Brewing unit with moisture barrier, beverage preparation device and method for operating a brewing unit

Abstract

Brewing unit (01) for a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, comprising a first brewing chamber part (02) adjustable between different operating positions by means of a drive or adjustment device, a second brewing chamber part (03), preferably a brewing head, arranged stationary in a housing (04), wherein the housing (04) has a housing opening (05) for conveying a beverage substrate into the first brewing chamber part (02), preferably in a grinding position, characterized in that a closing element (06) is arranged within or in the housing (04) and is movably mounted between a closed and an open position, which in at least the grinding position of the first brewing chamber part (02) keeps the housing opening (05) open in the open position and in at least one other position of the first brewing chamber part (02) in the closed position closes the housing opening (05).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a brewing unit for beverage preparation devices, in particular coffee and / or espresso machines. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, with a corresponding, preferably removable, brewing unit. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating a brewing unit for a beverage preparation device.

[0002] For beverage preparation devices, in particular for those that work or operate with hot brewing fluid, in particular hot water or steam, it is well known that the moisture that arises or forms in the device during beverage preparation, preferably brewing or leaching, for example in the form of water vapor, can have negative effects.

[0003] Particularly in beverage preparation devices such as coffee machines and / or espresso machines that use an organic beverage substrate, namely coffee powder or ground coffee beans, the moisture generated within the device can lead not only to problems with electrical, electronic, or other live components, but also to contamination and hygiene issues. This is because the water vapor, originating from a temporarily open brewing unit, tends to rise within the device and condense on surfaces to which residues of the beverage substrate, particularly coffee grounds, may adhere. This combination of residual moisture and coffee grounds can lead to adhesion and thus contamination, which over time can also become the starting point or breeding ground for the proliferation of bacteria, fungi, or other organisms.

[0004] Therefore, it is already known from the prior art that the residual moisture or water vapor that escapes from a brewing chamber after the completion of a preparation process, in particular a brewing process—for example, when the brewing chamber is opened to remove or empty a pomace or pomace cake—should, if possible, not penetrate into other areas or adjacent spaces or volumes of the device. Alternatively, approaches are known that attempt to remove the moisture, in particular the water vapor, from the device as quickly and effectively as possible.

[0005] For the first approach, a prior art solution originates from the applicant. DE 20 2016 102 865 U1 relates to a coffee machine whose brewing unit is supplied with ground coffee via a ground coffee duct, either externally or from a coffee grinder. The coffee duct is provided with adjustable closure means between an open position and a closed position to create a barrier or obstacle to rising moisture or rising water vapor within or along the ground coffee duct.

[0006] This approach solves the problem of moisture spread or the formation of condensation on surfaces for a large part of the coffee grounds channel and also for adjacent assemblies and components. At the same time, however, the proposed concept is complex and requires a relatively large amount of installation space, particularly for arranging the closure means in the coffee grounds channel. The solution's complexity arises essentially from the need for separate and independent control and / or actuation of the known closure means. Furthermore, even if the closure means are formed and arranged at one end or end-side in the coffee channel facing the brewing unit, the problem still remains that a part, albeit a small part, of the coffee grounds channel always comes into contact with noticeable amounts of water vapor until it reaches the closure means.

[0007] For the second solution approach, beverage preparation devices are known that are equipped with a fan to remove moist air from the device as quickly and effectively as possible.

[0008] The prior art also includes US 2010 / 0199847 A1, US 2010 / 0199849 A1, DE 10 2008 007 254 A1, DE 35 34 263 C1 and CH 70 019 A.

[0009] Furthermore, solutions already exist for beverage preparation devices whose brewing units are not removable. Reference is made, for example, to US Pat. No. 5,228,383 A, DE 691 13 951 T2, and EP 2 229 849 A1. However, these devices have the serious disadvantage that cleaning, maintenance, or repair of the brewing unit is extremely complex or even impossible, since the brewing unit is not designed to be removable from the device.

[0010] EP 3 695 758 A1 discloses a brewing unit comprising a brewing unit body with a filling opening, wherein a movable sleeve cylinder and a movable compression piston are arranged in the brewing unit body. The movement of the sleeve cylinder closes the filling opening before the brewing process, with a plug temporarily closing the filling opening on the sleeve cylinder.

[0011] Finally, DE 601 10 600 T2 discloses a removable brewing unit which is constructed in such a way that when a movable part of a brewing chamber moves, external closure means are moved in such a way that a connection to a beverage substrate channel is opened and closed.

