Grinding apparatus and coffee machine

Abstract

A grinding device (5), in particular for a coffee machine (1), comprising an upper grinding tool (12) and a lower grinding tool (11) arranged in a housing, the lower grinding tool being rotatable relative to the upper grinding tool (12) for a grinding process, wherein for ground material ground by the grinding tools (11, 12) an adjustment device is provided for adjusting the grinding degree, and the upper grinding tool (12) is held on a carrier (13), wherein the carrier (13) for the upper grinding tool (12) is movable in vertical direction but held against relative rotation on an adjustment element (15) of the adjustment device, and the adjustment device comprises guide means (14) for the carrier (13) which move the carrier (13) together with the upper grinding tool (12) in vertical direction upon rotation of the adjustment element (15) for adjusting the grinding gap. Such a grinding device (5) is preferably used in a coffee machine (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a grinding device, particularly for coffee machines, having an upper grinding tool and a lower grinding tool arranged in a housing, the lower grinding tool being rotatable relative to the upper grinding tool for the grinding process, wherein an adjustment device is provided for adjusting the degree of grinding for the abrasive material crushed by the grinding tools, and the upper grinding tool is held on a support, and this invention relates to a coffee machine. Background Technology

[0002] WO 2014 / 026485 A1 discloses an automatic coffee machine with a grinding tool in which the grinding gap or grinding degree between the two grinding tools is adjustable. Rotary motion is converted into translational motion of the grinding tools via a rotatable adjustment knob located on the housing, thereby adjusting the grinding degree. The adjustment device for adjusting the grinding degree requires a transmission mechanism and therefore requires relatively large structural space.

[0003] For high-value coffee machines, the following grinding tools (WO 2020 / 002493 A1) are also known, in which the force applied to the first or second grinding tool is adjustable during operation. This solution is typically expensive for home coffee machines. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a grinding device for a coffee machine, which is compactly constructed and allows for easy adjustment of the grinding degree between two grinding tools.

[0005] This task is solved using the grinding apparatus according to the present invention.

[0006] In the grinding apparatus according to the invention, the upper grinding tool is held on a support portion, which is movable in a vertical direction but held against relative rotation on an adjusting element of an adjusting device for adjusting the degree of grinding. The adjusting device includes a guide for the support portion, which, when the adjusting element rotates, causes the support portion, along with the upper grinding tool, to move vertically to adjust the degree of grinding, for example, adjusting the force acting on the downward-facing grinding disc on the upper grinding disc. Thus, the degree of grinding can be adjusted by the rotational movement of an operating element arranged at the bottom of the grinding container, eliminating the need for numerous adjusting devices with transmission mechanisms external to the grinding apparatus. This enables a compact structure and an adjusting device with very few components.

[0007] Preferably, the support unit, together with the upper grinding tool, can be removed from the housing of the grinding device. Removing the support unit along with the upper grinding tool allows for simple cleaning, thereby preventing flavor degradation due to stale grinding media. The support unit can be formed together with the grinding tool, adjustment elements, and operating elements into a removable unit.

[0008] For mounting the support unit along with the upper grinding tool, the adjusting element can be locked to the housing using a bayonet locking device. The bayonet locking device may include at least one rib, preferably an inwardly projecting rib, to which the operating element is secured by a radially projecting protrusion to prevent lifting, wherein the protrusion is guided along the rib when the operating element rotates. Multiple protrusions and multiple ribs may be provided in a peripheral manner to prevent tilting of the operating element and unilateral load.

[0009] In a preferred design, the adjusting element has an upwardly protruding operating element, and the supporting portion is rotatable by means of the operating element. The operating element may, for example, be partially or completely arranged within the internal space of a container for storing grinding media. The operating element may include a rotatable rod with an operating button or other operating element at its upper end, allowing manual adjustment of the grinding level.

[0010] A seal is preferably provided between the support portion and the adjusting element to maintain a seal when the support portion moves relative to the adjusting element in a vertical direction, thus preventing or reducing the accumulation of dirt in the cavity. The adjusting element may have a downwardly opening receiving portion into which the support portion is partially inserted.

