Device for grinding coffee beans

Abstract

A device for grinding coffee beans, the device comprising a device body (11) having a feed opening (14) and a dosing system (20), the dosing system comprising: an engagement member (21) coupled to the device body (11), where the engagement member (21) is configured to support a container (30) for coffee beans and defines a through-hole (22), the through hole is aligned with the feeding opening (24) so as to form a channel for enabling coffee beans to fall into the grinding chamber (13) from the container (30); and a shutter closing unit (25) having a plurality of shutter blades (26, 27) slidable between an open position and a closed position. The grinding shaft (12c, 12c ') extends axially up to a plane defined by the shutter blades (26, 27) wherein, when the shutter blades are in the closed position, respective leading edges (26a, 27a) of the shutter blades (26, 27) cooperate to define a remaining hole (28) for receiving the upper end of the grinding shaft (12c, 12c').

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for grinding coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: - The device body, in which a grinding chamber is formed, the grinding chamber opens upward toward the outside of the device body through a feed opening; - A grinding shaft, which is arranged in the grinding chamber and rotates about a rotation axis, and is arranged coaxially with the feed opening; - A dosing system, which (20) includes: A connector is attached to the device body, wherein the connector is configured to support a container for coffee beans, and the connector defines a through hole aligned with a feed opening to form a channel for coffee beans to fall from the container into the grinding chamber. A blocking and closing unit having multiple blocking blades that can slide between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or block the flow of coffee beans through the channel; and An actuator that can be operated to move multiple blocking blades relative to the channel. Background Technology

[0002] It is known to prepare coffee-containing beverages using coffee powder obtained by grinding coffee beans. This beverage is typically obtained through extraction, i.e., permeation using pressurized boiling water. Specifically, known machines for making coffee-containing beverages are equipped with a water container from which water itself is pumped at high pressure to a heating unit. Hot water and / or steam are obtained from the heating unit, which is then used within an extraction unit and permeates the coffee powder to produce the coffee-containing beverage.

[0003] Observations revealed that at the end of the dispensing process, when the shading unit closes, coffee beans may become stuck between the shading blades, leading to suboptimal operation of the dispensing system. Specifically, the upper end of the grinding shaft obstructs the falling coffee beans, which may cause some beans to be positioned in a way that interferes with the closing movement of the shading blades, thus preventing them from closing completely. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to implement a solution that can at least partially overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0005] According to the invention, this and other objectives are achieved by means of a device of the initially defined type, wherein the grinding shaft extends axially to a plane defined by a blocking blade, wherein, when the blocking blade is in the closed position, the corresponding leading edges of the blocking blade cooperate to define a clearance hole for receiving the upper end of the grinding shaft.

[0006] Because the grinding shaft extends to the plane defined by the shielding blades, coffee beans that might not fall due to the obstruction of the grinding shaft will remain above the shielding blades and therefore will not prevent the shielding blades from closing completely. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description, which is given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional diagram of a multi-container quantitative system; Figure 2a yes Figure 1 A decomposition diagram of the quantitative system; Figure 2b and Figure 2c It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the metering system connected to the grinding apparatus, wherein the metering system is shown in two different operating positions; Figure 3a It is a three-dimensional diagram showing the details of the quantitative system; Figure 3b It is a perspective view showing the details of the metering system connected to the grinding apparatus; Figure 4 It is a bottom-view plan view of the quantitative system; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a quantitative system; Figure 6 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the container of the quantitative system; Figure 7 and Figure 8 These are plan views of the quantitative system in the open and closed positions, respectively. Detailed Implementation

[0008] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2a The quantitative system as a whole is indicated by reference numeral 20 in the attached figure. In the example shown, this is a multi-container system, but the quantitative system can also be a single-container system.

[0009] The metering system 20 includes a coupling 21 configured to be connected to the grinding apparatus 10 (in Figure 2b and Figure 2c(Partially shown in the middle), this grinding device is part of a so-called "bean-to-cup" machine that can both grind coffee beans and use the ground coffee to make beverages. According to one embodiment, the connection between the coupling 21 and the grinding device 10 is implemented via a support structure (not shown) of the "bean-to-cup" machine, on which the dispensing system 20 and the grinding device 10 are mounted. According to another embodiment, the connection between the coupling 21 and the grinding device 10 is direct, and therefore, the dispensing system 20 is directly mounted on the grinding device 10.

[0010] The grinding apparatus 10 includes an apparatus body 11, which houses components configured for its operation, such as, for example, a grinding member 12, an electric motor, a drive that dynamically connects the grinding member to the electric motor, and a circuit board (not shown) for controlling the electric motor.

