CENTRIFUGAL COFFEE BREWER
20230200580 · 2023-06-29
Inventors
- Serge Alfred Johan De Warrimont (Amsterdam, NL)
- Roderick De Rode (Amsterdam, NL)
- Johan NIEUWENDIJK (Utrecht, NL)
- Wouter BEEFTINK (Pannerden, NL)
Cpc classification
International classification
A47J31/44
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
The present invention relates to a centrifugal coffee brewing device, comprising: a centrifugal brewing unit constructed to brew coffee, the centrifugal brewing unit comprising: a chamber element comprising a bottom wall and a roof portion, a cylinder element comprising a filter—a heater element, a gutter element which defines a gutter located around the centrifugal brewing unit, via which brewed coffee travels to a coffee outlet, a residue deflection member for guiding coffee residue which is ejected from the centrifugal brewing unit into a residue tray, wherein the residue deflection member is heated by the heater element.
Claims
1. A centrifugal coffee brewing device, comprising: a centrifugal brewing unit constructed to brew coffee, the centrifugal brewing unit comprising: a chamber element comprising a bottom wall and a roof portion, a cylinder element comprising a filter, a residue deflection member for deflecting coffee residue which is ejected from the centrifugal brewing unit, wherein the coffee residue is deflected in a downward direction, a skirt positioned below the residue deflection member and extending downward from the residue deflection member, wherein the skirt is configured for further guiding the deflected coffee residue downward into a residue tray, a heater element, wherein the heater element heats the skirt, thereby preventing formation of condensation on the skirt and preventing sticking of coffee residue to the skirt.
2. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the skirt comprises a lower part which is constricted and which faces upwardly and wherein the heater element heats the constricted lower part, thereby avoiding formation of condensation on the constricted lower part and avoiding sticking of coffee residue to the constricted lower part.
3. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein: a) the heater element is integrated with the skirt or in contact with the skirt and directly heats the skirt, and/or b) the heater element is integrated with the residue deflection member or is in contact with the residue deflection member, wherein the heater element indirectly heats the skirt via conduction of heat through the residue deflection member to the skirt.
4. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the skirt is heated to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius by the heater element.
5. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member and the skirt are integrated and form a single ring-shaped residue guiding component, wherein the entire residue guiding component is heated by the heater element.
6. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member and the skirt are manufactured from a heat conducting material, preferably metal.
7. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member and the skirt are manufactured from aluminium.
8. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the heater element also heats the residue deflection member, wherein the heating of the residue deflection member prevents condensation of moisture inside the centrifugal coffee brewing device on the residue deflection member, thereby reducing sticking of expelled coffee residue to the residue deflection member.
9. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, further comprising a gutter element which defines a gutter located around the centrifugal brewing unit, via which brewed coffee travels to a coffee outlet, wherein the gutter and the residue deflection member are integrated into one component or wherein the residue deflection member and gutter are separate elements which are in contact with one another in order to allow heat to transfer between the residue deflection member and the gutter.
10. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the heater element is configured to also heat the gutter and is part of the gutter and/or in contact with the gutter.
11. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member forms an inwardly facing wall which faces inwards and downwards.
12. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the skirt extends to a position below a bottom wall of the chamber element.
13. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member is heated to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius by the heater element.
14. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the heater element directly or indirectly heats the skirt.
15. (canceled)
16. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member is coated with a non-sticking material, wherein the non-sticking material is polytetrafluoroethylene, more in particular Teflon.
17. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the heater element is located under the gutter.
18. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the gutter and the residue deflection member are integrated into one component.
19. The centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the residue deflection member and gutter are separate elements which are in thermal contact with one another, wherein the heater element is part of the gutter.
20. A method for brewing coffee using a centrifugal coffee brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps: a) injecting hot water into the centrifugal brewing unit, b) extracting a coffee beverage from a coffee bed that has formed over the filter and ejecting the coffee beverage into the gutter element, c) moving the filter and ejecting the coffee residue from the centrifugal brewing unit, d) guiding the coffee residue into the residue tray with the residue deflection member and the skirt, wherein the skirt is heated by the heater element, thereby preventing formation of condensation on the skirt and preventing sticking of coffee residue to the skirt.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the heater element also heats the gutter element and is integrated into the gutter element.
22.-83. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0215] Turning to
[0216] Around the chamber element 12, a residue deflection member 36 is provided. When the coffee residue is ejected the coffee residue impacts upon the residue deflection member 36. The residue deflection member is configured to direct the ejected coffee residue from the centrifugal brewing unit downwards as indicated by the arrow. The coffee residue is further guided by a skirt 48 and drops into the residue tray 40. The skirt 48 and its lower edge 481 can be seen on the lower side of the brewing unit 13. The outside of the gutter element 32 can also be distinguished.
