Coffee machine

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a coffee machine (100) comprising: a brewing unit configured to extract coffee from ground coffee; a water heating system associated with the brewing unit and configured to heat water for the brewing unit; a pump (106) operable to direct water from the water reservoir (102) to the brewing unit; and a motor (136) that drives operation of the pump (106), where the pump (106) is operable in or at a pressure range between approximately 0 to 10 bar, and where the pump (106) is operable at a noise level below approximately 60 decibels.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2023903286, filed on October 13, 2023. The entire disclosure of Australian Patent Application No. 2023903286 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to beverage equipment. In particular, this disclosure relates to beverage equipment that includes a pump for dispensing fluid.

[0004] This invention was primarily developed for use in espresso machines or coffee machines, and will be described below with reference to these applications. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular area of ​​application, but can be implemented in other beverage devices involving the delivery of water. Background Technology

[0005] For example, the beverage unit of an espresso machine typically includes a pump that is fluidly connected between a fluid reservoir and one or more fluid outlets, such as the brew head and steam wand of the espresso machine. Known espresso machines control the pressure and flow rate of the water delivered when making a cup of espresso. Precise control of pressure and flow rate can be difficult to achieve due to reliance on electromagnetic pumps driven by AC motors. Furthermore, the duty cycle of an electromagnetic pump is typically 2 minutes in the on state and 1 minute in the off state, meaning it cannot perform continuous operation. It is also known that electromagnetic pumps can generate noise during operation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One object of the present invention is to substantially overcome or at least improve one or more disadvantages of existing equipment, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing equipment.

[0007] A coffee machine is disclosed here, including:

[0008] The brewing unit is configured to extract coffee from coffee grounds;

[0009] A water heating system associated with and configured to heat the water used in the brewing unit;

[0010] A pump, operable to direct water from a water reservoir to the brewing unit; and

[0011] An electric motor that drives the operation of the pump, wherein the pump is capable of operating at or within a pressure range of approximately 0 to 10 bar, and wherein the pump is capable of operating at a noise level of less than approximately 60 dB.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the pump includes a noise reduction device to enable the pump to operate at a noise level below approximately 60 decibels.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the pump also includes a housing, and a noise reduction device is integrated into the housing.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the noise reduction device includes a pair of interlocking gears.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, each noise interlock gear includes a gear axis aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the pump.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the pump includes:

[0017] A pump head having an inlet for receiving water from the water reservoir and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet; and

[0018] A gear pump assembly arranged in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the gear pump assembly includes a noise reduction device.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the pump head includes a bypass valve associated with an inlet or outlet.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the coffee machine also includes a magnetic drive located between the motor and the gear pump assembly.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the gear pump assembly includes a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft of the gear pump assembly is separate from the drive shaft of the motor.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the coffee machine also includes a control system configured to adjust the speed of the motor based on the pressure within the brewing unit.

[0023] In one or more embodiments, the control system is configured to adjust the power consumption of the motor based on the pressure within the brewing unit.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate in a flow rate range of approximately 0.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate in a pressure range of about 3 to 9 bar and a flow rate range of about 1.0 to 4.5 ml / s.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate in a pressure range of about 0 to 3 bar and a flow rate range of about 4.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate at a pressure of about 9 bar and a flow rate of about 1.5 ml / s.

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate at a pressure of about 9 bar and a flow rate of about 2.5 ml / s.

[0029] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate at a pressure of about 5 bar and a flow rate of about 4.5 ml / s.

[0030] In one or more embodiments, the pump can operate at a pressure range of about 0 to 1 bar and a flow rate of about 8.0 ml / s.

[0031] A beverage device is also disclosed here, including:

[0032] Fluid storage tank;

[0033] A pump, in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and adapted to direct fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet of the beverage device, the pump being operatively associated with one or more sensors adapted to determine the operating state of the pump; and

[0034] A microcontroller unit is configured to receive user input indicating a function of a beverage device and to control a pump output in response to the user input, wherein the function of the beverage device is defined by a target pressure or pressure range and a target flow rate or flow rate range.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, one or more sensors include a pump current sensor and a pump speed sensor.

[0036] In one or more embodiments, one or more sensors include pressure sensors.

[0037] In one or more embodiments, the pressure sensor is located in the fluid path between the pump and the heater of the beverage device.

[0038] In one or more embodiments, the pressure sensor is located in the fluid path between the pump and the brewing unit of the beverage device.

[0039] In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller unit is configured to adjust the pump output in response to a signal provided by one or more sensors indicating the operating state of the pump.

[0040] In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller unit is configured to select a preset pulse width modulation frequency for pump operation in response to the user input.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, the target pressure ranges from about 0 to 10 bar, and the target flow rate ranges from about 0 to 10 ml / s.

[0042] In one or more embodiments, the target pressure ranges from about 0 to 10 bar, and the target flow rate ranges from about 0.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the target pressure ranges from about 3 to 9 bar, and the target flow rate ranges from about 1.0 to 4.5 ml / s.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the target pressure ranges from about 0 to 3 bar, and the target flow rate ranges from about 4.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

[0045] In one or more embodiments, the beverage device functions include one or more of the following: hot water function, pre-soaking function, blooming function, extraction function, brewing profile function, and steam generation function.