[0011] Specifically, a grinding chamber 13 is formed inside the device body 11. The grinding chamber 13 opens upward toward the outside of the device body 11 through a feed opening 14. Coffee beans to be ground can be fed into the grinding chamber 13 by gravity through the feed opening 14.

[0012] A grinding member 12 is arranged within a grinding chamber 13. This grinding member is configured to grind coffee beans and produce coffee powder. The grinding member is at least partially rotatable about the axis indicated by z in the figure, but the specific configuration of the grinding member is not essential for the purposes of this invention. In the example shown, the grinding member 12 includes a movable grinding member 12a rotatable about the rotation axis z and a fixed grinding member 12b integral with the device body 11. Figure 2b and Figure 2c The grinding shaft 12c can also be seen, which is rotatably integrated with the movable grinding member 12a and is arranged coaxially with the feed opening 14. The grinding shaft 12c includes an axial extension 12c', the function of which will be described below. The axial extension 12c' may be an element screwed onto the upper end of the grinding shaft 12c', or an element otherwise mounted on the upper end of the grinding shaft 12c'. Alternatively, the axial extension 12c' may be part of the grinding shaft 12c, manufactured as a single piece together with the rest of the grinding shaft 12c. The axial extension 12c' may have a guide shape that facilitates the falling of beans. For example, the axial extension 12c' may be tapered, and / or have a helical structure provided on the outer surface of the axial extension.

[0013] The engagement 21 of the metering system 20 is configured to support at least one container 30 for coffee beans and define a through hole 22, which is configured to align with the feed opening 14 of the grinding device 10 to form a channel for coffee beans to fall from the container 30 into the grinding chamber 13 of the grinding device 10.

[0014] In the example shown, the connector 21 includes a motherboard-like component 23 and a guide element 24 mounted on the motherboard-like component 23. On the lower surface 23a of the motherboard-like component 23 (see...) Figure 4 A connecting forming portion 23b is formed around the through hole 22, and the connecting member 21 can be connected to the feed opening of the grinding device through this connecting forming portion. A guide element 24 arranged on the upper surface 23c of the main plate member 23 has an edge 24a extending in a circumferential arc, along which a guide forming portion 24b is formed, the purpose of which will be described below. A pair of cap receiving portions 23d and blade seats 23e are also formed on the upper surface 23c of the main plate member 23, the uses of which will be described below.

[0015] The dispensing system 20 also includes a blocking and closing unit 25 with multiple blocking blades that can slide between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or block the flow of coffee beans through the channel defined by the through-hole 22. In the example shown, the multiple blocking blades include two blocking blades, denoted as 26 and 27, arranged in the blade seat portion 23e. The open positions of the blocking blades 26 and 27 are, for example, in... Figure 1 , Figure 2c Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown in the diagram, the closed positions of the shielding blades 26 and 27 are... Figure 2b and Figure 8 As shown in the image.

[0016] The shielding blades 26 and 27 are hinged to the connecting member 21 about the same rotating pin 23f, more precisely to the main plate member 23, which defines the vertical rotation axis z1 of the shielding blades 26 and 27 (in Figure 7 and Figure 8 (As shown in the diagram) The shielding blades 26 and 27 have respective leading edges 26a and 27a, which abut against each other in the closed position of the shielding blades. The leading edges 26a and 27a cooperate in the closed position of the shielding blades 26 and 27 to define the retaining hole 28. For this purpose, corresponding notches are formed on the leading edges 26a and 27a, which define complementary portions of the retaining hole 28. Preferably, the retaining hole 28 has a flared edge to guide the bean in the direction of drop.

[0017] like Figure 2a , Figure 2b and Figure 3b As shown, the grinding shaft 12c extends axially (at least) to the plane defined by the blocking blades 26, 27 via the axial extension 12c'. In the closed position of these blocking elements, the clearance holes 28 defined by the respective leading edges of the blocking blades 26, 27 receive the upper end of the grinding shaft 12c. For clarity, in Figure 3bIn the middle, one of the obstructing blades has been removed.

[0018] The shielding blades 26 and 27 have corresponding peripheral edges 26b and 27b, which extend along a circumferential arc and are slidably connected to the edge 23g of the blade seat 23e. The male-female connection between the peripheral edges 26b and 27b of the shielding blades 26 and 27 and the edge 23g of the blade seat 23e holds the shielding blades 26 and 27 in the vertical direction.

