Automatic coffee machine equipped with a grinder adjustment device

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic coffee machine comprising a coffee bean grinder comprising a first grinding wheel and a second grinding wheel, one of which is rotatably movable with respect to the other about an axis delta, and an adjustment device for adjusting the spacing between the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel along the axis delta of the screw / nut type, the adjustment device comprising a movable crown which is movable along the axis delta between a clamping position, in which the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel have a small spacing to produce a fine-grained grind, and a spacing position, in which the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel have a large spacing to produce a coarse-grained grind. The movable crown has a periphery which is angularly divided into a first sector and a second sector, the first sector comprising a manually operated lever for rotating the movable crown to adjust the spacing between the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel, and the second sector comprising a drive device for driving a measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown between the clamping position and the spacing position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of automatic coffee machines comprising a grinder designed to grind coffee beans according to different particle sizes in order to allow the preparation of different types of coffee-based beverages, such as espresso, lungo or long coffee. BACKGROUND

[0002] From the documents EP3424375, ITMI20100728 and US2020187706, an automatic coffee machine is known comprising a coffee bean grinder comprising a first grinding wheel and a second grinding wheel, one of which is rotatably movable with respect to the other about an axis Δ, and an adjustment device for adjusting the spacing between the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel along an axis Δ of screw / nut type. The adjustment device comprises a crown that is movable along the axis Δ between a clamping position, in which the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel have a small spacing to produce a fine particle size of ground coffee, and a spaced position, in which the first grinding wheel and the second grinding wheel have a large spacing to produce a coarse particle size of ground coffee.

[0003] In the document EP3424375, the adjustment device comprises a motor reducer group that allows to drive the movable crown to displace it between the clamping position and the spaced position or vice versa, between the spaced position and the clamping position. This structure is therefore expensive and can cause reliability problems related to possible malfunctions of the motor reducer group.

[0004] Furthermore, the adjustment device powers the motor of the motor reducer group for a given period of time to reach an intermediate position between the clamping position and the spaced position. This working method does not allow to guarantee the precision of the intermediate position and therefore does not allow to guarantee the production of ground coffee of the required particle size. SUMMARY

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an automatic coffee machine that is simple in design and economical to implement, while guaranteeing good particle size of the coffee ground produced.

[0006] Another aim of the present invention is to provide an automatic coffee machine that is simple and ergonomic to implement.

[0007] These aims are achieved using an automatic coffee machine comprising a coffee bean grinder and adjustment means, said coffee bean grinder comprising a first grinding wheel and a second grinding wheel, one of which is movable in rotation about an axis Δ with respect to the other, said adjustment means being intended to adjust the spacing between said first grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel along an axis Δ of the screw / nut type, said adjustment means comprising a crown movable along said axis Δ between a clamping position, in which said first grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel have a small spacing to produce a fine-grained grind, and a spaced-apart position, in which said first grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel have a large spacing to produce a coarse-grained grind, characterized in that said movable crown has a periphery which is angularly divided into a first sector and a second sector, said first sector comprising a manually operated lever intended to rotate said movable crown to adjust the spacing between said first grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel, and said second sector comprising drive means for driving a measuring system intended to measure the position of said movable crown between said clamping position and said spaced-apart position.

[0008] Measuring the position of said movable crown can be understood as the determination of the position of said movable crown allowing to know the spacing between said first grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel, and therefore the grain size of the grind achieved by the grinder.

[0009] Said crown movable along the axis Δ can be understood as said crown being movable in rotation about the axis Δ to cause the displacement of said crown along the axis Δ between said clamping position and said spaced-apart position.

[0010] Thus, two functions are arranged on the periphery of said movable crown: one function is to rotate said movable crown in particular simply and economically, and one function is to measure the position of said movable crown to know the grain size of the grind achieved by said grinder.

[0011] The drive means of the system for measuring the position of said movable crown are arranged to directly engage on the periphery of said movable crown. This arrangement guarantees the precision of the measurement.