[0011] In another design, the upper grinding tool is arranged in a ring, which is rotatably supported on the housing and has at least one locking element to lock the upper grinding tool in an adjusted position. This prevents adjustment of the grinding level even when vibration occurs during the grinding process. The ring and / or housing may have at least one flexible locking hook that engages with a meshing part to prevent rotational movement between the ring and housing after adjustment.

[0012] Preferably, both the bearing and the operating element have openings in the middle for the abrasive material to pass through. The abrasive tool can be constructed as a conical part or a grinding disc.

[0013] The grinding device according to the invention is preferably used in a coffee machine having a bean container with the grinding device arranged at the bottom of the bean container. The coffee machine can be configured such that the ground material is fed into a filter holder into which hot water is then introduced, as described in EP 3 225 142 A1, or configured such that the grinding device is arranged next to a hot water supply section, so that the filter holder, after containing the ground material, is transferred to a brewing device, as shown in EP 3583 876 A1. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The present invention will then be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Wherein: Figure 1 A schematic view of a coffee machine according to the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A perspective view of the grinding apparatus according to the invention during installation is shown; Figure 3A and 3B Two views of the upper grinding tool together with the operating elements are shown; Figure 4 A view of the bottom of the bean container of the grinding equipment is shown; Figure 5A and 5B Two views of the grinding equipment in its installed position are shown; Figure 6A and 6B Two views of the locking device of the grinding equipment are shown; Figure 7A and 7B Two views of the retaining ring of the grinding equipment are shown; and Figure 8A and 8B Two views of the locking device ring of the grinding equipment are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The coffee machine 1 includes a bean container 3 on its housing 2, which can be closed by a lid 4. A grinder 5 is arranged below the bean container 3 to fill a filter with ground coffee powder, and the filter is arranged on a filter holder 6. Hot water is supplied to the filter via a pump and a heating device to fill the brewed coffee container 7. The coffee machine 1 is controlled by an operating area 8, which includes the housing 2, in which the grinder 5 is arranged between the bean container 3 and the filter holder 6. Alternatively, the grinder 5 may be a separate device relative to the coffee machine 1, or it may be used to grind other materials instead of coffee beans.

[0016] Figure 2The bottom 9 of the bean container 3 is shown, which is constructed at an angle relative to the opening 10, and the coffee beans move through the opening for grinding. The grinding device 5 here includes a lower grinding tool 11, such as a grinding disc or grinding cone, and an upper grinding tool 12, which forms a grinding gap between them, in which the abrasive is ground. The upper grinding tool 12 can be preloaded against the lower grinding tool 11 by a spring element. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower grinding tool 11 is rotatably driven by a motor.

[0017] The upper grinding tool 12 is configured as a grinding disc here, but it can also be configured as a grinding cone or other rotatable grinder. The upper grinding tool 12 is held against relative rotation on the support portion 13, which is connected to the adjusting element 15 on its upper side. The adjusting element 15 has a central opening for constructing a channel 16 that extends from the bean container 3 through the adjusting element 15, the support portion 13, and the upper grinding tool 12.

[0018] The adjusting element 15 has an upwardly protruding, rod-shaped operating element 18, with a rotary knob 19 fixed or integrally constructed on its upper side. A mark is provided on the rotary knob 19 indicating the grind level at the corresponding adjustment position. Furthermore, a guide tab 20 is provided on the adjusting element 15 to facilitate the introduction of coffee beans into the channel 16. At least one protruding rib 22 is constructed on the connecting pipe surrounding the opening 10 at the bottom 9, guiding the protrusion 17 arranged on the adjusting element 15. A guide element 41 (in the form of a tab) is constructed vertically below the tab-shaped rib 22, the tab being oriented obliquely relative to the horizontal line. This guide element 41 allows the support portion 13 to move vertically relative to the adjusting element 15, the support portion being connected to the adjusting element 15 without relative rotation.

