Apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a compacted coffee powder tablet (100) comprises a cup-shaped filter (21) for containing a dose of loose coffee powder, a coffee handle (1), a coffee powder containment ring (10) removably attachable to the coffee handle (1), and a powder press (101) comprising a pressing piston (103) sliding through the ring (10) for manually pressing the dose of loose coffee powder in the filter (21), the pressing piston (103) and the ring (10) cooperating for a visual indication of the height (H) of the compacted coffee powder tablet (100) and / or any deviation from a reference height.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets. Background Technology

[0002] One of the key stages in obtaining high-quality espresso is the tamping process of the coffee grounds in the portafilter.

[0003] In manual and semi-automatic coffee machines with removable portafilters, a tool called a tamper is used to apply pressure to the loose coffee grounds to compress them into coffee tablets, either during the grinding stage or after filling the filter with a specific amount of loose coffee.

[0004] In this way, once the portafilter is connected to the brewing unit, the water encounters appropriate resistance as it passes through, increasing the brewing pressure and slowing down the flow according to the optimal parameters for espresso.

[0005] With all other parameters being equal, uniform tamping and the correct tablet height ensure the quality of extraction of the sensory components of roasted coffee; otherwise, water may find a preferred path, thus reducing the extraction of the soluble portion.

[0006] Users must be very careful during this manual pressing stage, which should be performed as orthogonally as possible to the surface of the press.

[0007] Naturally, the outcome depends on the user's skill, and users often have to go through trial and error before achieving the desired result.

[0008] There are also stand-alone tamperes that facilitate the tamping operation via manual or electric mechanisms. In these solutions, even if the tamper's direction of movement is well-defined, the position of the portafilter may not be precise enough, resulting in uneven coffee flake thickness. This type of assistance is not suitable for more economical applications where tamping is performed manually by the user using a tamper inserted into a filter housed in the portafilter.

[0009] Manual tamping can produce coffee tablets with incorrect and / or uneven heights, which negatively impacts the quality of extraction.

[0010] Proper tamping should produce tablets with a specific and uniform height. If the tablet height is incorrect, there will be no optimal distance between the tablet surface and the nozzle of the brewing unit.

[0011] The reduced density of the tablets disturbs the coffee grounds and causes excessive flow during extraction, resulting in under-extraction of the coffee.

[0012] Excessively high tablet height may prevent the coffee portafilter from locking into the brewing unit due to interference between the tablet and the nozzle.

[0013] Too high a tablet height can also cause the flow rate to be too slow during extraction, resulting in over-extraction of the coffee.

[0014] Additionally, for those less experienced in manual tamping, it may be difficult to determine the correct tablet height to ensure proper extraction, or how much tablet height needs to be adjusted for the next milling to achieve the correct tablet height.

[0015] WO2022 / 084435 describes an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0016] Therefore, the technical objective of this invention is to create an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets that eliminates the technical defects encountered in known technologies.

[0017] Within this technical task, one objective of the present invention is to create an apparatus for preparing compacted loose coffee tablets of a specific shape and size suitable for ensuring a proper brewing process.

[0018] Another objective of this invention is to create an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets that helps users obtain tablets of a specific shape and size suitable for ensuring a proper brewing process. Summary of the Invention