[0217] A lower part of the skirt 48 is constricted and has a smaller diameter D1 than the diameter D2 of the residue deflection member 36. An inner surface 150 of the lower part 49 of skirt 48 faces slightly upwards. It was found that coffee residue 152 collects on this inner surface. This coffee residue tends to clog up the machine and forms a problem for the proper functioning of the coffee brewer. The coffee residue 152 not only sticks to the skirt, but also to the residue deflection member, albeit to a lesser extent.
[0218] Turning to
[0219] Turning to
[0220]
[0221] Turning to
[0222] In
[0223] The centrifugal brewing unit 13 comprises the chamber element 12 comprising a bottom wall 121 and a roof portion 122. The roof portion 122 is divided into a stationary roof part 123 and a rotary roof part 124. The stationary roof part 123 defines a water inlet hole 18 through which at least a portion of the direct water injection nozzle 20 protrudes into the chamber element 12. Additionally, an inlet channel 16 is shown extending towards the water inlet hole from outside the chamber element. This inlet channel 16 is connected to the direct water injection nozzle 20. The inlet channel 16 and the direct water injection nozzle 20 are configured to inject water into the centrifugal brewing unit. The injected water is used to wetten a coffee bed that has formed over the filter 141. Herein, the direct water injection nozzle 20 is configured to spray water over a horizontal distance and to distribute water over the height of the coffee bed. At least a portion of the injected water is directly sprayed on the coffee bed.
[0224] Around the chamber element 12, a residue deflection member 36 is provided. This residue deflection member is configured to direct the ejected coffee from the centrifugal brewing unit towards a skirt 48. The residue deflection member 36 forms an inwardly facing wall which faces inwards and downwards. The skirt 48 is positioned below the residue deflection member and extends downward from the residue deflection member. The skirt extends to a position below the bottom wall 121 of the chamber element. The skirt 48 is configured to further guide the coffee residue into the residue tray 40.
[0225] A heater element 30 is provided wherein the heater element heats the skirt. The skirt is heated to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius by the heater element. The heating of the skirt prevents condensation of moisture inside the centrifugal coffee brewing device on the skirt. [0226] A lower part 49 of the skirt is constricted. The constricted lower part 49 faces upward.
[0227] The residue deflection member and the skirt are integrated and together form a single ring-shaped residue guiding component 170. The entire residue guiding component is heated by the heater element. The residue deflection member and the skirt are manufactured from a heat conducting material, preferably metal, more preferably aluminium.
[0228] The heater element 30 may be integrated with the skirt 48 or in contact with the skirt and may directly heat the skirt 48. Alternatively or additionally the heater element may be integrated with the residue deflection member 36 or be in contact with the residue deflection member. In this case the heater element 30 indirectly heats the skirt via conduction of heat through the residue deflection member to the skirt.
[0229] The heater element 30 also heats the residue deflection member 36. In use the residue deflection member is also heated to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius by the heater element. The heating of the residue deflection member prevents condensation of moisture inside the centrifugal coffee brewing device on the residue deflection member, thereby reducing sticking of expelled coffee residue to the residue deflection member.
[0230] The centrifugal coffee further comprises a gutter element 32 which defines a gutter located around the centrifugal brewing unit, via which brewed coffee travels to a coffee outlet 34. The gutter and the residue deflection member may be integrated into one component. Alternatively, the residue deflection member and the gutter may be separate elements which are in contact with one another in order to allow heat to transfer between the residue deflection member and the gutter. This is the embodiment shown in
[0231] The heater element 30 may directly or indirectly heat the skirt.
[0232] The residue deflection member may be coated with a non-sticking material. It may be coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, more in particular with Teflon. In this embodiment, a gutter element 32 is also heated by the heater element 30.
[0233] In this embodiment, the heater element 30 is shown in a location under the gutter. In particular, the heater element 30 is integrated in the gutter element 32, and the residue deflection member 36 is in thermal contact with the gutter.
[0234] In another embodiment, the gutter element 32 and the residue deflection member 36 may also be integrated into one component.
[0235] The bottom wall 121 comprises columns 125 that extend upwardly towards the roof portion of the centrifugal brewing unit. When the cylinder element 14 is at an upper location, the rotation of the chamber element 12, and therewith the bottom wall 121 comprising columns, may act as a blower. The columns 125 may push the air around, forcing hot air heated by the heater element 30 into the residue tray and drying the residue impact wall and the residue tray. The columns 125 work as an impeller.
