which lies opposite to the outlet, wherein the placement element defines a first extension of the receiving region in the direction which lies opposite the outlet when the placement element is arranged in the first alignment, wherein the placement element defines a second extension of the receiving region in the direction which lies opposite to the outlet when the placement element is arranged in the second alignment, and wherein the first extension differs from the second extension.

12. A placement element for positioning vessels of different sizes in a drinks preparation machine for receiving the prepared drink, wherein the placement element is L-shaped.

13. The placement element according to claim 12, wherein the placement element in a first alignment comprises a first horizontal surface for depositing a vessel and in a second alignment comprises a second horizontal surface for depositing a vessel, wherein the second alignment is an alignment which is rotated about a horizontal axis in comparison to the first alignment.

14. The placement element according to claim 12, wherein the placement element is of one piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] Embodiment examples of the invention are hereinafter described by way of the figures. In the figures, the same reference numerals denote the same or analogous elements. There are shown in:

[0071] FIG. 1 An exemplary embodiment of the drinks preparation machine with an exemplary placement element in a first alignment;

[0072] FIG. 2 An exploded representation of the drinks preparation machine according to FIG. 1; and

[0073] FIG. 3 The drinks preparation machine according to FIG. 1 with the placement element in a second alignment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0074] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a drinks preparation machine 1 according to the invention which in particular includes a placement element 21 according to the invention, in an exemplary embodiment.

[0075] The shown drinks preparation machine 1 is a coffee capsule machine which apart from the placement element 21 includes the following elements: [0076] An operating lever 4 which can be brought from a closed position into an open position, wherein the operating lever 4 in the closed position closes a capsule insert opening for bringing a capsule into the drinks preparation machine and wherein the capsule insert opening lies open when the operating lever 4 assumes the open position. [0077] Operating elements 5, via which the drink which is prepared by the drinks preparation machine 1 can be individualised. [0078] A water tank 3, from which water is taken during the preparation process, in order to feed it to the brewing chamber of the drinks preparation machine 1. [0079] An outlet hood 16 which includes an outlet 14, from which the prepared drink exits out of the drinks preparation machine 1. [0080] A drip tray 24 which in the shown embodiment includes a receiving element 26 and a cover element 25. The cover element 25 closes the receiving element 26 to the top. [0081] A capture container 2 (only visible in FIG. 2), into which spent portion capsules are ejected.

[0082] The placement element 21 serves for positioning a vessel which is selected by a user from a plurality (this means at least two) vessels, relative to the outlet 14 in an optimal manner during the preparation process for receiving the prepared drink or at least in a more optimal manner in comparison to a placement element which leads to a fixed distance between the vessel base and the outlet 14.

[0083] Accordingly, the placement element 21 together with the outlet 14 or the outlet hood 16 defines a receiving region 15 of the drinks preparation machine 1 in which a vessel is brought and which by way of the placement element 21, according to the present invention in particular by way of the alignment of the placement element 21 within the drinks preparation machine 1, can be optimised or at least improved for a certain vessel or a certain group of vessels.

[0084] In the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 1, the placement element 21 is arranged in the drinks preparation machine 1 in a first alignment which is particularly suited to a first vessel. FIG. 3 shows the same drinks preparation machine 1 with the same placement element 21 which is arranged in the drinks preparation machine 1 in a second alignment which is particularly suited to a second vessel.

[0085] The shown placement element 21 is an L-shaped placement element which is shaped as one piece from a plate-like starting body. Consequently, this in an operationally ready state of the drinks preparation machine includes a first horizontally aligned region 41 and a second vertically aligned region 42. The first region 41 forms the placement surface for a vessel in the first alignment which is shown in FIG. 1 as well as in the second alignment which is shown in FIG. 3.

[0086] The first alignment differs from the second alignment in that the placement element 21 in the second alignment is upside down in comparison to the first alignment, which means has been rotated by 180? about a horizontal axis which runs parallel to the front of the drinks preparation machine 1, wherein the second regions 42 which as was hitherto the case is aligned vertically serves as a support for the first region 41 which is now displaced towards the outlet 14 and is aligned horizontally as was hitherto the case.

[0087] That vertically running side of the drinks preparation machine 1 which on operation faces the user and from which for example the outlet hood 16 and the drip tray 24 project is denoted as the front of the coffee machine.

[0088] Disregarding the placement element 21, all previously mentioned elements of the drinks preparation machine 1 are arranged completely or partly within a basis unit 10 (housing, basis body) of the drinks preparation machine 1, for example due to them belonging to the inner workings of the drinks preparation machine 1 (for example brewing chamber) and therefore being arranged within the basis unit 10, since they are advantageously not projecting beyond the basis unit 10 and are therefore arranged completely within or at least flush with the basis unit (for example water tank 3 or capture container 2) or since they need to assume a certain position relative to the basis body 10 and therefore partly arranged, for example inserted, within the basis unit 10 (for example drip tray 24).

[0089] In contrast to the mentioned elements of the drinks preparation machine 1, in the operationally ready state of the shown drinks preparation machine 1 and independently of whether the placement element 21 is arranged in the first alignment which is particularly suitable for the first vessel (FIG. 1) or in the second alignment which is particularly suitable for the second vessel (FIG. 3), the placement element 21 is arranged in an exposed or loosely lying manner in, or expressed better, on the drinks preparation machine 1.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows the drinks preparation machine according to FIG. 1 in an exploded representation. Therein, the L-shaped placement element 21 according to the shown exemplary embodiment and which is formed as one piece from a plate-like starting body can be recognised particularly well.

[0091] Furthermore, a first holding region 27.1 and a second holding region 27.2 of the placement element 21 are visible in FIG. 2. These are realised as deviations of the placement element 21 from the L-shape and are dimensioned such that they can engage into a corresponding opening in the drip tray 24. By way of this, a slipping-away of the otherwise loose placement element 21 which bears on the drinks preparation machine 1 in an exposed manner can be prevented given a loading by way of a filled vessel.

[0092] As mentioned, FIG. 3 shows the drinks preparation machine 1 according to FIG. 1, concerning which the placement element 21 is arranged in the second alignment. That which is been sated with reference to FIG. 1 is referred to.