Coffee grinding apparatus comprising a removable accessory for containing a dispersion of coffee powder

Abstract

A coffee grinding apparatus comprising a coffee grinder, a removable filter holder (1) and a cradle (50) positioned below the coffee grinder, wherein the cradle (50) has a support shelf (51) above the filter holder (1) defining an opening (52) for the passage of coffee powder, wherein below the cradle (50) an actuator (60) is provided for actuating the start switch of the coffee grinder, wherein a removable fitting (10) is provided for containing the dispersion of coffee powder flowing towards the filter of the removable filter holder (1), the removable fitting (10) being formed by a sleeve (11) connecting the opening (52) in the support shelf (51) to the upper mouth (23) of a cup (20) of the filter holder (1), the sleeve (11) having a lower release and quick coupling device to the upper mouth (23) of the cup (20) and a removable upper engagement device with the support shelf (51) comprising a peripheral flange (12) of the sleeve (11) for resting on the support shelf (51), the sleeve (11) being configured and arranged to interact with the actuator (60) below the peripheral flange (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a coffee grinding apparatus that includes a detachable fitting for containing dispersed coffee powder. Background Technology

[0002] Two types of coffee grinders, one independently constructed and the other integrated into a coffee-making machine, have been on the market for some time.

[0003] Devices for grinding coffee are known, which are pre-set to load coffee powder directly into a filter holder cup, which is then moved to a station for pressing dry powder, and then to a brewing station of a machine for making coffee, which may be automatic, semi-automatic or manual.

[0004] It is known that such filter holders (where the filter is typically removable) are associated with a longitudinal handle for easy movement and a corresponding support for supporting and / or securing to the coffee grinder for proper positioning relative to the coffee powder loading device.

[0005] As is well known, coffee powder is traditionally loaded into the filter holder cup by allowing the powder to fall through a hopper from a grinder placed above the filter holder cup.

[0006] As is well known, this conventional construction means that powder may be dispersed outside the filter retainer cup because the lower opening of the hopper and the upper opening of the filter retainer cup do not contact each other during the loading step.

[0007] Then, any excess dry powder relative to the upper edge of the filter holder cup can be dispersed during the transfer of the filter holder from the loading station of the coffee grinder to the pressing station and / or during the pressing step itself.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to improve the structure of known coffee grinding equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the technical objective of this invention is to provide a coffee grinding device that eliminates the aforementioned technical defects of the prior art.

[0010] In the context of this technical task, one object of the present invention is to provide a coffee grinding apparatus that prevents powder from dispersing to the outside of the filter holder cup during the loading step.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a coffee grinding apparatus that prevents powder dispersion during the step of conveying a filter holder from a loading station to a pressing station.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a coffee grinding device that enables the manual loading of coffee powder into a filter holder cup.

[0013] In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide a coffee grinding device that enables the initiation of the step of loading coffee powder into a filter holder cup under manual conditions.

[0014] The technical objective and other objectives of the present invention are achieved by providing a coffee grinding apparatus comprising a coffee grinder, a removable filter holder, and a bracket positioned below the coffee grinder, wherein the filter holder has a longitudinal handle, a cup, a filter housed in the cup, and a plurality of baffles extending outwardly to the cup; the bracket has a support frame above the filter holder defining an opening for coffee powder to pass through, and is further provided with an actuator for actuating a start switch of the coffee grinder; the actuator is positioned below the bracket, characterized in that the coffee grinding apparatus includes... Includes a detachable fitting for accommodating the dispersion of coffee powder flowing toward the filter of the detachable filter holder. The detachable fitting is formed by a sleeve connecting the opening in the support frame to the upper opening of the cup of the filter holder. The sleeve has a lower quick-connect and release mechanism to the upper opening of the cup of the filter holder and a detachable upper engagement mechanism together with the support frame. The detachable upper engagement mechanism includes a peripheral flange for resting on the support frame. The sleeve is constructed and arranged to interact with the actuator below the peripheral flange.

[0015] The interaction with the actuator advantageously occurs in the protected recess, without any dust confined between the outer upper peripheral flange of the sleeve and the outer lower peripheral flange of the sleeve supporting the quick-connect and release device.