[0046] In one or more embodiments, the beverage device functions include one or more of a low-flow concentration function, a medium-flow concentration function, a high-flow concentration function, and a hot water function.

[0047] In one or more embodiments, the hot water function is defined by a pressure range of about 0 to 2 bar and a flow rate range of about 5 to 10 ml / s.

[0048] In one or more embodiments, the pre-soaking function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 4 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 0 to 5 ml / s.

[0049] In one or more embodiments, the steaming function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 0 ml / s.

[0050] In one or more embodiments, the extraction function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 4 to 9 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 1 to 6 ml / s.

[0051] In one or more embodiments, the brewing profile function is defined by a variable pressure range and a variable flow rate range.

[0052] In one or more embodiments, the low-flow concentration function is defined by a pressure of approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 1.5 ml / s.

[0053] In one or more embodiments, the medium flow concentration function is defined by a pressure of approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 2.5 ml / s.

[0054] In one or more embodiments, the high-flow-rate concentration function is defined by a pressure of approximately 5 bar and a flow rate of approximately 4.5 ml / s.

[0055] In one or more embodiments, the hot water function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 1 bar and a flow rate of approximately 8.0 ml / s.

[0056] In one or more embodiments, the pump is adapted to connect to existing hydraulic fittings of the beverage equipment. In one or more embodiments, the pump includes a pump head having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet and fluid outlet are connected to existing hydraulic fittings of the beverage equipment.

[0057] In one or more embodiments, the pump is sized to be integrated into the existing structure of the beverage device.

[0058] In one or more embodiments, the pump is arranged vertically within the beverage device.

[0059] In one or more embodiments, the pump is arranged horizontally within the beverage device.

[0060] In one or more embodiments, the beverage device is an espresso machine.

[0061] In one or more embodiments, the beverage device is a coffee machine.

[0062] In one or more embodiments, the beverage device is a hot water dispenser or a pour-over coffee machine.

[0063] This article also discloses a method for controlling the output of a pump used in a beverage device, the method comprising the following steps:

[0064] The microcontroller unit of the beverage device receives a pump start command associated with user input;

[0065] The microcontroller unit selects the pulse width modulation frequency for the pump's output in response to user input;

[0066] The microcontroller unit initiates the operation of the pump to drive fluid through it;

[0067] The microcontroller unit determines a signal indicative of one or more operating conditions of the pump; and

[0068] The microcontroller unit adjusts the operation of the pump based on signals indicating one or more operating states of the pump.

[0069] In one or more embodiments, the signals indicating one or more operating states of the pump include pump current waveforms and pump speed.

[0070] This article also discloses a pump for a beverage device, the pump comprising:

[0071] A pump head having an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid reservoir and an outlet in communication with the inlet fluid;

[0072] A gear pump assembly arranged in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet, the gear pump assembly including a pair of interlocking gears; and

[0073] An electric motor, operatively associated with and configured to drive an interlocking gear to rotate, guides a continuous flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet.

[0074] In one or more embodiments, the motor is a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor.

[0075] In one or more embodiments, the pump further includes a housing associated with the pump head, and wherein the gear pump assembly and the motor are disposed within the pump housing.

[0076] In one or more embodiments, the pump head includes a bypass valve associated with an inlet or outlet.

[0077] In one or more embodiments, the inlet and outlet are adapted to connect with existing hydraulic fittings of the beverage equipment.

[0078] In one or more embodiments, each interlocking gear includes a gear axis offset from the central longitudinal axis of the pump. In other embodiments, each interlocking gear includes a gear axis aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the pump.

[0079] In one or more embodiments, the paired interlocking gears include helical gears.

[0080] In one or more embodiments, the motor includes a drive shaft configured to drive an interlocking gear to rotate. In one or more embodiments, the motor further includes one or more seals to seal the motor and prevent fluid from flowing through the pump. In one or more embodiments, the motor further includes one or more bushings for suppressing pump noise or controlling pump vibration.

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the pump further includes a magnetic drive located between the motor and the gear pump assembly.

[0082] In one or more embodiments, the gear pump assembly includes a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft of the gear pump assembly is separate from the drive shaft of the motor.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, the pump is operable to emit a maximum noise level of approximately 60 decibels.

[0084] In one or more embodiments, the pump is sized to be integrated into the existing structure of the beverage device.

[0085] This article also discloses a pump for a beverage device that can be operated by an electric motor to guide water from the water reservoir of the beverage device to the brewing unit of the beverage device, wherein the pump can operate at or within a pressure range of approximately 0 to 10 bar, and wherein the pump can operate at a noise level of less than approximately 60 dB. Attached Figure Description

[0086] To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same parts, wherein:

[0087] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing the brewing side of an example coffee machine;

[0088] Figure 2 It is a graph showing the brewing curves associated with various functions of an example coffee machine;

[0089] Figure 3 This is a schematic perspective view based on the pump of an example coffee machine;

[0090] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic side view of the pump shown;

[0091] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A schematic exploded side view of the pump shown;

[0092] Figure 6 It is a schematic perspective view based on an example of a pair of gears;

[0093] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic top view of the paired gears shown;

[0094] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the pump of an example coffee machine; and

[0095] Figure 9 This is a schematic side view of a pump based on another example. Detailed Implementation

[0096] It should be understood that coffee machines, or espresso machines, are widely used for making hot drinks. Espresso is typically made by pouring pressurized hot water through a tightly tamped, finely ground coffee ground. The forced diffusion of water through the coffee grinder results in espresso. The quality, flavor, and mouthfeel of any final espresso are influenced by many factors, including the texture of the coffee grounds, the density of the tamped grounds, and the temperature, pressure, and delivery flow of the water.

