Filter for filter holder cup of coffee machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to a filter for a filter support cup (2) of a coffee machine, which comprises a cup-shaped main body (6), the cup-shaped main body is provided with a bottom wall (7) and a side wall (9), the bottom wall is provided with a hole (8) for distributing and injecting coffee, the side wall and the bottom wall (7) together define a cavity (10), a perforated partition wall (13) is positioned in the cavity (10), and the perforated partition wall (13) is provided with a through hole. The perforated partition wall separates an upper chamber (14) for accommodating coffee powder and a lower chamber (15) for dispensing and injecting coffee, the perforated partition wall (13) is provided with an outer surface (13a) facing the upper chamber (14) and an inner surface (13b) facing the lower chamber (15), and the outer surface (13a) of the perforated partition wall (13) is covered by a metal filter screen (21).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a filter for a filter support cup of a coffee machine, in particular to a so-called double-wall filter. Background Art

[0002] This type of filter comprises a cup-shaped body having a rear wall equipped with holes for dispensing the injected coffee and a side wall delimiting, together with the rear wall, a compartment having a perforated partition wall inside.

[0003] The perforated dividing wall separates an upper chamber for containing ground coffee from a lower chamber for dispensing brewed coffee.

[0004] The calibrated holes in the perforated dividing wall retain the coffee grounds while allowing the infused coffee to flow through.

[0005] This type of filter is particularly subject to the risk of clogging of the perforated partition wall and the dispensing orifice.

[0006] This clogging can result in a degradation of filter performance due to the gradual accumulation of impurities and scale, negatively impacting both the sanitation of the filter and the organoleptic properties of the infused coffee. Utility Model Content

[0007] Therefore, the technical task proposed by the utility model is to manufacture a filter for a filter holder cup of a coffee machine, which filter will eliminate the technical disadvantages of the known technology.

[0008] In the context of this technical task, one purpose of the invention is to realize a filter for a filter holder cup of a coffee machine, which filter is suitable for preventing the filter from becoming clogged gradually over time.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to achieve a filter for a filter holder cup of a coffee machine that ensures long-term efficiency and maintains the necessary hygiene conditions, thus facilitating the delivery of a coffee beverage with desired organoleptic properties.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to realize a filter for a filter holder cup of a coffee machine which has a simple structure and is economical.

[0011] The technical task of the utility model and these and other purposes are achieved by a filter for a filter holder cover of a coffee machine, the filter comprising a cup-shaped body having a bottom wall and a side wall, the bottom wall being provided with a brewed coffee dispensing hole, the side wall defining a compartment together with the bottom wall, and there being also a perforated partition wall in the chamber, the perforated partition wall separating an upper chamber for storing coffee powder and a lower chamber for delivering brewed coffee including the dispensing hole, the perforated partition wall having an outer surface facing the upper chamber and an inner surface facing the lower chamber, the filter being characterized in that the outer surface of the perforated partition wall is covered with a metal filter mesh.

[0012] Advantageously, the filter mesh consists of a perforated foil.

[0013] Advantageously, the filter screen extends over the perforated partition wall.

[0014] Advantageously, the perforated partition wall is formed by a perforated metal sheet having holes whose diameter is greater than or equal to the diameter of the holes of the filter mesh and whose thickness is greater than the thickness of the filter mesh.

[0015] The utility model provides a filter for preventing the dispensing hole from being blocked, the filter being carefully calibrated to significantly accelerate the flow of the infused coffee, thereby significantly increasing the turbulence induced in the flow, thereby more air is mixed in the infused coffee, thereby forming crema or coffee foam.

[0016] Further characteristics of the invention are defined in the other dependent claims.

[0017] The filter screen according to the invention adds an additional and more effective barrier to the conventionally provided perforated partition wall, which prevents coffee powder particles from clogging the perforated partition wall holes and the dispensing holes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of the filter shown for illustrative and non-limiting purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 A perspective view of the filter cup is shown with the filter in place;

[0020] Figure 2 A perspective view of the filter cup is shown with the filter removed and exploded;

[0021] Figure 3 shows a top plan view of a filter bowl body with a perforated dividing wall inserted into the filter bowl;

[0022] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A top perspective view of a cutaway cup body alone;

[0023] Figure 5 shows a side elevation view of the filter taken along a vertical center plane;

[0024] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 Zoomed-in detail of the filter in ;

[0025] Figure 7 shows a vertical cross section of a filter variation in which the perforated dividing wall is attached directly to the cup body;

[0026] Figure 8 Shows Figure 7 A perspective view of a perforated partition wall of a filter in FIG. 1 with a metal mesh positioned at the top;

[0027] Fig. 9 Shows Figure 7 A top plan view of a perforated partition wall of a filter with a metal mesh positioned at the top;

[0028] Fig.10 Shows Figure 7 A bottom plan view of a perforated partition wall of a filter in FIG.

[0029] Fig.11 Shows Figure 7 Side elevation view of the perforated dividing wall of the filter with the metal mesh positioned on top. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a filter is shown housed in a filter cup 2 of a coffee machine, in particular an espresso machine, through which hot or cold water flows at a pressure of up to 8 to 12 bars during the preparation phase of the beverage.