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[0237] During operation, a motor 2 rotates a shaft 4 that is connected to the centrifugal brewing unit. By rapidly rotating the coffee bed that has formed over the filter 141 of the cylinder element 14, the coffee beverage is extracted.
[0238] The coffee is then directed into the gutter 32 which is heated by the heater element 30 and flows towards a coffee outlet. The heater element 30 is controlled by a control unit 90 that has an input line 301 and has an output line 302.
[0239] Turning to
[0240] The depicted embodiment is shown comprising a coupling portion 26 that is configured to be coupled to the inlet channel 16 of the centrifugal coffee brewing device. This connection is located outside the chamber element. The coupling portion is also coupled to the nozzle portion 24 of the direct water injection nozzle 20 via the coupling means comprising the outer thread 242 on the nozzle portion 24 and the inner thread 262 on the coupling portion 26.
[0241] The connection between the coupling portion 26 and the inlet channel 16 could also be located inside the chamber element 12, i.e. below the stationary roof part 123.
[0242] In this embodiment, the direct water injection nozzle 20 comprises four nozzle outlets 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D. One nozzle outlet 22D is direct substantially downwards towards the bottom wall. All four nozzle outlets 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D are oriented in the same plane and the nozzle outlets 22A, 22B, and 22C are oriented substantially parallel to each other. In this embodiment, all nozzle outlets 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D are spaced apart over a vertical distance 222.
[0243] In this embodiment, the stationary root part defines a ground coffee inlet hole 92 and comprises an upwardly extending skirt 90.
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[0250] The direct water injection nozzle 20 depicted in
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[0255] In this embodiment, the two upper flow paths 221A, 221B first reach the rotary roof part 124 before being guided towards the coffee bed 15. The flow path 221C directly reaches the coffee bed 15. The flow path 221D comes out of the downwardly directed nozzle outlet 22D and directly injects water against the bottom wall 121 before being directed towards the coffee bed 15.
[0256] Turning to
[0257] Herein, the upper flow path 221A first reaches the rotary roof part 124 before being directed towards the coffee bed 15. The two lower flow paths are directly injected upon the coffee bed 15.
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[0259] Flow paths 221A, 221B, 221C all directly reach the coffee bed 15 in order to evenly wetten it. Flow paths 221D and 221E directly reach the bottom wall 121, wherein the flow path 221D is directed substantially downward and the flow path 221E is direct towards the centre-axis of the bottom wall.
[0260] In
[0261] Turning to
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[0263] From the figure, it can be seen that coffee residue can be expelled from the coffee residue outlet 46 and is deflected by the residue deflection member 36 and the skirt 48 into the residue tray 40. The skirt is a constricted skirt 48 having a larger upper diameter than a lower diameter. Additionally, the lower diameter of the skirt 48 may be smaller than the upper diameter of the residue tray 40. This way, the coffee residue will be able to reach only the inside of the residue tray.
[0264] Either the residue tray 40 or the skirt 48 may also comprise a hole 449 for the prevention of mould.
[0265] In addition, on the right of the cross-section, being configured for holding a liquid, in particular water, the removable water tank 50 is shown. The removable tank comprises the wall 501 which defines an inner volume and comprises tank recesses 52 extending into the inner volume. On the lower end of the removable tank 50, the outlet 503 for discharging the liquid is depicted comprising a valve, the outlet 503 being located in between the tank recesses. Additionally, a lower end 54 of the tank is shown engaging the pivotable tank support platform 60.
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[0268] The pivotable tank support platform of
[0269] In
[0270] Turning to
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[0272] The lower end 54 of the tank 50 comprises a skirt 542 which extends circumferentially downwards and a lower wall 541, and the pivotable support platform 60 comprises a central portion 64 and a circumferential portion 66, the central portion being raised relative to the circumferential portion, wherein in the operation position the skirt engages the circumferential portion and the lower wall 541 abuts against the central portion 64
[0273] The lower end 54 of the tank also forms a base on which the tank can stand.
[0274] This guiding is shown in
[0275] In
[0276] In
[0277] The removable tank 50 is also depicted in
[0278] The removable filter 70 is shown comprising a filter body 702 and an outlet 701 The inlet of the removable filter 70 is not depicted. The outlet 701 comprises means for engaging the valve of the removable tank 50.
[0279] When the removable filter 70 is placed in the removable tank 50, the outlet 701 is on open communication with the tank valve comprised in the tank outlet 503.