[0097] Pump-based espresso machines rely at least in part on pump pressure (typically measured in bar) to produce a proper espresso. Such a pump-based espresso machine may include a water reservoir, a brew head or dispenser, a steam wand, and other components. Water from the water reservoir can be pumped and heated to be dispensed to the brew head, steam wand, or other fluid outlets within the espresso machine.

[0098] For the purposes of this specification, the components and methods will be described in the context of beverage equipment in the form of coffee machines or espresso machines. However, it should be understood that these components and methods are not limited to this specific type of beverage equipment and can also be applied to other beverage equipment that requires the delivery of heated water, such as hot water dispensers and pour-over coffee machines. Throughout this specification, the terms "coffee machine," "espresso machine," and "beverage equipment" are used interchangeably.

[0099] As a non-restrictive example, Figure 1 The block diagram illustrates the communication / circuit between various components on the brewing side of a beverage device in the form of a coffee machine 100, which facilitates water dispensing. In this example, the coffee machine 100 includes a water reservoir 102 and a first fluid path 104 for transferring or delivering water from the reservoir 102 to a pump 106, an embodiment of which will be described in further detail below. In one example, the pump 106 may be a PMDC gear pump.

[0100] The first fluid path 104 may include a flow meter 108 to measure the supply flow from the reservoir 102 to the pump 106. In this example, the coffee machine 100 includes a second fluid path 110 for conveying or delivering water from the pump 106 to a heater or heating system (not shown) for distribution to a brewing head, steam wand, or other fluid outlet (not shown) within the coffee machine. The coffee machine 100 may also include a brewing unit (not shown) configured to extract coffee from coffee grounds. The pump 106 may be configured to introduce water into the brewing unit via one or more fluid paths. The coffee machine 100 may also include a motor operatively associated with the pump 106, which will be described in further detail below. The pump 106 may include a torque output and may operate within a pressure range between 0 and 10 bar, which will be described in further detail below. The coffee machine 100 may also include one or more noise reduction devices, which will be described in further detail below.

[0101] Flow meter 108 and pump 106 are each operatively associated with microcontroller unit (MCU) 112. MCU 112 may receive input from one or more sensors suitable for determining operating conditions of pump 106. One or more sensors may be pump current sensor 114 and / or pump speed sensor 116. For example, pump speed sensor 116 may be in the form of a Hall effect sensor, tachometer, magnetic velocity sensor, optical velocity sensor, vibration velocity sensor, etc. MCU 112 may also receive input from user interface 118 for setting one or more parameters or functions or pressure profiles related to espresso making. In some embodiments, user interface 118 may include a touch-sensitive panel physically associated with a display to form a touchscreen. The display may provide feedback to the user in response to received input or other information related to the operation of machine 100.

[0102] The MCU 112 may also receive input from a pressure sensor 120, which is associated with a second fluid path 110 and / or one or more other fluid paths of the coffee machine 100. In some arrangements, the pressure sensor 120 may be located between the pump 106 and a heater (not shown). In other arrangements, the pressure sensor may be located between the pump 106 and the brewing unit of the coffee machine 100. A pump drive circuit 122 may be configured in the communication between the MCU 112 and the pump 106 to control the output of the pump 106. The method of controlling the output of the pump 106 described herein can be implemented using the MCU 112 in response to user input received from a user interface 118. In some arrangements, the MCU 112 may be provided as part of a control system of the coffee machine 100 configured to adjust the speed and / or power consumption of the pump motor, for example, based on pressure within the brewing unit.

[0103] It is conceivable that user input or selection of one or more parameters, functions, or brewing profiles related to espresso preparation may include one or more of the following: hot water function, pre-infusion function, extraction function, bloom function, brewing profile function, and / or steam generation function. One or more parameters, functions, or brewing profiles may additionally or alternatively include one or more of the following: "low-flow espresso" function, "medium-flow espresso" function, and / or "high-flow espresso" (or pre-infusion) function. Selection of any of these functions allows pump 106 to be controlled to provide output within a preset pressure range and a preset flow rate range. In some arrangements, the preset pressure and flow rate ranges may be fixed. In other arrangements, the preset pressure and flow rate ranges may be variable.

[0104] An exemplary output of pump 106 executed by MCU 112 will be referenced here. Figure 2 The diagram shown in the figure illustrates the boundaries of each function.

[0105] In this example, the hot water function 200 can be defined by any pressure range between approximately 0 and 2 bar and any flow rate range between approximately 5 and 10 ml / s (i.e., low pressure, high flow rate). It should be understood that the hot water function is typically activated to dispense hot water directly from the coffee machine's hot water outlet.