[0016] The actuator will not be contaminated by coffee powder, which, if present, would cause friction and blockage as the actuator moves away from and toward the switch.

[0017] Other features of the invention are further defined in the following claims. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the coffee grinding apparatus according to the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 An assembled view of the filter holder is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 An assembled view of the filter retainer and its support bracket is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a transparent view of the filter retainer - a removable accessory assembly;

[0022] Figure 4A shows a longitudinal section of the filter retainer-support bracket assembly;

[0023] Figure 4B shows a bracket without a filter holder;

[0024] Figure 5 A longitudinal section of the filter retainer-support bracket assembly in the second preferred embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a removable filter holder, generally indicated by reference numeral 1, is shown.

[0026] For ease of illustration and reading, the coffee grinder, press station, and brewing station complex of known types of coffee machines are not highlighted in the diagram.

[0027] The coffee grinder has a bracket 50 positioned below the grinder for accommodating a removable filter holder 1 during the powder loading step.

[0028] The filter holder 1 has a longitudinal handle 30, a cup 20, a filter 21 for collecting powder removably contained in the cup 20, and a plurality of baffles 22 extending outward to the cup 20.

[0029] The bracket 50 has a support frame 51 above the filter holder, which defines an opening 52 for passage through which ground coffee falls from the grinder into the filter 21.

[0030] The support frame 51 has a front discontinuity at the insertion axis of the filter holder 1 in the grinding equipment.

[0031] Advantageously, according to the invention, a detachable fitting 10 is provided for accommodating the dispersion of coffee powder flowing toward the filter 21 of the detachable filter holder 1. This detachable fitting is formed by a sleeve 11 that connects the opening 52 in the support frame 51 to the upper opening 23 of the cup 20 that accommodates the filter 21.

[0032] The sleeve 11 has an inner peripheral wall 13 that matches the inner peripheral wall 24 of the filter 21; typically, the inner peripheral wall 13 of the sleeve 11 and the matching inner peripheral wall 24 of the filter 21 are cylindrical.

[0033] Appropriately, the sleeve 11 has both a lower release and quick-connect device to the upper opening 23 of the cup 20 of the filter holder 1 and a detachable upper engagement device together with the support frame 51.

[0034] The detachable upper engagement device of the sleeve 11 together with the support frame 51 includes a peripheral flange 12 that extends outward along the outer periphery of the upper base 14 of the sleeve: the peripheral flange 12 is configured to rest along the peripheral surface 53 of the opening 52 in the support frame 51.

[0035] More precisely, the peripheral flange 12 has a horizontally flat lower surface resting along the horizontally flat upper surface 53 of the support frame 51.

[0036] The lower release and quick-connect device of the sleeve 11 includes a resiliently retractable engagement seat 15 for the baffle 22 of the cup 20 and extends along the outer periphery of the lower base 16 of the sleeve 11.

[0037] Advantageously, according to the invention, the bracket 50 has an anti-tilt bracket 54 above the support frame 51 for preventing the removable accessory 10 from tilting. The anti-tilt bracket is constructed and arranged to interact with the peripheral flange 12, particularly with the area of ​​the peripheral flange 12 in a vertical plane away from the axis that houses the filter holder handle.

[0038] Another advantageous feature of the coffee grinding equipment described herein is that the coffee grinding equipment includes an actuator 60 in a position below the bracket 50, which is used to actuate the start switch of the coffee grinder: the detachable accessory 10 is constructed and arranged to interact with such actuator 60.

[0039] Specifically, the sleeve 11 interacts with the actuator 60 at a recess 18 defined between the outer upper peripheral flange 12 and the outer lower peripheral flange 17 of the sleeve 11.

[0040] The lower peripheral flange 17 of the sleeve 11 supports a quick-connect and release device on the opposite side of the side facing the upper peripheral flange 12.

[0041] In a second usage configuration of the invention, the coffee grinder does not have a detachable accessory 10; in this usage configuration, the baffle 22 of the cup 20 is directly engaged and rests on the support frame 51 of the holder 50, and the cup 20 interacts with the actuator 60 of the coffee grinder start switch.