[0031] The known filter cup 2 has a handle 3, lugs 4 for a bayonet connection arranged in a housing in a coffee machine, and one or more nozzles 5 for dispensing brewed coffee.

[0032] An attachment lug 4 extends outwardly from a top opening of the filter holder cup 2 , while a nozzle 5 extends outwardly from a bottom of the filter holder cup 2 .

[0033] The filter cup defines a removable injection end of an injection circuit having a water supply pump and a hot water boiler positioned between the water supply pump and the injection end inside the coffee machine.

[0034] Obviously, the invention comprises filter cups of configurations and attachment systems other than the one shown, for example attachment systems comprising linear sliding guides for engagement in a desired housing in a coffee machine.

[0035] The filter comprises a cup-shaped body 6 having a rear wall 7 provided with dispensing holes 8 for dispensing the injected coffee and a side wall 9 extending from the peripheral edge of the rear wall 7 and delimiting a compartment 10 together with the rear wall.

[0036] The cup-shaped body 6 has an upper opening which is fitted with an outer sleeve collar 11 along a peripheral edge of a matching shape of the upper opening of the filter cup 2 .

[0037] Obviously, this is only one possibility for the shape of the filter which is given by way of example only, since the filter may have different shapes, in particular different collar shapes.

[0038] The cup-shaped body 6 is preferably manufactured by moulding a single metal sheet.

[0039] The filter also comprises, inside the compartment 10 , a perforated partition wall 13 separating an upper chamber 14 for containing coffee powder from a lower chamber 15 comprising a dispensing orifice 8 for dispensing the infused coffee.

[0040] The dispensing orifice 8 may be coaxial with the axis of the cup-shaped body 6 or even offset.

[0041] The perforated partition wall 13 has an outer surface 13 a facing the upper chamber 14 and an inner surface 13 b facing the lower chamber 15 .

[0042] The perforated partition wall 13 has a plurality of calibrated through holes 13c and is in particular formed of a perforated metal sheet, for example flat, concave, convex or any other shape, preferably of stainless steel.

[0043] exist Figures 1 to 6In the solution shown only by way of example, the side wall 9 of the cup-shaped body 6 is formed by an upper cylindrical segment 9a of a larger diameter, a lower cylindrical segment 9b of a smaller diameter, a first peripheral fitting 9c connecting the upper cylindrical segment 9a to the lower cylindrical segment 9b, and a second peripheral fitting 9d connecting the lower cylindrical segment 9b to the rear wall 7. The perforated partition wall 13 has a peripheral gasket 23 that is removably engaged with the cup-shaped body 6. In particular, the peripheral gasket 23 has a shape that matches the side wall 9 of the cup-shaped body 6 and is tightly engaged with the side wall to prevent any passage of liquid or coffee powder particles through the mutually engaged surfaces. More specifically, the second fitting 9d of the side wall 9 of the cup-shaped body 6 is in the shape of a vertical truncated cone that tapers from top to bottom, and the gasket 23 has a rectangular trapezoidal cross-section, the smaller base of which matches the lower cylindrical segment 9b of the side wall 9 of the cup-shaped body 6, and the hypotenuse matches the second fitting 9d of the side wall 9 of the cup-shaped body 6. In order to lock the perforated partition wall 13 firmly in place, the side wall 9 (particularly the lower cylindrical member 9b) of the cup-shaped body 6 has one or more projections 16, which engage the upper peripheral edge of the peripheral gasket 23 inside. The thickness of the projections 16 makes them interfere with the gasket 23 during the positioning and removal of the filtering partition wall 13, causing the gasket 23 to deform slightly. The gasket 23 can be associated with the perforated partition wall by the secondary injection of elastomeric material. Preferably, the elastomeric material is based on food grade silicone rubber. This feature allows a stable and lasting association between the gasket 23 and the perforated partition wall 13 when the seal is actually formed. Alternatively, the gasket 23 can be attached to the perforated partition wall 13 using a non-toxic adhesive substance or by a mechanical engagement device. As shown in the figure, the filter also includes a gripping element 19 for separating the perforated partition wall 13 from the cup-shaped body 6. The gripping element 19 may comprise a tab protruding from the gasket 23, which is made during the step of secondary injection of the gasket 23 onto the perforated partition wall 13. Alternatively, the gripping element 19 may be a separate and distinct element, which may be connected to the perforated partition wall 13 by gluing or other mechanical means.

[0044] exist Figures 7 to 11 In the solution shown, the perforated partition wall 13 is permanently attached to the cup-shaped body 6 , for example by welding its peripheral edge to the cup-shaped body 6 .

[0045] One outstanding aspect of the present invention is that the outer surface 13 a of the perforated partition wall 13 is covered with a metal filter mesh 21 .

[0046] The metal filter screen 21 is advantageously made of a perforated foil.

[0047] The perforated foil forming the filter mesh 21 can be obtained by a photo-punching process which allows the holes to be calibrated.