[0106] In this example, the pre-infusion function 202 can be defined by any pressure range between approximately 0 and 4 bar and any flow rate range between approximately 0 and 5 ml / s (i.e., low pressure, low flow rate). It should be understood that during an espresso production cycle, a pre-infusion stage is typically initiated to wet the coffee grind, allowing it to expand in the filter basket, thereby helping to capture fine grind particles and restricting water from passing directly through the filter. To enable wetting without forcing water through the coffee grind, the water delivered during this pre-infusion stage is typically supplied at low pressure.

[0107] In this example, the blooming function 204 can be defined by any pressure range between approximately 0 to 9 bar and zero flow (i.e., maintaining pressure, no flow). It should be understood that the blooming phase can be initiated during an espresso production cycle to release trapped gases from the coffee grinder, thereby improving the quality and consistency of coffee extraction.

[0108] The extraction function 206 in this example can be defined by any pressure range between approximately 4 and 9 bar and any flow rate range between approximately 1 and 6 ml / s (i.e., high pressure, low flow rate).

[0109] In some arrangements, a brewing profile function can be selected to allow the user to create variable pressure or flow rate target values ​​within the system and as needed during an espresso production cycle. It is conceivable that the brewing profile function can be predefined or can be configured spontaneously (“in real-time”) via the coffee machine’s MCU 112. As a non-limiting example, the user might expect a low-flow-rate pre-infusion phase followed by high-pressure extraction. Pump 106 can be regulated by MCU 112 to achieve the target pressure or flow rate. One or more sensors in the coffee machine’s hydraulic system (e.g., pressure sensor 120 mentioned above) can measure the current pressure and flow rate, and pump 106 can be adjusted up or down within its operating limits to achieve the target value. It should be understood that in this arrangement, the user cannot simultaneously limit pressure and flow rate; only one can be limited, but the other is limited by the former and the resistance / throttling of the coffee grind. This is understood as the physical limitation of any hydraulic system, and the flow rate, pressure, and throttling are functions of each other. Throttling is the coffee grind that the user loads into the system, which is not controllable. The throttling of the coffee grinder defines the relationship between pressure and flow rate; however, the limitation of the coffee grinder is not constant, as it varies throughout the extraction process.

[0110] In some configurations, a steam generation function can be selected, thereby injecting a small amount of water at a steady rate.

[0111] As can be understood from the example above, the output of pump 106 can be controlled to allow for some adjustment of pressure and flow rate, which is understood to be a limitation of traditional electromagnetic pumps used in coffee machines. This at least provides users with a greater degree of control and flexibility to create any desired brewing profile. It should be understood that coffee machines in this arrangement can be optimized or configured to allow users to select commonly used brewing profiles, while also encouraging users to be creative and experiment with different brewing profiles.

[0112] As can be understood from the examples provided above, pump 106 can be flexibly controlled to operate at any location or point within any flow rate range of approximately 0 to 10 ml / s and any pressure range of approximately 0 to 10 bar. In one or more embodiments, pump 106 can be controlled to operate within a flow rate range of approximately 0.5 to 8.0 ml / s and a pressure range of approximately 0 to 10 bar. In some embodiments, pump 106 can be controlled to operate within a flow rate range of approximately 1.0 to 4.5 ml / s and a pressure range of approximately 3 to 9 bar. In other embodiments, pump 106 can be controlled to operate within a flow rate range of approximately 4.5 to 8.0 ml / s and a pressure range of approximately 0 to 3 bar.

[0113] In some embodiments, pump 106 may be controlled to operate at a flow rate of approximately 1.5 ml / s and a pressure of approximately 9 bar to provide a low-flow concentration function. In some embodiments, pump 106 may be controlled to operate at a flow rate of approximately 2.5 ml / s and a pressure of approximately 9 bar to provide a medium-flow concentration function. In some embodiments, pump 106 may be controlled to operate at a flow rate of approximately 4.5 ml / s and a pressure of approximately 5 bar to provide a high-flow concentration or pre-soaking function. In some embodiments, pump 106 may be controlled to operate within a flow rate of approximately 8.0 ml / s and a pressure range of approximately 0 to 1 bar to provide a hot water function.

[0114] exist Figure 2 In this example, pump 106 is assumed to provide a flow rate of approximately 0.5 ml / s at least between approximately 0 and 4 bar, and pump 106 can be controlled to operate within an overuse limit 208 of approximately 10 bar. It should be understood that an overpressure valve (OPV) or bypass valve can be used to regulate the pressure limits of pump 106 output, and in an exemplary configuration, an OPV can be used to set the pressure limit to approximately 15 bar as a mechanical safety precaution. In this example, the overrange condition 210 is defined by a pressure range between approximately 3 and 10 bar and a flow rate range between approximately 7 and 10 ml / s.

[0115] It is envisioned that pump 106 can emit or generate a maximum operating noise level of approximately 60 dB. Preferably, the maximum noise level is less than approximately 60 dB LAeq at 0.5 m. For example, the maximum noise level may be emitted when the pump operates at approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 2.5 ml / s. It should be understood that the maximum noise level of pump 106 is lower than the noise level generated by a typical electromagnetic pump. The reduction or limitation of the maximum operating noise level can be achieved by noise reduction mechanisms (e.g., in the form of gear pump mechanisms and / or magnetic drives), which will be described in further detail below.