[0019] The technical task and these and other objectives of the invention are achieved by creating an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets, the apparatus comprising a cup-shaped filter for containing a dose of loose coffee powder, a coffee portafilter, a coffee powder receiving ring removably attached to the coffee portafilter, and a tamper including a pressing piston that slides through the ring to manually press the dose of loose coffee powder in the filter, characterized in that the pressing piston and the ring cooperatively carry a visual indicator for showing the height of the compacted coffee powder tablet and / or any deviation from a reference height.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coffee handle is equipped with a manual stem and a housing for a filter, the housing being specifically designed for inserting an opening into the filter, wherein the filter has a circular opening for introducing loose coffee powder, and a ring is removably attached to the housing of the coffee handle, thereby protruding outward from the opening of the filter, and the ring has an inner annular guide surface with an axis of rotational symmetry passing through the center of the circular opening of the filter, and a pressing piston slides along the inner annular guide surface of the ring, and its features are shaped to match the circular opening of the filter with a front surface and to match the inner annular guide surface of the ring with a side surface.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressing piston is larger in size than the ring along the axis of rotational symmetry, so that it protrudes from the ring at a variable height on the shank side, depending on the height of the compressed coffee tablet.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a visual indicator indicates the position reached by the pressing piston relative to the ring when the piston has compacted the loose coffee powder.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the visual indicator includes a graduated scale marked on the side surface of the pressing piston.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the graduated scale includes a notch positioned at a varying height along an axis of rotational symmetry.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each notch is associated with a different alphanumeric symbol that provides an immediate indication of any deviation of the tablet from the correct reference height.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the visual indication device includes a reference position provided by a ring.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference position is provided by the end of the ring furthest from the filter housing.

[0028] The present invention also discloses a method for manually adjusting the fill level of a filter in a coffee portafilter for a coffee machine, characterized by using equipment for preparing coffee powder tablets to obtain an indication of any deviation between the tablet height and a reference height, and adding or removing coffee powder from the filter until the deviation is eliminated.

[0029] The present invention also discloses a method for adjusting the filling level of a filter in a coffee portafilter for a coffee machine, characterized by using equipment for preparing tamped coffee tablets to obtain an indication of any deviation between the tablet height and a reference height, transmitting the indication to a control unit of a grinder that performs grinding of the coffee powder in the filter, and using the indication to automatically adjust subsequent grinding via the control unit to eliminate the deviation.

[0030] Other features of the invention are defined in the following claims.

[0031] It should be noted that, using the device of the present invention, not only can the height of coffee powder tablets be visually monitored and easily corrected when necessary, but tablets with the correct shape and uniform height can also be produced. This is because the large axial extension of the pressing piston, and therefore the large axial extension of the connecting surface with the ring, provides extremely precise guidance for the movement of the piston in a direction coaxial with the filter axis in the coffee portafilter. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 An isometric view of the coffee handle and ring assembly is shown;

[0034] Figure 2 An isometric view of the coffee handle and ring assembly positioned in a support bracket is shown;

[0035] Figure 3 An isometric view of the ring is shown;

[0036] Figure 4A A cross-sectional view of the coffee handle and ring assembly positioned in the support bracket is shown;

[0037] Figure 4B The support bracket is shown;

[0038] Figure 5A and Figure 5B An isometric view of the powder accelerator is shown;

[0039] Figure 6 A side elevation and vertical section of the powder accumulator in its operating position are shown;

[0040] Figure 7 The diagram shows a side elevation of the tamper in different operating positions, each position corresponding to a different height of the tamped coffee tablet. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Referring to the cited figure, an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets 100 is shown.

[0042] For the sake of simplicity and readability, the complete coffee grinder of known types is not depicted in the diagram.

[0043] The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets includes a coffee handle 1 equipped with a cup-shaped filter 21 having a circular opening 24 for introducing loose coffee powder, a coffee powder receiving ring 10 removably attached to the coffee handle 1, and a tamper 101 for manually pressing the loose coffee powder present in the filter 21.

[0044] The coffee handle 1 is equipped with a manual stem 30 and a cup-shaped housing 20 for the filter 21.

[0045] The cup-shaped housing 20 has an opening 23 for inserting the filter 21.

[0046] The coffee powder receiving ring 10 is removably attached to the housing 20 of the coffee portafilter 1, thus protruding outward from the filter insertion opening 23.

[0047] The annular guide surface 13 of the ring 10, which is specially loaded with the rotational symmetry axis L, passes through the center C of the circular opening 24 of the filter 21.

[0048] The powder tamper 101 includes a handle 102 and a pressing piston 103 that slides along the inner annular guide surface 13 of the ring 10.

[0049] The compression piston 103 has a front surface 104 shaped to match the circular opening 24 of the filter 21 and a side surface 105 shaped to match the inner annular guide surface 13 of the ring 10. The side surface 105 of the compression piston 103 and the inner annular guide surface 13 of the ring 10 are, in particular, cylindrical in shape.