[0048] The metal filter screen 21 is preferably made of stainless steel.

[0049] The filter screen 21 has a peripheral band 22 which is attached to a peripheral band 24 of the perforated partition wall 13 .

[0050] The outer edge of the peripheral band 22 of the filter screen 21 is set back from the outer edge of the peripheral band 24 of the perforated partition wall 13 .

[0051] The peripheral band 22 of the filter screen 21 is completely fixed to the peripheral band 24 of the perforated partition wall 13 without interruption.

[0052] To improve the fixing, the peripheral band 22 of the filter screen 21 and the peripheral band 24 of the perforated partition wall 13 are free of holes.

[0053] In particular, the peripheral band 22 of the filter mesh 21 is welded to the peripheral band of the perforated partition wall 13, but it can also be fixed by another method, for example by a non-toxic adhesive.

[0054] The filter screen 21 extends over the perforated partition wall 13 .

[0055] The filter screen 21 is flat.

[0056] Specifically, the filter screen 21 is shaped like a disk.

[0057] The perforated foil forming the filter mesh 21 may have a shape other than a plane if it is molded using a mold of a given shape after photo-stamping.

[0058] exist Figures 1 to 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the perforated partition wall 13 has a central flat perforated portion 25 on which the filter screen 21 is stretched. On the other hand, a peripheral band 24 without holes in the perforated partition wall 13 extends and bends away from the central flat perforated portion 25 to give the perforated partition wall 13 an overall cup-shaped shape.

[0059] However, in Figures 7 to 11 In the embodiment shown, the perforated partition wall 13 is also flat.

[0060] The perforated partition wall 13 serves as a rigid support for the filter screen 21 .

[0061] The perforated partition wall 13 is therefore thicker than the thickness of the filter mesh 21 .

[0062] The perforated partition wall 13 also has holes with a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the holes in the filter mesh 21 .

[0063] The filter mesh 21 has a thickness between 0.05 mm and 1 mm and has pores with a diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0064] The perforated partition wall 13 has a thickness between 0.4 mm and 1.5 mm and a hole diameter between 0.8 mm and 3 mm.

[0065] The holes in the perforated partition wall 13 are substantially equal, circular and equally spaced.

[0066] The holes in the filter screen 21 are substantially equal, circular and equally spaced.

[0067] Finally, the diameter of the dispenser orifice 8 is between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0068] The presence of the filter mesh 21 makes it possible to provide the perforated partition wall 13 with sufficiently large pores to avoid the risk of clogging by any coffee particles that might pass through the pores of the filter mesh 21 .

[0069] On the other hand, any coffee particles that might end up passing through the holes in the filter mesh 21 will not accumulate in the lower brewing chamber 15 , since they remain free to easily escape through the dispensing aperture 8 .

[0070] The filter screen 21 is directly and easily accessible to the user for inspection and cleaning, and can be cleaned by simply rinsing it in tap water.

[0071] In the implementation process, the materials used as well as the dimensions can be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. A filter for a filter holder cup (2) of a coffee machine, characterized in that: The invention comprises a cup-shaped body (6), the cup-shaped body having a bottom wall (7) and a side wall (9), the bottom wall being provided with a hole (8) for dispensing injected coffee, the side wall together with the bottom wall (7) defining a compartment (10), a perforated partition wall (13) being also positioned in the compartment (10), the perforated partition wall separating an upper chamber (14) for storing coffee powder and a lower chamber (15) for dispensing the injected coffee and comprising the hole (8), the perforated partition wall (13) presenting an outer surface (13a) facing the upper chamber (14) and an inner surface (13b) facing the lower chamber (15), the filter being characterized in that the outer surface (13a) of the perforated partition wall (13) is covered by a metal filter mesh (21).

2. The filter of the filter holder cup (2) for a coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The metal filter screen (21) is formed by a perforated sheet.

3. The filter of the filter holder cup (2) for a coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The metal filter screen (21) has a peripheral band (22) attached to the perforated partition wall (13).

4. The filter of the filter holder cup (2) for a coffee machine according to claim 3, characterized in that The peripheral band (22) of the metal filter (21) is fixed to the peripheral band of the perforated partition wall (13).

5. The filter for the filter holder cup (2) of the coffee machine according to claim 4, characterized in that The peripheral band (22) of the metal filter (21) and the peripheral band of the perforated partition wall (13) are free of holes.

6. The filter for the filter holder cup (2) of the coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The metal filter (21) extends over the perforated partition wall (13).

7. The filter of the filter holder cup (2) for a coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The metal filter (21) has a thickness between 0.05 mm and 1 mm and holes with a diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.8 mm.

8. The filter for the filter holder cup (2) of the coffee machine according to claim 7, characterized in that The perforated partition wall (13) is formed by a perforated metal sheet having holes whose diameter is greater than or equal to the diameter of the holes of the metal filter (21) and whose thickness is greater than the thickness of the metal filter (21).

9. The filter of the filter holder cup (2) for a coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The metal filter (21) is flat.

Images