[0116] Figures 3 to 5An exemplary configuration of one embodiment of pump 106 is shown. In this embodiment, pump 106 includes a housing 121 having a central longitudinal axis 123 and a pump head 124 having a fluid inlet 126 and a fluid outlet 128. In the depicted embodiment, housing 121 is a tubular housing extending along the longitudinal axis 123; however, it should be understood that in other embodiments (not shown), housing 121 may take any other shape or form to provide a suitable body for housing the components of pump 106. In some arrangements, the dimensions of fluid inlet 126 and the corresponding orifice may be increased to allow a larger volume of fluid to flow into pump 106. It should be understood that cavitation can occur when a vacuum is created due to excessively low pressure within the pump caused by insufficient fluid supply (due to throttling). Therefore, increasing the size of fluid inlet 126 can allow more fluid to enter pump 106, thereby helping to reduce the effects of cavitation.

[0117] In this embodiment of pump 106, pump head or cap assembly 124 may include a bypass valve 129 located near fluid inlet 126. In some embodiments (not shown), bypass valve 129 may be located near fluid outlet 128. Bypass valve 129 may be adapted to divert a portion of the fluid flow into or out of pump 106. In some arrangements, bypass valve 129 may include a resilient deformable member (not shown), such as a spring or other suitable biasing mechanism, to keep the path between fluid inlet 126 and fluid outlet 128 closed. The force compressing the resilient deformable member may be set or adjusted such that the path between fluid inlet 126 and fluid outlet 128 can be opened under a certain pressure. For example, a screw fastening mechanism (not shown) may be used to compress and hold the resilient deformable member to set the opening force / pressure. It is conceivable that, in one example, the opening force / pressure may be set at approximately 10 bar as a safety feature to prevent pump pressure from exceeding 10 bar. The force / pressure may be set or selected according to the design requirements of pump 106 or the entire coffee machine 100.

[0118] The pump 106 in this embodiment includes a gear pump assembly or mechanism 130 associated with and arranged in fluid communication between a fluid inlet 126 and a fluid outlet 128. The gear pump mechanism 130 may be housed in a housing 121 and may include a pair of interlocking gears 132 and 134. The gear pump mechanism 130 may be additionally or alternatively integrated into the housing 121 and may be configured to reduce operating noise of the pump 106. The pair of interlocking gears 132 and 134 may be positioned on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis 123, such that each gear 132, 134 may have a gear axis offset from the longitudinal axis 123. The interlocking gears 132 and 134 may be a drive gear and an idler gear. The drive gear may be connected to a drive shaft rotatably driven by a motor that drives the interlocking gears 132 and 134 to rotate, as will be described in further detail below. The rotation of interlocking gears 132 and 134 can drive or guide fluid from fluid inlet 126 to fluid outlet 128. In some arrangements, for example, interlocking gears 132 and 134 can be in the form of spur gears. In other arrangements, interlocking gears 132 and 134 can be in the form of helical gears, such as... Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown. It should be understood that the arrangement, including the use of helical gears, allows for less cavitation within pump 106. It should also be understood that the use of gear pump mechanism 130 at least facilitates the delivery of a continuous fluid flow, which helps to provide greater consistency and control in fluid delivery or output. It should also be understood that the use of gear pump mechanism can at least allow the operating noise of pump 106 to be reduced to below approximately 60 dB.

[0119] Pump 106 may be operatively associated with motor 136, which may be provided as a component of pump 106 itself and housed in housing 121, or as a component of coffee machine 100. Motor 136 may be operatively operable to drive interlocking gears 132 and 134 to rotate. Motor 136 may include motor body 138, drive shaft 140, and motor bearing 142. Each component of motor 136 may be aligned with a central longitudinal axis 123. As described above, during operation of motor 136, rotation of drive shaft 140 drives rotation of gears 132 and 134. Motor bearing 142 may be mounted on motor body 138 and coupled to drive shaft 140 to facilitate rotation of drive shaft 140. Seal 144 may also be coupled to drive shaft 140 to seal motor 136 against fluid flowing through pump 106. In some embodiments, pump 106 may include more than one seal. Pump bushing 146 may also be coupled to drive shaft 140 to suppress noise from pump 106 and / or control vibration of pump 106 during operation. In some embodiments, pump 106 may include more than one pump bushing. It should be understood that the configuration of pump 106 is not necessarily limited to the configuration shown in the drawings or described above, but can be adjusted according to its design requirements or the design requirements of the entire coffee machine 100.

[0120] In a preferred arrangement, motor 136 is a brushed permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor. It should be understood that using a brushed DC motor can provide a larger linear controllable range (e.g., through methods involving pulse width modulation (PWM)) and, for example, higher responsiveness than an AC motor. It is understood, for example, that an AC solenoid pump can only deliver high flow rates at lower pressure settings. It is also generally understood that an AC solenoid pump operates by driving a piston by passing current through a coil to generate a magnetic field. Since such a coil is inherently inductive, the control provided is generally imprecise due to current hysteresis. Furthermore, the piston movement within such an AC solenoid pump can be imprecise, meaning that the piston's travel distance is not always consistent. AC motors (e.g., which can be used to drive AC gear pumps or AC rotary pumps) are also effective at rated speeds, making it difficult to control the pump's flow rate. From the above discussion, it can be understood that the ability to provide precise control over flow rate and pressure enables configurations of at least multiple functions (each with a target flow rate range and a target pressure range).