[0012] Advantageously, said drive means comprise a sector gear cooperating with a pinion.

[0013] A sector gear cooperating with a pinion is a particularly simple and economical positive drive system.

[0014] Preferably, said sector gear extends by at least 30°.

[0015] Thus, said sector gear extends by a sufficient amplitude to obtain a good precision in the measurement of the spacing between said first grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel.

[0016] Advantageously, said measuring system comprises a potentiometer.

[0017] It can be understood that the potentiometer is a rotary potentiometer, one of its axes being driven by a pinion. The travel of the potentiometer can be finely divided to obtain a large number of intermediate positions between said clamping position and said spacing position, representing a granular degree.

[0018] Preferably, said automatic coffee machine comprises an upper wall comprising an opening of a coffee bean hopper and a drive button for driving the free end of said lever, said drive button being arranged in the vicinity of said opening.

[0019] Thus, the opening of the coffee bean hopper and the drive button are recombined in order to facilitate the use of said coffee machine.

[0020] Advantageously, said lever extends below the coffee bean hopper to the edge of said opening.

[0021] Advantageously, said coffee bean hopper comprises a removable cover covering said opening.

[0022] Advantageously, said drive button is translatable.

[0023] In the case where said opening of said coffee bean hopper and said cover are rectangular, said drive button can be transversely arranged along one side of said opening or said cover.

[0024] Advantageously, said automatic coffee machine comprises a scale arranged along the travel of said drive button.

[0025] Preferably, said drive button has a length L and said drive button is movable over a travel greater than twice said length L.

[0026] This arrangement allows to have at least two intermediate adjustment positions. The greater the travel of said drive button, the greater the number of intermediate adjustment positions.

[0027] Advantageously, a plane P passing through said axis A divides said movable crown into said first sector and said second sector.

[0028] Thus, said operating lever and said drive means of said measuring system are arranged in an opposite manner around said movable crown, which facilitates their implantation respectively in said coffee machine.

[0029] Preferably, the automatic coffee machine comprises a control system connected to the measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown, the control system comprising display and / or warning means controlled by the measuring system for measuring the position of the crown, and / or the control system comprises control means of the grinder controlled by the measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown.

[0030] Although it is simple to manually adjust the particle size of the ground coffee, the control system of the coffee machine informs and / or helps the user according to the selected particle size and the selected beverage. The control system of the coffee machine can control the operation of the grinder according to the selected particle size and the selected beverage. Thus, the automatic coffee machine is simple and ergonomic to implement.

[0031] Advantageously, the display and / or warning means of the control system comprise a display equipped with an area for displaying an index representing the particle size of the ground coffee achieved by the grinder from the position of the movable crown determined by the measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown.

[0032] The user is informed of the selected particle size. Thus, this setting allows the learning of the user involved regarding the concept of particle size and its impact on the concentration of coffee in the cup.

[0033] Preferably, the display and / or warning means of the control system emit a visual and / or audible signal if the beverage requested by the user is not compatible with the position of the movable crown determined by the measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown.

[0034] Although it is simple to manually adjust the particle size of the ground coffee, the coffee machine still helps the user in case of improper use. The warning means can also suggest the optimal particle size for the beverage selected by the user.

[0035] Advantageously, the control device of the grinder includes a memory storing a table that correlates grinding time and amount of powder based on the particle size determined by the position of the movable crown. The control system controls the grinding time of the grinder based on the amount of powder required for the desired beverage and the position of the movable crown, determined by the measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown characterizing the particle size. Preferably, the automatic coffee machine includes a control system connected to the measuring system for measuring the position of the movable crown. The control system includes a display equipped with an area for displaying an index representing the particle size of the powder achieved by the grinder from the position of the movable crown.

[0036] To produce the same amount of coffee grounds, the grinder's grinding time is shorter when the selected grind size is coarser than when it is finer. Therefore, this setup allows the grinder to produce the same amount of coffee for a given beverage, regardless of the selected grind size. Attached Figure Description

[0037] The invention will be better understood by studying the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, which are by no means limiting, in the following ways:

[0038] Figure 1 A perspective view of an automatic coffee machine equipped with a coffee bean grinder according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0039] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the automatic coffee machine along direction II.