[0050] The pressing piston 103 has a dimension P that is preferably larger than the dimension A of the ring in the direction of the axis of rotational symmetry L, such that its protrusion from the ring 10 on the handle 102 side varies in height depending on the height H of the compressed coffee powder tablet 100.

[0051] Size P can also be smaller than size A, but in this case, these sizes must still ensure proper guidance.

[0052] Advantageously, the pressing piston 103 and the ring 10 are equipped with a visual indicator to indicate the height H of the compacted coffee tablet 100 (i.e., the size of the tablet in the direction of the axis of rotational symmetry L) and / or any deviation from a reference height.

[0053] The visual indicator specifically shows the relative position between the pressing piston 103 and the ring 10.

[0054] In the illustrated case, the visual indicator includes a graduated scale 106 marked on the side surface 105 of the pressing piston 103.

[0055] In the illustrated case, the visual indication device also includes a reference position provided by ring 10.

[0056] The graduated scale 106 specifically includes notches 107 positioned at various heights along the axis of rotational symmetry L, however, the reference position is provided by the end 108 of the ring 10 away from the filter 21 housing 20.

[0057] Each notch 107 is associated with a different alphanumeric symbol that immediately indicates the height H of the tablet 100 and / or any deviation from the correct reference height, whether too high or too low.

[0058] For example, the central notch 107 is associated with the symbol "0" indicating the correct height of the tablet 100. On one side of the central notch 107 (the side facing the handle 102), there is a gradually increasing negative number indicating that the height of the tablet 100 is progressively lower than the correct reference height; on the other side of the central notch 107, facing the front surface 104 of the tamper 101, there is a gradually increasing positive number indicating that the height of the tablet 100 is progressively higher than the correct reference height. In practice, after the grinder has loaded the loose coffee powder into the filter 21, the user holds the tamper 101 and inserts the tamper piston 103 into the ring 10 of the housing 20 attached to the coffee handle 1.

[0059] The pressing piston 103 initially flattens the loose coffee powder, and when the fully flattened and compacted loose coffee powder forms a tablet 100 with a height H, its insertion into the ring 10 stops.

[0060] At this point, the user checks which notch 107 aligns with (or is closest to) the reference 108, and the symbol associated with that notch 107 provides an immediate indication of whether and by how much the height H of the tablet 100 in the filter 21 deviates from the defined reference height for proper coffee brewing.

[0061] Once this information is known, if a deviation is indicated, the user can add or remove coffee powder from filter 21 and repeat the tamping process until the deviation is eliminated.

[0062] Users can also use the information obtained to adjust subsequent grinding cycles of the grinder.

[0063] Through a physical user interface installed on the grinder or on a coffee machine that can integrate a grinder, the user can transmit instructions provided by a visual indicator from the current grinder cycle to the grinder's control unit. The grinder's control unit can then use the received instructions to automatically adjust subsequent grinder cycles using appropriate calculation algorithms.

[0064] Adjustments may include, for example, variations in grinding time.

[0065] The user interface on a grinder or coffee machine can be a monitor, keyboard, knob, or other type of interface.

[0066] In a more advanced solution (not shown), the tamper 101 may have a telecommunications device for transmitting instructions provided by a visual indicator to the control unit of the grinder. For example, the information may be transmitted via a wireless communication network such as Bluetooth or the like.

[0067] In this case, the tamper 101 will need a transducer capable of converting instructions into signals to be transmitted via a wireless communication network to the control unit of the grinder.

[0068] A known type of grinder has a holder 50 for holding the coffee handle 1 during the loading of ground coffee.

[0069] The holder 50 is specially equipped with a support frame 51 above the coffee handle 1, which has an opening 52 for grinding coffee to fall into the filter 21.

[0070] The support frame 51 has a front discontinuity at the axis where it is inserted into the coffee handle 1.

[0071] Ring 10 connects the opening 52 in the support frame 51 to the upper opening 23 of the filter housing 20.