[0121] Furthermore, brushed DC motors offer a more cost-effective and simpler construction in terms of their control circuitry and control algorithms, and for example, provide a faster development cycle compared to brushless DC motors.

[0122] One approach to optimizing the brush life of a brushed DC motor in a coffee maker could include selecting a PWM frequency suitable for the motor's electrical characteristics to limit arcing at the brush contacts. As described above, the MCU 112 can receive inputs from the pump current sensor 114 and the pump speed sensor 116 to determine the operating conditions of the pump 106, and based on the signals received from sensors 114 and 116, can adjust the signals sent to the pump drive circuit 122 (which controls the output of the pump 106) in real time. As mentioned above, precise control of the flow rate and pressure associated with the pump 106 output can improve coffee extraction quality, and the real-time feedback provided by the signals received from sensors 114 and 116 can facilitate the desired control.

[0123] In a preferred arrangement, pump 106 is located or mounted vertically within coffee machine 100. In this arrangement, the longitudinal axis 123 of pump 106 can be oriented vertically or orthogonally relative to machine 100. It should be understood that pump 106 can have a streamlined configuration that allows for space optimization and easy integration into the existing structure of coffee machine 100, where a solenoid pump is typically located. Pump 106 can be appropriately sized to fit within the existing space. Pump head 124 may include a connector adapted for fluid connection to existing / standard hydraulic lines or fittings in coffee machine 100 without additional adapters, thus providing a simpler, more efficient, and more cost-effective construction compared to, for example, the threaded connection of a conventional solenoid pump. In one arrangement, pump head 124 is located near the base of coffee machine 100. In another arrangement, pump head 124 is located below the water level line of water reservoir 102 to allow for self-lubrication of the pump, particularly around the area of ​​interlocking gears 132 and 134.

[0124] In other arrangements, pump 106 may be located or mounted within coffee machine 100 in a horizontal orientation. In this arrangement, the longitudinal axis 123 of pump 106 may be oriented horizontally relative to machine 100, or at least substantially parallel to the base of machine 100. It is conceivable that by orienting pump 106 horizontally, the various components of pump 106 (e.g., drive shaft 140 and seal 144) can be uniformly lubricated by fluid (water). This arrangement can prevent seal 144 from breaking (or at least minimize the extent of seal breakage). Over time, this arrangement can also reduce or completely eliminate leakage that occurs over time. It should also be understood that a horizontally oriented pump 106 can at least allow for a simple support structure within machine 100.

[0125] Now refer to Figure 8A method 200 for controlling or operating a pump 106 is described. In step 202, method 200 includes an MCU 112 of a coffee machine 100 (or related beverage equipment) receiving a pump start command, which may be associated with a user-configurable function. In step 204, method 200 includes the MCU 112 selecting a predefined or preset PWM frequency for the operation of the pump 106, and in step 206, method 200 includes initiating the operation of the pump 106. In step 208, method 200 includes determining a signal indicating a pump current waveform from a pump current sensor 114, and in step 210, method 200 includes determining a signal indicating a pump speed from a pump speed sensor 216. In step 212, method 200 includes the MCU 112 adjusting the PWM frequency and operating state (on / off signal) of the pump 106 based on the signals indicating the pump current waveform and the pump speed. In steps 214 and 216, method 200 includes the MCU 112 stopping the control signals upon receiving a pump stop command. If the MCU 112 does not receive a pump stop command, method 200 includes step 218, which returns to step 208, to determine a signal from the pump current sensor 114 indicating the pump current waveform.

[0126] exist Figure 9 Another exemplary configuration of one embodiment of pump 1106 is schematically described herein. It should be understood that pump 1106 operates in a manner substantially similar to pump 106 described above, with similar reference numerals used to denote similar features. It should also be understood that one or more features or functions of the embodiments of pump 106 described above are applicable to embodiments of pump 1106, and vice versa.

[0127] In this embodiment of pump 1106, the magnetic drive 1148 can be disposed between the motor 1136 and the gear pump mechanism 1130. For example... Figure 9As shown, the drive shaft 1140 of the motor 1136 is operatively associated with a magnetic drive 1148, which in turn is operatively associated with a separate drive shaft 1150. Drive shafts 1140 and 1150 can thus be spaced apart. Drive shaft 1150 is associated with the gear pump mechanism 1130. Therefore, it should be understood that the arrangement with the magnetic drive 1148 can at least avoid the need for physical attachment of the motor 1136 (and / or its drive shaft 1140) and the gear pump mechanism 1130 (and / or its drive shaft 1150). In this arrangement, shafts 1140 and 1150 may not need to be precisely or perfectly aligned, thus allowing some looseness or tolerance between them (which can be compensated for by the magnetic drive 1148). In this arrangement, it is conceivable that the magnetic drive 1148 can at least allow for reduced vibration from the motor 1146, thereby reducing the overall vibration and / or noise transmitted to the entire pump 106 and allowing it to operate more quietly. Furthermore, it is conceivable that when high torque is applied to pump 106, magnetic drive 1148 can at least prevent or protect motor 1136 from damage (e.g., from wear and damage that occurs over time and during long-term use).