[0040] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 The image shows a top view of the grinder in an automatic coffee machine.

[0041] Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 The cross-sectional view along line IV-IV of the grinder of the automatic coffee machine shown. Detailed Implementation

[0042] It should be noted that in this manual, the terms "horizontal," "vertical," "lower," "upper," "longitudinal," "lateral," "higher," and "lower" used to describe automatic coffee machines refer to the condition in which the machine is placed on the work surface during use.

[0043] exist Figures 1 to 2In the illustrated embodiment, the automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a frame 6 equipped with a base 7 for resting on a work plane. The automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a reservoir 2 forming a cold water supply device and a brewing device 10 equipped with a brewing chamber (not shown in the figures) supplied with coffee grounds by a coffee bean grinder 50. The automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a pressurized piston (not shown in the figures) which compresses the grounds in the brewing chamber to form a cake of grounds. The automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a coffee dispensing head 3 Figure 1 ) which comprises a coffee outlet connected to the brewing chamber and arranged above a cup rest 4. The dispensing head 3 also comprises a milk frothing device 5. The dispensing head 3 is vertically translatable to allow the user to adjust the position of the coffee outlet to the height of the cup. The automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a coffee bean slot 50 arranged above the grinder 10 at the upper wall 8 of the frame 2. The coffee bean slot 50 comprises an upper opening 51 for loading coffee beans. The upper opening 51 is covered by a removable cover 52.

[0044] As can be seen in Figure 4 , the grinder 10 comprises a first grinding wheel 11 which engages in a second grinding wheel 12. The first grinding wheel 11 comprises a conical wall 11a which is oriented upwards, that is to say, has a large base 11b provided on the lower side and a small base 11c provided on the upper side. The second grinding wheel 12 comprises a conical first wall 12a which is oriented upwards and a conical second wall 12b which is oriented downwards with respect to the first wall 12a. The second wall 12b forms a funnel-shaped receiving area 13 with the wall 11a of the first grinding wheel 11 in which the coffee beans from the coffee bean slot 50 are arranged, while the first wall 12a is spaced a few hundred microns with respect to the wall 11a of the first grinding wheel 11, which spacing can be modified. Preferably, the spacing varies between 100 and 600 pm. The walls 11a, 12a and 12b are equipped with teeth for driving and grinding the coffee beans.

[0045] The first grinding wheel 11 is driven in rotation along the axis D by means of an electric motor 14 and a pinion and gear type transmission system 15, as shown in Figure 4 . This rotation of the first grinding wheel 11 with respect to the second grinding wheel 12 allows the coffee beans to be ground in the spacing (not shown in detail) generated between the first wall 12a of the second grinding wheel 12 and the wall 11a of the first grinding wheel 11.

[0046] The second grinding wheel 12 is driven in translation along the axis D by means of an adjustment device 20 for adjusting the spacing between the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12, as shown in Figures 2 to 4The adjustment device 20 comprises a crown 21 movable along the axis D between a clamping position, in which the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12 have a small spacing to produce a fine-grained ground coffee, and a spaced position, in which the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12 have a large spacing to produce a coarse-grained ground coffee. The crown 21 is rotatably mounted and fastened to an outer ring 22 equipped with a threading 23 that receives a threading 25 of an inner ring 24. The inner ring 24 is slidingly connected and fastened to the second grinding wheel 12 along the axis D. The movable crown 20 has a periphery angularly divided into a first sector 26 and a second sector 27, the first sector 26 comprising a manually operated lever 30. The operation of the lever 30 causes the rotation of the movable crown 21 to drive the translation of the second grinding wheel 12 along the axis D and thus the adjustment of the spacing between the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12. The lever 30 can be operated to rotate the movable crown 21 in a clockwise direction bringing the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12 closer to the clamping position, or in an anticlockwise direction moving the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel away from the spaced position.