[0019] The first blade 26 of the pair of blocking blades 26, 27 includes a first portion 26c and at least one second portion 26e. The first portion is defined above by a first top surface 26d, and the at least one second portion is defined above by a second top surface 26f that is recessed relative to the first top surface 26d. The second blade 27 of the pair of blocking blades 26, 27 is slidable on the second top surface 26f of the first blade 26 and has a top surface 27g that is flush with the first top surface 26d of the first blade 26. Furthermore, the top surface 27g of the second blade 27 and the first top surface 26d of the first blade 26 are arranged to be flush with the upper surface 23c of the main plate member 23.

[0020] The metering system 20 also includes an actuator 29' operable to move a plurality of blocking blades 26, 27 relative to a channel defined by the through-hole 22. In the example shown, the actuator 29' is an electrically driven linear actuator that moves the blocking blades 26, 27 via a transmission 29. A linear actuator is preferable to a rotary actuator because it allows for precise control of the movement of the blocking blades 26, 27.

[0021] For this purpose, the movable element 29a' of the actuator 29' is fixed to the fork-shaped element 29a of the transmission device 29, which is slidably connected to the lower surface 23a of the main plate 23. Each arm of the fork-shaped element 29a is connected to a corresponding rocker arm 29b, which is pivotally connected to the lower surface 23a of the main plate 23. Specifically, each rocker arm 29b includes a proximal end with a pin 29c slidably connected to a groove 29d formed on the distal end of the corresponding arm of the fork-shaped element 29a. Each rocker arm 29b also includes a distal end with a groove 29e slidably connected to a pin 29f integral with the corresponding blocking blades 26, 27. The pins 29f of the blocking blades 26, 27 are guided along the grooves 23h formed through the main plate 23. The actuators and transmission devices that allow movement of the blocking blades may differ from those described above.

[0022] The coffee bean container 30 mainly comprises a body 31 and a neck 32 extending from one end of the container 30. An opening is formed at the neck 32 of the container 30, allowing coffee beans to be loaded into the container 30 when the container 30 is in an upright position, and allowing the coffee beans to be discharged from the container by gravity when the container is in the inverted position shown in the figure—where the opening of the container is arranged at the lower end of the container 30. According to an embodiment not shown, the opening for loading and the opening for unloading can be different; for example, the opening for loading and the opening for unloading can be arranged at opposite ends of the container. This example shows a container with a circular cross-section. This shape is not required for the invention, and the container can take other shapes. The opening of the container 30 is closed by a cap 33 fixed to the neck 32 of the container 30. The cap 33 has a plate-like shape and is configured to be slidably inserted into an associated cap receiving seat 23d. For this purpose, the lateral edge 33a of the cap 33 is slidably connected to the corresponding edge 23d' of the cap receiving portion 23d. The male-female connection between the lateral edge 33a of the cap 33 and the edge 23d' of the cap receiving portion 23d holds the cap 33 in the vertical direction. The cap 33 is secured to the neck 32 by means of a pair of elastic flaps 33b, which protrude vertically from the cap 33 and extend in a transverse direction relative to the extension direction of the lateral edge 33a of the cap 33. The elastic flaps 33b engage with ribs 32a formed on the neck 32 of the container 30, and the elastic flaps have at least one portion extending in a transverse direction relative to the extension direction of the lateral edge 33a of the cap 33.

[0023] The dispensing system 20 may also include a container replacement assembly 40. The container replacement assembly 40 includes a support element 41 mounted on the main board 23 and defining a rotating pin for at least one container holding element 42, and preferably, the support element defines rotating pins for two container holding elements. Each container holding element 42 includes a support arm 42a having a radially inner end hinged to the rotating pin 41a, and thus rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation z2 defined by the rotating pin 41a.

[0024] By rotating about the vertical axis of rotation z2, the support arm 42a can slide on the upper surface 23c of the main plate member 23. The radially outer end of the support arm 42a has a receiving portion 42b, in which a radially outwardly opening chamber 42c is formed, wherein the outline of the chamber matches the outline of the outer side surface of the body 31 of the container 30. At the bottom of the chamber 42c, the receiving portion 42b has a support protrusion 42d, which is configured to provide support to the shoulder of the container 30. A pair of resilient teeth 42e are formed on the support protrusion 42d, which are arranged on opposite sides of the chamber 42c for engaging with the neck 32 of the container 30. Correspondingly, a pair of protruding forming portions 42g are formed on the inner surface of the chamber 42c, which are configured to engage with the body 31 of the container 30. A pair of end extensions 42f are also formed on the support protrusion 42d. The pair of end extensions are arranged on the opposite ends of the support protrusion 42 for slidably connecting with the guide forming portion 24b of the guide element 24.