[0019] exist Figure 3A and 3B The image shows the adjusting element 15 in the removed position. In this position, the bottom of the grinding apparatus 5 and the lower grinding tool 11 can be cleaned. It is identifiable that the adjusting element 15 is configured with a downwardly opening annular receiving portion, in which at least a portion of the bearing portion 13 is received, wherein the bearing portion 13 is arranged upwardly with a gap in the receiving portion and is correspondingly movable in a vertical direction. A seal 50 is provided between the adjusting element 15 and the bearing portion 13, the seal being annularly constructed and specifically used to seal the gap between the bearing portion 13 and the adjusting element 15 when vertical movement of the bearing portion 13 occurs. The upper grinding tool 12 is fixed to the bearing portion 13.

[0020] Multiple protrusions can be constructed on the support portion 13 in a peripheral manner, and when the adjusting element 15 rotates, the protrusions act as follower members 14. One or more protrusions 17 are also constructed on the adjusting element 15 in a peripheral manner, and the protrusions work together with the rib 22 in a bayonet-like closing manner.

[0021] Figure 4 The bottom 9 of the bean container 3 is shown. Identifiablely, a connecting tube 21 is provided around the opening, and multiple radially inwardly protruding ribs 22 are constructed on the connecting tube in a peripheral manner. The protrusion 17 on the adjusting element 15 can be locked onto the ribs, thus preventing the adjusting element 15 from being raised. A downwardly pointing stop 23 is provided on the rib 22, restricting the rotation of the adjusting element 15 on the connecting tube 21. An opening 24 is provided between two adjacent ribs 22 on the connecting tube 21, through which the protrusion 17 on the adjusting element 15 can be inserted.

[0022] exist Figure 5A and 5B The image shows the grinding device 5 in its installed position. Coffee beans enter the channel 16 through the inclined surfaces on the bottom 9 and the adjusting element 15, thus entering the grinding gap between the upper grinding tool 12 and the lower grinding tool 11. The lower grinding tool 11 is arranged in the housing 30, in which a drive for rotating the lower grinding tool 11 may be provided. The pulverized abrasive reaches the outlet 28 on one side of the lower grinding tool 11 from the grinding gap. A radially protruding flange 27 is present on the housing 30, and a ring 25 is adjustably held on the flange. A retaining ring 40 is arranged around the ring 25, and an inwardly protruding guide element 41 is constructed on the retaining ring in the form of an inclined tab.

[0023] exist Figure 6A and 6B The image shows a region of the housing 30 on the flange 27, where a ring 25 is arranged. The ring 25 has several upward-facing receiving portions 26, into which follower members 14, which are protrusions on the support portion 13, can be inserted respectively. Thus, the ring 25 can be connected to the support portion 13 against relative rotation. By rotating the ring 25, the support portion 13 can be fixed during operation of the grinding equipment. For this purpose, one or more locking tabs 29 are constructed on the ring 25, which engage with engagement portions 31 on the housing 30. With the locking tabs 29, rotation of the support portion 13 can only be achieved when the holding force of the locking tabs 29 exceeds that of the locking tabs 29. It is also possible, naturally, that locking tabs or other retaining devices engaging with engagement portions on the ring 25 are provided on the housing 30.

[0024] In addition, an upwardly protruding pin 32 is constructed on the flange 27 for securing the retaining ring 40.

[0025] exist Figure 7A and 7B The image shows a retaining ring 40 with multiple inwardly protruding tabs as guide elements 41 on its inner side. These tabs are constructed at an angle relative to the horizontal direction, so that when the support portion 13 rotates, the follower 14 moves along the guide elements 41, thereby causing the support portion 13 and the upper grinding tool 12 to move together in the vertical direction. The retaining ring 40 is held on the housing 30 against relative rotation, for which multiple retaining devices 42 with eyelets are provided, which are inserted into the pins 32 for anti-relative rotation connection.