[0047] As can be seen in Figure 2 and Figure 4 , the lever 30 comprises a free end 31 cooperating with a push button 32 translatablely mounted on the frame 6. The frame 6 comprises a crosspiece 9 on which the push button 32 slides. The push button 32 comprises a finger 33 cooperating with a groove 34 arranged on the free end 31 of the lever 30. The groove 34 forms a fork equipped with two teeth on which the finger 33 acts to displace the free end 31 of the lever 30.

[0048] A coffee bean chute is arranged above the receiving area 13 and above the movable crown 21. The opening 51 and the lid 52 of the coffee bean chute 50 each have a rectangular shape Figure 1 . The push button 32 is arranged on the upper wall 8 of the frame 6 along one side of the rectangle, in a central portion of the upper wall 8. The lever 30 extends from the movable crown 21 to the push button 32 below the coffee bean chute 50. The actuation push button 32 has a length L equal to 1.5 centimeters and the actuation push button 32 is movable over a stroke equal to 6 centimeters. The upper wall 8 comprises a scale 35 equipped with markings arranged along the stroke of the push button 32. Each marking corresponds to a position of the movable crown 21 that defines the grain of the ground coffee implemented by the grinder 10. The scale 35 comprises 6 markings, for example from 1 to 6, the marking 1 corresponding to the clamping position and the marking 6 corresponding to the spaced position.

[0049] The second sector 26 of the movable crown 21 comprises drive means 40 for driving a measuring system 41 for measuring the position of the movable crown 21 between the clamping position and the spacing position. The measuring system of the movable crown is formed by a rotary potentiometer 41 comprising a shaft 42 equipped with a pinion 43. The drive means 40 of the potentiometer comprise a sector gear 44. The sector gear 44 extends over an angular sector a equal to 30° at the periphery of the movable crown 21. The potentiometer 41 is arranged on the grinder 10 in the rear portion of the frame 6.

[0050] As can be seen in Figure 2 the plane P passing through the axis A divides the movable crown 21 into a first sector 26 and a second sector 27. The first sector 26 is oriented towards the front portion of the automatic coffee machine 1 and the second sector 27 is oriented towards the rear portion of the automatic coffee machine 1.

[0051] The automatic coffee machine 1 comprises a control system 60 for controlling and managing the preparation cycle of a brewed beverage, in particular coffee. The potentiometer 41 is connected to the control system 60. The potentiometer 41 emits a signal which characterizes the position of the movable crown 21 and therefore the spacing between the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12 which defines the particle size of the ground coffee implemented by the grinder 10.

[0052] The control system 60 comprises a display and warning device 61 equipped with a display 62. The display 62 comprises an area for displaying an index which indicates the particle size of the ground coffee implemented by the grinder 10 from the position of the movable crown 21 determined by the potentiometer 41. The display and warning device 61 comprises a buzzer 64. If the beverage requested by the user is not compatible with the particle size selected using the button 32, the display and warning device 61 emits a visual and / or acoustic signal. The display 62 flashes the index which indicates the particle size of the ground coffee and the buzzer 64 emits a series of sounds.

[0053] The control system 60 comprises control means 65 of the grinder 10 connected to the potentiometer 41. The control means 65 of the grinder 10 comprise a memory 66 in which tables are stored which associate the grinding time and the quantity of ground coffee as a function of the particle size. According to the beverage requested and the particle size selected, the control system 60 controls the grinding time of the grinder 10 determined from the tables entered into the memory 66.

[0054] Advantageously, the control system 60 comprises a measuring device 67 for measuring the thickness of the compressed coffee cake representative of the amount of ground coffee introduced into the brewing chamber. The thickness of the coffee cake is calculated by measuring the compacted position of the pressurized piston in the brewing chamber. Such a device is described for example in patent EP2737833. Thus, according to the requested beverage, the selected granularity and the measured thickness of the coffee cake for the last implemented beverage / granularity, the control system 60 determines and controls the grinding time of the grinder 10.