[0072] The ring 10 has a lower quick-release and attachment device for the upper opening 23 of the filter housing 20 and an upper removable engagement device with the support frame 51.

[0073] The upper removable engagement device of the ring 10 and the support frame 51 includes a peripheral flange 12 configured to rest along the peripheral surface 53 of the opening 52 in the support frame 51.

[0074] The lower quick-release and attachment device of the ring 10 includes a resilient seat 15 for engaging with the tab 22 of the filter housing 20.

[0075] The bracket 50 is specially constructed and positioned above the support frame 51 as an anti-tilt frame 54 for the ring 10 that interacts with the peripheral flange 12.

[0076] Below the bracket 50, there is an actuator 60 designed to interact with the ring 10 for activating the coffee grinder switch.

[0077] The conceived apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets is readily subject to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

[0078] In practice, the materials and dimensions used can vary depending on requirements and the current state of technology.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets (100), the apparatus comprising a cup-shaped filter (21) for containing a dose of loose coffee powder, a portafilter (1), a coffee powder receiving ring (10) removably attached to the portafilter (1), and a tamper (101) including a tamping piston (103) that slides through the ring (10) to manually tamp the dose of loose coffee powder in the filter (21), characterized in that, The pressing piston (103) and the ring (10) cooperate to provide a visual indication of the height (H) of the compacted coffee powder tablet (100) and / or any deviation from a reference height.

2. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ring (10) has an internal annular guide surface (13) that defines a channel for the coffee powder to be conveyed into the filter (21).

3. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The coffee handle (1) is equipped with a manual handle (30) and a housing (20) for the filter (21), the housing having an opening (23) for inserting the filter (21), the filter (21) including a circular opening (24) for introducing the first dose of loose coffee powder, the ring (10) being removably attached to the housing (20) of the coffee handle (1) and protruding outward from the filter (21) insertion opening (23), the inner annular guide surface (13) having a rotational symmetry axis (L) passing through the center (C) of the circular opening (24) of the filter (21), and the pressing piston (103) sliding along the inner annular guide surface (13) of the ring (10) and including a front surface (104) shaped to match the circular opening (24) of the filter (21) and a side surface (105) shaped to match the inner annular guide surface (13) of the ring (10).

4. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The pressing piston (103) has a dimension (P) greater than the dimension (A) of the ring (10) in the direction of the axis of rotational symmetry (L), such that it protrudes from the ring (10) on the shank (102) side to a height (H) that varies depending on the height (H) of the compacted coffee powder tablet (100).

5. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The visual indicator device indicates the position of the pressing piston (103) relative to the ring (10) when the pressing piston (103) has compacted the loose coffee powder.

6. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The visual indication device includes a graduated scale (106) marked on the side surface (105) of the pressing piston (103).

7. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The graduated scale (106) includes a notch (107) positioned at a varying height in the direction of the axis of rotational symmetry (L).

8. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, Each notch (107) is associated with a different alphanumeric symbol that immediately indicates any deviation of the tablet height (H) from a reference height, whether too high or too low.

9. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The visual indication device includes a reference position provided by the ring (10).

10. The apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The reference position is provided by the end (108) of the ring (10) away from the filter (21) housing (20).

11. A method for manually adjusting the fill level of a filter (21) in a coffee portafilter (1) for a coffee machine, characterized by using an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets (100) according to any of the preceding claims to obtain an indication of any deviation of the tablet height (H) from a reference height, and adding or removing coffee powder from the filter (21) until the deviation is eliminated.

12. A method for adjusting the filling level of a filter (21) in a coffee portafilter (1) for a coffee machine, characterized by using an apparatus for preparing compacted coffee powder tablets according to any one of claims 1 to 10 to obtain an indication of any deviation of the tablet height (H) from a reference height, transmitting the indication to a control unit of a grinder that has performed grinding of the coffee powder present in the filter (21), and automatically adjusting subsequent grinding by the control unit to eliminate the deviation.

13. The method for adjustment according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, Communication with the control unit is performed via a physical user interface mounted on the grinder.

14. The method for adjustment according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The powder press (101) has a telecommunications device for communicating with the control unit.

Images