[0280] In
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[0283] Turning to
[0284] It may be understood that, instead of the protrusion opening 442, the tray compartment wall 441 may comprise a flexible area, wherein the protrusion 41 engages the switches by elastically deforming this area against the switches.
[0285] The skilled person will understand that it can also be the biased switches 80 that extend through the protrusion opening 442 or that the switches deform an flexible area of the tray compartment wall 441 into the residue tray compartment. And that the placement of the residue tray 40 in the operational position 402 engages the extending or protruding switches 80.
[0286] It will also be understood by the skilled person that a magnet attached to the residue tray can be used to engage the switches 80 while the wall does not comprise a flexible area or protrusion opening 442.
[0287] In
[0288] Turning to
[0289] By disengaging a first switch 80A, the removal of the residue tray 40 short-circuits the main drive 17, causing it to act as a brake, and by disengaging a second switch 80B, the control unit 90 receives a signal that the residue tray 40 is not in the operational position 402.
[0290] By engaging a first switch 80A, the placement of the residue tray 40 closes the circuit from power supply to the main drive, and by engaging a second switch 80B, the control unit receives a signal that the residue tray 40 is in the operational position 402.
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[0292] The present disclosure relates to the following clauses: [0293] 1. Centrifugal coffee brewing device (10), comprising: [0294] a centrifugal brewing unit constructed to brew coffee, the centrifugal brewing unit comprising: [0295] a chamber element (12) comprising a bottom wall (121) and a roof portion (122), [0296] a cylinder element (14) comprising a filter [0297] a heater element (30), [0298] a gutter element (32) which defines a gutter located around the centrifugal brewing unit, via which brewed coffee travels to a coffee outlet (34), [0299] a residue deflection member (36) for guiding coffee residue which is ejected from the centrifugal brewing unit into a residue tray, wherein the residue deflection member is heated by the heater element. [0300] 2. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to the previous clause, wherein the residue deflection member is coated with a non-sticking material. [0301] 3. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to the previous clause, wherein the non-sticking material is polytetrafluoroethylene, more in particular Teflon. [0302] 4. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the gutter element is also heated by the heater element. [0303] 5. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the heater element is located under the gutter. [0304] 6. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the gutter and the residue deflection member are integrated into one component. [0305] 7. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the residue deflection member and gutter are separate elements which are in thermal contact with one another, wherein the heater element is part of the gutter. [0306] 8. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the centrifugal coffee brewing device comprises a control unit (90) being configured to control at least the heater element, wherein the control unit turns on the heater element substantially simultaneous to when the centrifugal coffee brewing device is turned on. [0307] 9. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the centrifugal coffee brewing device comprises a control unit being configured to control at least the heater element, wherein the control unit turns off the heater element substantially simultaneous to when the centrifugal coffee brewing device is turned off. [0308] 10. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of clauses 1-8, wherein the centrifugal coffee brewing device comprises a control unit being configured to control at least the heater element, wherein the control unit turns off heater element less than 60 seconds after the centrifugal coffee brewing device has been turned off, in particular after 10-30 seconds, more in particular, after 20 seconds. [0309] 11. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the heater element is placed at a distance smaller than 10 cm from the centrifugal brewing unit and/or from the residue tray and wherein the radiant heat of the heater element heats the centrifugal brewing unit and/or the residue tray. [0310] 12. Centrifugal coffee brewing device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bottom wall comprises at least one column (125) that extends upwards towards the roof portion of the chamber element and/or at least one protrusion (126) that extends downwards. [0311] 13. Method for brewing coffee using a centrifugal coffee brewing device comprising, [0312] a centrifugal brewing unit constructed to brew coffee, the centrifugal brewing unit comprising: [0313] a chamber element comprising a bottom wall and a roof portion, [0314] a cylinder element comprising a filter, [0315] a heater element, [0316] a gutter element which defines a gutter located around the centrifugal brewing unit, via which the brewed coffee travels to a coffee outlet, [0317] a residue deflection member for guiding the coffee residue which is ejected from the centrifugal brewing unit into a residue tray, wherein the residue deflection member is heated by the heater element. [0318] wherein the method comprises the steps: [0319] a) injecting hot water into the centrifugal brewing unit, [0320] b) extracting a coffee beverage from a coffee bed that has formed over the filter and ejecting the coffee beverage into the gutter element, [0321] c) moving the filter and ejecting the coffee residue from the centrifugal brewing unit, [0322] d) guiding the coffee residue into the residue tray with the residue deflection member, wherein the residue deflection member is heated by the heater element. [0323] 14. Method according to the previous clause, wherein the heater element also heats the gutter element and is integrated into the gutter element.