[0042] The subject matter of the present invention also relates to a coffee machine incorporating a grinding device conforming to the above description, wherein a filter holder 1 containing coffee powder is detachably engaged with the brewing head of the coffee machine via a baffle 22 including a front baffle 22A and a pair of rear baffles 22P.

[0043] The operation of the coffee grinding apparatus according to the present invention can be clearly seen from the description and examples, and is specifically as follows.

[0044] The sleeve 11 of the detachable accessory 10 engages with the upper opening 23 of the cup 20 of the filter holder 1 via its own lower release and quick-connect device: a resiliently retractable seat 15 extending along the outer periphery of the lower base 16 of the sleeve 11 engages with a baffle 22 that extends outward into the cup 20 by a press-rotation movement (generally in a clockwise direction).

[0045] Therefore, the filter holder 1 equipped with the detachable accessory 10 is gripped by the user via the longitudinal handle 30 and engages with the coffee grinder by moving axially forward in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle 30.

[0046] The peripheral flange 12 engages with the support frame 51 at the bottom along the peripheral surface 53 of the opening 52.

[0047] As the peripheral flange 12 approaches the end of its axially forward stroke, it engages at the top with the anti-tilt bracket 54 of the bracket 50, which is configured to prevent the filter holder 1 from tilting, thereby allowing the coffee powder to be loaded by the user under so-called manual conditions.

[0048] When the filter retainer 1 reaches the end of its axial forward stroke, the sleeve 11 of the removable fitting 10 below the peripheral flange 12 interacts with the actuator 60, which is located below the bracket 50 in the position protected by the peripheral flange 12.

[0049] The actuator activates the start switch of the coffee grinder, which then begins to grind and unload coffee powder through the sleeve 11 from the opening 52 into the upper opening 23 of the cup 20 containing the filter 21, still unloading by the user under so-called manual conditions.

[0050] As described above, the actuator 60 below is protected from any deposits of dry-ground coffee powder by the continuous support of the support frame 51 along the peripheral surface 53 of the opening 52 to the peripheral flange 12, thereby maintaining cleanliness and operational integrity.

[0051] Then, flange 12 provides a series of collaborative functions, such as support for fittings, anti-tilt function for fittings, and protection function for actuators.

[0052] The coffee grinding operation is handled by known types of commands, metering, and control devices on the coffee grinder.

[0053] The sleeve 11 ensures the guidance of powder from the opening 52 to the upper opening 23, prevents any dispersion of dry powder, and provides any excess containment relative to the upper edge of the opening 23; the continuity of the inner peripheral wall 13 of the sleeve 11 with the matching inner peripheral wall 24 of the filter 21 ensures the orderly flow of dry ground coffee powder falling into the filter 21.

[0054] Then, the filter holder 1 with the intended dose of ground dry coffee is removed from the grinding equipment by axial movement opposite to forward movement and is translated by the user to the powder pressing station, wherein the sleeve 11 of the removable fitting 10 advantageously accommodates any further dispersion of the dry powder between the pressing device and the filter 21 in the cup 20.

[0055] Advantageously, the continuity of the inner peripheral wall 13 of the sleeve 11 with the matching inner peripheral wall 24 of the filter 21 ensures that the pressing device is slidable and properly guided to the sleeve 11 and the filter 21 along the common pressing axis.

[0056] The removable accessory 10 is then removed by the user using a press-rotate motion in the opposite direction to the installation direction (typically counterclockwise), thereby releasing the resilient recoil seat 15 from engagement with the baffle 22 of the filter retainer cup 20.

[0057] Then, the filter holder 1, loaded with tamped coffee powder, is moved by the user to the brewing head of the coffee machine, where the filter holder can be detachably engaged by a baffle 22, which typically includes a front baffle 22A and a pair of rear baffles 22P.

[0058] In a second configuration of the invention, the coffee grinder has a filter holder 1 without a removable accessory 10; in this configuration, the baffle 22 of the cup 20 is directly engaged and rests on the support frame 51 of the holder 50, and the cup 20 interacts with the actuator 60 of the coffee grinder start switch. However, in this case, grinding without manual intervention is impossible because the peripheral flange 12 will have a tilt trajectory that no longer interferes with the anti-tilt frame 54.

[0059] Modifications and changes beyond those described are naturally possible.