[0026] exist Figure 8A and 8B The image shows a ring 25, which is rotatably arranged on the housing 30. The ring 25 is located on the upper side of the housing 30 and has multiple receiving portions 26, into which radially protruding follower members 14 on the support portion 13 are respectively inserted. Thus, the support portion 13 and the ring 25 can only rotate together, with the first reached rotational position fixed by a locking tab 29.

[0027] The adjustment device for adjusting the grinding degree can be located entirely inside the bean container 3. By rotating the adjustment element 15, the support part 13 can be rotated directly along the guide element 41 without an intermediate connecting transmission device, so as to move vertically relative to the adjustment element 15. Optionally, the rotary knob 19 or other operating element can protrude beyond the opening in the cover 4.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, a radially inwardly protruding tab is provided as a guide element 41 for adjusting the support portion 13.

[0029] It is also possible that the guide element is constructed as a slot or a guide tab with a contoured configuration.

[0030] In addition, inclined guide ribs or grooves may be constructed on the support portion 13 to cause relative movement of the support portion 13 relative to the adjusting element 15 in the vertical direction.

[0031] List of reference numerals 1 coffee machine 2 shells 3 bean container 4 lids 5 Grinding equipment 6 filter holders 7 Vessels 8 operating areas 9 bottom 10 openings 11 grinding tools 12 Grinding tools 13 Bearing Unit 14 Follower 15 Adjustment Elements 16 channels 17 protrusions 18 operating elements 19 Rotary Knobs 20 guide splices 21 takeover 22 ribs 23 Stop section 24 openings 25 rings 26 storage sections 27 flange 28 Exports 29-card stop plate 30 housing 31 meshing part 32 pins 40 retaining ring 41 guiding element 42 Holding Device 50. Sealing components.

Claims

1. A grinding apparatus (5), the grinding apparatus having an upper grinding tool (12) and a lower grinding tool (11) arranged in a housing, the lower grinding tool being rotatable relative to the upper grinding tool (12) for the grinding process, wherein, For abrasive materials pulverized by grinding tools (11, 12), an adjustment device is provided to adjust the degree of grinding, and the upper grinding tool (12) is held on a support portion (13). The support portion (13) for the upper grinding tool (12) is movable in a vertical direction but held against relative rotation on an adjustment element (15) of the adjustment device. The adjustment device includes a guide device (41) for the support portion (13), which causes the support portion (13) and the upper grinding tool (12) to move vertically when the adjustment element (15) rotates, thereby adjusting the degree of grinding. The upper grinding tool (12) is arranged in a ring (25), which is rotatably supported on the housing and has at least one locking element (29) to lock the upper grinding tool (12) in an adjusted position. The ring (25) and / or the housing have bendable locking hooks that engage with the engagement portion.

2. The grinding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support part (13) together with the upper grinding tool (12) can be removed from the housing of the grinding equipment.

3. The grinding equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The adjusting element (15) together with the bearing part (13) can be locked onto the housing by a bayonet locking member.

4. The grinding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bayonet locking member includes at least one rib (22) that secures the adjusting element (15) to prevent it from being raised, and the protrusion (17) of the adjusting element (15) is guided along the rib (22) when the adjusting element (15) rotates.

5. The grinding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, An upwardly protruding operating element (18) is provided on the adjusting element (15), which enables the bearing part (13) to rotate.

6. The grinding equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The operating element (18) is partially or completely arranged in the interior space of the container for storing grinding materials.

7. The grinding apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The upwardly protruding operating element (18) includes a rotatable rod.

8. The grinding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A seal (50) is provided between the bearing part (13) and the adjusting element (15).

9. The grinding equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The support portion (13) is at least partially inserted into the downwardly open receiving portion on the adjusting element (15).

10. The grinding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, An intermediate opening is provided in the adjusting element (15) and the bearing part (13) for the abrasive to pass through.

11. The grinding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The grinding device (5) is used in the coffee machine (1).

12. A coffee machine (1) having a bean container (3) and a grinding device (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 arranged below the bean container.

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