[0055] In operation, a user who wants to implement an espresso coffee checks the selected granularity on the display 62. If the granularity is too coarse, the user displaces the button 32 in the "fine granularity" position. The displacement of the button 32 drives the movable crown 21 which reduces the distance between the first grinding wheel 11 and the second grinding wheel 12. The sector gear 44 drives the pinion 43 and the shaft 42 of the potentiometer 41 to indicate to the control system 60 the "fine granularity" position of the ground coffee produced by the grinder 10. Then, the display 62 indicates the selected new granularity. The user starts making an espresso coffee with the help of the control system 60. According to the table stored in the memory 66, the control device 65 of the grinder 10 determines that, in order to supply 7 grams of coffee with fine granularity to the brewing chamber, the grinding time is equal to 8 seconds. Then, the control system 60 activates the grinder 10 during this grinding time equal to 8 seconds.

[0056] Of course, the application is in no way limited to the described and illustrated embodiments given by way of example. Modifications can be made, especially from the point of view of the construction of the various elements or by replacement of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of the application.

[0057] In one embodiment variant, the opening 51 of the coffee bean chute 50 is circular and the drive button 32 of the lever 30 is rotatably mobile along a circular arc arranged in the vicinity of the opening 51.

Claims

1. An automatic coffee machine (1) comprising a coffee bean grinder (10) comprising a first grinding wheel (11) and a second grinding wheel (12), one of which (11) is rotatably movable with respect to the other (12) about an axis A, and an adjustment device (20) of the screw / nut type for adjusting the spacing between the first grinding wheel (11) and the second grinding wheel (12) along the axis A, said adjustment device (20) comprising a movable crown (21) movable along the axis A between a clamping position, in which the first grinding wheel (11) and the second grinding wheel (12) have a small spacing to produce a fine-grained grind, and a spaced-apart position, in which the first grinding wheel (11) and the second grinding wheel (12) have a large spacing to produce a coarse-grained grind, characterized in that, The movable crown (21) has a periphery angularly divided into a first sector (26) comprising a manually operated lever (30) for rotating the movable crown (21) to adjust the spacing between the first grinding wheel (11) and the second grinding wheel (12), and a second sector (27) comprising driving means (40) for driving a measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21) between the clamping position and the spacing position.

2. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving means (40) comprise a sector gear (44) cooperating with a pinion (43).

3. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sector gear (44) extends at least 30°.

4. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The measuring system comprises a potentiometer (41).

5. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The automatic coffee machine (1) comprises an upper wall (8) comprising an opening (51) of a coffee beans chute (50), and a driving button (32) for driving a free end (31) of the lever (30), the driving button (32) being arranged in the vicinity of the opening (51).

6. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The driving button (32) is translatable.

7. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The driving button (32) has a length L and is translatable over a stroke greater than twice the length L.

8. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A plane P passing through the axis A divides the movable crown (21) into the first sector (26) and the second sector (27).

9. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The automatic coffee machine (1) comprises a control system (60) connected to the measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21), the control system (60) comprising display and / or warning means (61) controlled by the measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21), and / or the control system (60) comprises control means (65) of the grinder (10) controlled by the measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21).

10. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The display and / or warning means (61) of the control system (60) comprise a display (62) equipped with an area for displaying an index representing the particle size of the ground coffee achieved by the grinder (10) from the position of the movable crown (21) determined by the measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21).

11. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The display and / or warning means (61) of the control system (60) emit a visual and / or acoustic signal if the beverage requested by the user is incompatible with the position of the movable crown (21) determined by the measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21).

12. The automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that, The control device (65) of the grinder (10) comprises a memory (66) in which a table is stored associating the grinding time and the quantity of ground coffee according to the particle size determined by the position of the movable crown (21), the control system (60) controlling the grinding time of the grinder (10) according to the quantity of ground coffee required for the requested beverage and the position of the movable crown (21) determined by the measuring system (41) for measuring the position of the movable crown (21) characterizing the particle size.

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