[0060] In practice, it has been noted how particularly advantageous the coffee grinding apparatus according to the invention is in preventing any dispersion of powder outside the filter holder cup during the loading step and reliable operation of the grinder start-up system.

[0061] The coffee grinding apparatus according to the invention is further particularly advantageous because it enables the step of loading coffee powder into the filter holder cup under manual conditions.

[0062] In particular, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a coffee grinding apparatus that enables the manual loading of coffee powder into the filter holder cup.

[0063] The coffee grinding equipment envisioned in this article is much easier to operate.

[0064] Modifications and variations are permitted, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the claims; furthermore, all details may be replaced with technical equivalents.

[0065] In practice, the materials and dimensions used can be determined according to needs and existing technology.

Claims

1. A coffee grinding apparatus comprising a coffee grinder, a removable filter holder (1), and a bracket (50) positioned below the coffee grinder, wherein the filter holder (1) has a longitudinal handle (30), a cup (20) having an upper opening (23), a filter (21) housed in the cup (20), and a plurality of baffles (22) extending outwardly to the cup (20), wherein the bracket (50) has a support frame (51) above the filter holder (1), the support... The frame defines an opening (52) for coffee powder to pass through, wherein an actuator (60) is provided below the bracket (50) for actuating the start switch of the coffee grinder, wherein a removable fitting (10) is provided for accommodating the dispersion of the coffee powder flowing toward the filter (21) of the removable filter holder (1), the removable fitting (10) being formed by a sleeve (11) connecting the opening (52) in the support frame (51) to the upper opening (23) of the cup (20), the sleeve ( 11) Having a lower release and quick-connect device to the upper opening (23) of the cup (20) and a detachable upper engagement device together with the support frame (51), the detachable upper engagement device including an outer upper peripheral flange (12) for resting on the support frame (51), the sleeve (11) being constructed and arranged to interact with the actuator (60) below the outer upper peripheral flange (12), the filter holder (1) equipped with the detachable accessory (10) being accessed by the user via the longitudinal handle (30) Grip and engage the coffee grinder in an axial forward movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal handle (30), then the filter holder (1) with a presumed dose of ground dry coffee is disassembled from the coffee grinder in an axial movement opposite to the forward movement, and then translated by the user to the powder press station equipped with a pressing device, wherein the sleeve (11) of the removable accessory (10) accommodates any further dispersion of the dry powder between the pressing device and the filter (21) in the cup (20).

2. The coffee grinding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that... The sleeve (11) interacts with the actuator (60) at a recess (18) between the outer upper peripheral flange (12) and the outer lower peripheral flange (17) of the sleeve (11), the outer lower peripheral flange supporting the quick-connect and release device on the opposite side to the outer upper peripheral flange (12).

3. The coffee grinding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The outer upper peripheral flange (12) extends along the outer periphery of the upper base (14) of the sleeve (11).

4. The coffee grinding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that... The outer upper peripheral flange (12) has a horizontally flat lower surface resting along the horizontally flat upper surface (53) of the support frame (51) surrounding the opening (52).

5. The coffee grinding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The bracket (50) has an anti-tilt bracket (54) for preventing the detachable accessory (10) from tilting.

6. The coffee grinding equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that... The anti-tilt frame (54) is constructed and arranged to interact with the external upper peripheral flange (12).

7. The coffee grinding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The sleeve (11) has an inner peripheral wall (13) that matches the inner peripheral wall (24) of the filter (21).

8. The coffee grinding equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that... The inner peripheral wall (13) and the matching inner peripheral wall (24) are cylindrical.

9. The coffee grinding equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that... The quick-connect and release device includes a resilient retractable engagement seat (15) for the baffle (22).

10. The coffee grinding apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that... The resilient retractable engagement seat (15) extends along the outer periphery of the lower base (16) of the sleeve (11).

11. The coffee grinding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The coffee grinding device has a configuration without the removable accessory (10), wherein the baffle (22) is engaged and rests on the support frame (51), and the cup (20) interacts with the actuator (60) for actuating the start switch.

12. A coffee machine incorporating a coffee grinding apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the filter holder (1) is detachably engaged with the brewing head of the coffee machine via a baffle (22) comprising a front baffle (22A) and a pair of rear baffles (22P).

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