[0025] With the above arrangement, each container holding element 42 is able to, as Figure 1 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The diagram shows a circular trajectory between the insertion position and the working position, in which the container 30 is arranged to align with the through-hole 22 of the coupling 21. An end stop at the insertion position is defined by a support element 41. Another end stop at the working position is defined by the surface of a support arm 42a of the container holding element 42, which is held in the insertion position, and the corresponding surface of the support arm 42a of the container holding element 42, which has been transferred to the working position, abuts against the aforementioned surface. The container holding element 42 can be manually moved between the insertion position and the working position. According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the movement of the container holding element 42 can be driven by a dedicated actuator.

[0026] The metering system 20 also includes a sensor 45 configured to provide a detection signal for indicating that a portion of one of the container holding elements 42 has reached the working position.

[0027] The accompanying drawings also show a control lever 51 and associated gears 52 and 53, by means of which the distance between the grinders of the grinding apparatus can be adjusted. These components are not the subject of this invention and will therefore not be described further.

[0028] according to Figure 1As shown by arrow A, the container 30 with cap 33 is inserted into one of the container holding elements 42. The cap 33 then slides along the associated cap receiving portion 23d formed in the coupling 21 until the body 31 of the container 30 is engaged with the protruding portion 42g and the neck 32 of the container 30 is engaged with the resilient tooth 42e.

[0029] At this point, the container holding element 42 can rotate until it reaches the working position. At the start of this movement, the container 30 disengages from the cap 33, which is held within the associated cap receiving portion 23d, based on the fact that the connecting flaps 33d of the cap 33 are arranged parallel to the local direction of movement of the container 30. The container 30 can then slide with its lower opening in general contact with a generally continuous sliding surface, initially defined by the upper surface of the cap 33, then by the upper surface 23c of the main plate 23, and finally by the top surfaces 27g and 26d of the blocking blades 26 and 27 in their closed position. Therefore, coffee beans do not escape from the container 30 along the entire path.

[0030] When the container holding element 42 reaches the working position, this state is detected by the sensor 45, which provides a signal to authorize the control unit of the system to activate the actuator 29' to move the blocking blades 26, 27 to the open position, thereby performing the metering of coffee beans.

Claims

1. An apparatus for grinding coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: - The device body (11) has a grinding chamber (13) formed therein, and the grinding chamber (13) opens upward toward the outside of the device body (11) through a feed opening (14). - Grinding shaft (12c), which is arranged in the grinding chamber (13) and rotates about the axis of rotation (z), the grinding shaft (12c, 12c') being arranged coaxially with the feed opening (14); - A quantitative system (20), the quantitative system comprising: A connector (21) is attached to the device body (11), wherein the connector (21) is configured to support a container (30) for coffee beans, and the connector defines a through hole (22) that is aligned with the feed opening (24) to form a channel for coffee beans to fall from the container (30) into the grinding chamber (13); A blocking and closing unit (25) having a plurality of blocking blades (26, 27) capable of sliding between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or block the flow of coffee beans through the channel; and An actuator (29') is operable to move the plurality of the blocking blades (26, 27) relative to the channel; The grinding shaft (12c, 12c') extends axially to a plane defined by the blocking blades (26, 27), wherein, in the closed position, the respective leading edges (26a, 27a) of the blocking blades (26, 27) cooperate to define a retaining hole (28) for receiving the upper end of the grinding shaft (12c, 12c').

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, A corresponding notch is formed on the leading edge (26a, 27a) of the shielding blades (26, 27), the notch defining a complementary portion of the remaining hole (28).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The remaining hole (28) has an inclined edge.

4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The plurality of the shielding blades include pairs of shielding blades (26, 27), the pairs of shielding blades being hinged to the joint (21) at the same axis of rotation (z1).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, The shielding blades (26, 27) are arranged in the blade seat (23e), which is formed on the upper surface (23c) of the coupling (21), and the shielding blades have corresponding peripheral edges (26b, 27b) that are slidably connected to the edge (23g) of the blade seat (23).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, The paired shielding blades include: A first blade (26) comprising a first portion (26c) and at least one second portion (26e), the first portion (26c) being defined above by a first top surface (26d), and the at least one second portion (26e) being defined above by a second top surface (26f) recessed relative to the first top surface (26d). The second blade (27) is capable of sliding on the second top surface (26f) of the first blade (26), and the second blade (27) has a top surface (27g) flush with the first top surface (26d) of the first blade (26).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The top surface (27g) of the second blade (27) and the first top surface (26d) of the first blade (26) are arranged to be flush with the upper surface (23c) of the coupling (21).

8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The actuator (29') is an electrically driven linear actuator, and the actuator is connected to a plurality of the blocking blades (26, 27) via a transmission device (29).

Images