[0128] In this embodiment, pump 1106 may also be provided with an additional pump bushing 1152, which is coupled to drive shaft 1150 to provide additional noise suppression and / or vibration control. The additional pump bushing 1152 may be located in or near pump head 1124 and / or gear pump mechanism 1130. Furthermore, in this embodiment, gear pump mechanism 1130 is provided with centrally suspended gears 1132 and 1134. Centrally suspended gears 1132 and 1134 may each have a gear shaft aligned with the central longitudinal axis 1123 (and with drive shafts 1140 and 1150). In some arrangements, centrally suspended gears 1132 and 1134 may be held on either side by bearings. It should be understood that the arrangement with centrally suspended gears 1132 and 1134 can at least allow pump 106 to produce less noise. This arrangement can also reduce wear on gears and pump head 1124.

[0129] According to one embodiment of the invention, a coffee machine 100 may include a brewing unit (not shown) for extracting coffee from coffee grounds, a water heating system (not shown) associated with the brewing unit and configured to heat water for the brewing unit, a pump 106 or 1106 configured to guide water from a fluid reservoir 102 to the brewing unit, and a motor 136 or 1136 for driving the operation of the pump 106 or 1106. In this embodiment, the pump 106 or 1106 may operate at or within a pressure range of approximately 0 to 10 bar. In this embodiment, the pump 106 or 1106 may also be operable at a noise level below approximately 60 dB.

[0130] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 includes a noise reduction device to enable pump 106 or 1106 to operate at a noise level of less than about 60 decibels.

[0131] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 further includes housing 121 or 1121. In this embodiment, the noise reduction device is integrated into housing 121 or 1121.

[0132] In the above embodiments, the noise reduction device includes a pair of interlocking gears 132 and 134 or 1132 and 1134. In this embodiment, each of the interlocking gears 132 and 134 or 1132 and 1134 includes a gear axis aligned with the central longitudinal axis 123 or 1123 of the pump 106 or 1106.

[0133] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 includes: pump head 124 or 1124 having an inlet 126 or 1126 for receiving water from water reservoir 102 and an outlet 128 or 1128 in fluid communication with inlet 126 or 1128; and gear pump assembly 124 or 1124 arranged in fluid communication between inlet 126 or 1126 and outlet 128 or 1128, wherein gear pump assembly 124 or 1124 includes noise reduction device.

[0134] In the above embodiments, pump head 124 or 1124 includes a bypass valve 1129 associated with inlet 126 or 1126 or outlet 128 or 1128.

[0135] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 11206 further includes a magnetic drive 1148 located between motor 136 or 1136 and gear pump assembly 130 or 1130. In this embodiment, gear pump assembly 130 or 1130 includes a drive shaft 1150, wherein the drive shaft 1150 of gear pump assembly 130 or 1130 is separate from the drive shaft 140 or 1140 of motor 136 or 1136.

[0136] In the above embodiments, the coffee machine 100 also includes a control system configured to adjust the speed of the motor 136 or 1136 based on the pressure within the brewing unit.

[0137] In the above embodiments, the control system is configured to adjust the power consumption of motor 136 or 1136 based on the pressure within the brewing unit.

[0138] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate in a flow rate range of approximately 0.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

[0139] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate in a pressure range of about 3 to 9 bar and a flow rate range of about 1.0 to 4.5 ml / s.

[0140] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate in a pressure range of approximately 0 to 3 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 4.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

[0141] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate at a pressure of about 9 bar and a flow rate of about 1.5 ml / s.

[0142] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate at a pressure of about 9 bar and a flow rate of about 2.5 ml / s.

[0143] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate at a pressure of about 5 bar and a flow rate of about 4.5 ml / s.

[0144] In the above embodiments, pump 106 or 1106 can operate at a pressure range of approximately 0 to 1 bar and a flow rate of approximately 8.0 ml / s.

[0145] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that various alternatives and / or equivalent implementations exist. It should be understood that one or more exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing overview and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with convenient guidance for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, and it should be understood that various changes can be made to the function and arrangement of the elements described in the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of protection set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any modifications or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0146] It should also be understood that, in this document, the terms “comprise,” “contain,” “have,” and any variations thereof are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e., non-exclusive) sense, meaning that the process, method, apparatus, device, or system described herein is not limited to those features, components, elements, or steps described herein, but may include other elements, features, components, or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, unless expressly stated otherwise, the terms “a” and “an” as used herein are intended to be understood as one or more. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used merely as identifiers and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on the importance of their objects or establish a particular order.

Claims

1. A coffee machine, comprising: The brewing unit is configured to extract coffee from coffee grounds; A water heating system associated with and configured to heat the water used in the brewing unit; A pump, operable to direct water from a water reservoir to the brewing unit; and An electric motor drives the operation of the pump, wherein the pump is capable of operating at or within a pressure range of approximately 0 to 10 bar, and wherein the pump is capable of operating at a noise level of less than approximately 60 dB.

2. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein, The pump includes a noise reduction device to enable it to operate at a noise level of less than approximately 60 decibels.

3. The coffee machine according to claim 2, wherein, The pump also includes a housing, and the noise reduction device is integrated into the housing.

4. The coffee machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The noise reduction device includes a pair of interlocking gears.

5. The coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein, Each of the interlocking gears includes a gear axis aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the pump.

6. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, The pump includes: A pump head having an inlet for receiving water from the water reservoir and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet; and A gear pump assembly arranged in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the gear pump assembly includes a noise reduction device.

7. The coffee machine according to claim 6, wherein, The pump head includes a bypass valve associated with the inlet or the outlet.

8. The coffee machine according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The coffee machine further includes a magnetic drive located between the motor and the gear pump assembly.

9. The coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein, The gear pump assembly includes a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft of the gear pump assembly is separate from the drive shaft of the motor.

10. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The coffee machine further includes a control system configured to adjust the speed of the motor based on the pressure within the brewing unit.

11. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, The control system is configured to adjust the power consumption of the motor based on the pressure within the brewing unit.

12. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at flow rates ranging from approximately 0.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

13. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at a pressure range of approximately 3 to 9 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 1.0 to 4.5 ml / s.

14. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at a pressure range of approximately 0 to 3 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 4.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

15. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at a pressure of approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 1.5 ml / s.

16. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at a pressure of approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 2.5 ml / s.

17. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at a pressure of approximately 5 bar and a flow rate of approximately 4.5 ml / s.

18. The coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The pump is capable of operating at a pressure range of approximately 0 to 1 bar and a flow rate of approximately 8.0 ml / s.

19. A beverage apparatus, comprising: Fluid storage tank; A pump, which is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and adapted to direct fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet of the beverage device, the pump being operatively associated with one or more sensors adapted to determine the operating state of the pump; as well as A microcontroller unit is configured to receive user input indicating a function of a beverage device and to control a pump output in response to the user input, wherein the function of the beverage device is defined by a target pressure or pressure range and a target flow rate or flow rate range.

20. The beverage apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, The one or more sensors include a pump current sensor and a pump speed sensor.

21. The beverage apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, wherein, The one or more sensors include pressure sensors.

22. The beverage apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, The pressure sensor is located in the fluid path between the pump and the heater of the beverage equipment.

23. The beverage apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, The pressure sensor is located in the fluid path between the pump and the brewing unit of the beverage device.

24. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein, The microcontroller unit is configured to adjust the pump output in response to signals provided by the one or more sensors indicating the operating state of the pump.

25. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein, The microcontroller unit is configured to select a preset pulse width modulation frequency for operation of the pump in response to the user input.

26. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein, The target pressure range is approximately 0 to 10 bar, and the target flow rate range is approximately 0 to 10 ml / s.

27. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein, The target pressure range is between approximately 0 and 10 bar, and the target flow rate range is between approximately 0.5 and 8.0 ml / s.

28. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein, The target pressure ranges from approximately 3 to 9 bar, and the target flow rate ranges from approximately 1.0 to 4.5 ml / s.

29. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein, The target pressure ranges from approximately 0 to 3 bar, and the target flow rate ranges from approximately 4.5 to 8.0 ml / s.

30. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 29, wherein, The beverage equipment functions include one or more of the following: hot water function, pre-soaking function, steaming function, extraction function, brewing curve function, steam generation function, low flow concentration function, medium flow concentration function, and high flow concentration function.

31. The beverage apparatus according to claim 30, wherein: The hot water function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 2 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 5 to 10 ml / s; the pre-soaking function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 4 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 0 to 5 ml / s; the blooming function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 9 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 0 ml / s; the extraction function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 4 to 9 bar and a flow rate range of approximately 1 to 6 ml / s; and the brewing profile function is defined by a variable pressure range and a variable flow rate range.

32. The beverage apparatus according to claim 30, wherein: The low-flow concentration function is defined by a pressure of approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 1.5 ml / s; the medium-flow concentration function is defined by a pressure of approximately 9 bar and a flow rate of approximately 2.5 ml / s; the high-flow concentration function is defined by a pressure of approximately 5 bar and a flow rate of approximately 4.5 ml / s; and the hot water function is defined by a pressure range of approximately 0 to 1 bar and a flow rate of approximately 8.0 ml / s.

33. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 32, wherein, The pump is arranged vertically within the beverage equipment.

34. The beverage apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 33, wherein, The beverage equipment mentioned is a coffee machine.

35. A method for controlling the output of a pump used in a beverage apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: The microcontroller unit of the beverage device receives a pump start command associated with user input; The microcontroller unit selects the pulse width modulation frequency for the pump's output in response to user input; The microcontroller unit initiates the operation of the pump to drive fluid through it; The microcontroller unit determines a signal indicating one or more operating conditions of the pump; and The microcontroller unit adjusts the operation of the pump based on signals indicating one or more operating states of the pump.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein, The signals indicating one or more operating states of the pump include pump current waveforms and pump speed.

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