[0012] Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to propose a brewing unit, a beverage preparation device and a method for operating a brewing unit which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular enable a space-saving moisture barrier.

[0013] This object is achieved by a brewing unit having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, this object is achieved by a beverage preparation device according to the features of claim 11. Furthermore, this object is achieved by a method for operating a brewing unit within the meaning of the features of claim 12.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the following description, description of the figures, the figures and the dependent claims.

[0015] The brewing unit according to the invention for a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, with a first brewing chamber part that can be adjusted between different operating positions by means of a drive or adjustment device and a second brewing chamber part, preferably a brewing head, that is arranged stationary in a housing, has a housing opening in the housing for conveying a beverage substrate, in particular ground coffee, into the first brewing chamber part, preferably in a grinding position, and further comprises according to the invention within the housing or in the housing of the brewing unit a closure element that is movably mounted between a closed position and an open position, which closure element keeps the housing opening open in at least the grinding position of the first brewing chamber part in the open position and closes the housing opening in at least one other position of the first brewing chamber part in the closed position.

[0016] The basic idea of ​​the invention is therefore to integrate the moisture barrier, which is realized by the closure element movably mounted in or within the housing, into the brewing unit itself and / or into the housing of the brewing unit. This makes it possible, by utilizing the installation space already required for the purposes and functionalities of the brewing unit, to ensure that no or only minimal amounts of water vapor penetrate adjacent components or assemblies of the beverage preparation device, in particular into a ground coffee duct of a beverage preparation device, without requiring additional installation space on the device side for the formation of the closure element.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention also makes it possible for beverage preparation devices, for example, in which no corresponding moisture barrier is provided by a closure element on the device side, to subsequently receive an effective barrier against the escape of water vapor or residual moisture from the brewing unit and into other assembly components or parts of the device by appropriate retrofitting or replacement of a brewing unit according to the invention, for example as part of maintenance or repair of the brewing unit.

[0018] As will be explained in more detail below with reference to various specific embodiments of the invention, an advantage of the invention is that when the movably mounted closure element is integrated into the brewing unit itself or into the housing of the brewing unit, movements, movable parts, drive and adjustment functions of the brewing unit and its parts can sometimes be used to bring about or indirectly contribute to the movement of the closure element between the closed and open positions, so that this can be optimally adapted to the processes in the brewing unit, in particular the adjustment of a first brewing chamber part into different positions, and can also possibly manage without a separate or independent, possibly external, drive or a coupling to a drive of the brewing unit.

[0019] A brewing unit within the meaning of the present invention is preferably understood to be a self-contained brewing unit, essentially defined by the housing and suitable for removable use in a beverage preparation device. Such brewing units are known, for example, in technical jargon as toggle-lever brewing units. A brewing chamber, optionally with a linearly movable ejector base, can form the first brewing chamber part, which can be rotated or tilted about a rotational axis in certain positions using a toggle-lever mechanism and optionally by corresponding guide elements such as guide blocks, sliding blocks, and the like. In other positions, it can be adjusted linearly, particularly toward and away from a brewing head fixed in the housing.To couple the drive energy, a coupling can be provided to which a device-side drive, for example an electric motor, can be coupled, the rotational movement of which is then converted into the tilting and / or linear adjustment via the drive or adjustment device of the brewing unit.

[0020] The brewing unit can preferably be designed such that, in a certain relative position of the first brewing chamber part and the second brewing chamber part, in particular the brewing chamber and the brewing head, a closed brewing chamber is formed, which is sealed such that pressurized brewing fluid can be introduced into the brewing chamber and, after leaching, can dispense the brewed beverage via corresponding outlet devices or outlet valves. Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the first brewing chamber part has drainage means in order to drain away any residual fluid still present in the brewing chamber following a brewing process, as far as possible, before the brewing chamber is reopened by a relative movement of the brewing chamber parts to one another.

[0021] The housing opening of the brewing unit is preferably designed and arranged such that, when the brewing unit is inserted into a beverage preparation device, the housing opening borders on and / or is aligned with a ground coffee channel. The advantageous functionality of the closure element provides that, especially during the grinding process, during which ground coffee is to be transferred or filled from the ground coffee channel into the brewing unit and in particular into the first brewing chamber part of the brewing unit, the closure element keeps the housing opening open. In other operating states or drive positions of the brewing unit and the first brewing chamber part, in which an escape of water vapor or moisture from the first brewing chamber part is to be feared or is known to occur, the housing opening is closed.

[0022] It should be noted that the grinding position of the brewing unit can also be a general filling position for the brewing unit, in particular for the first brewing chamber section. This takes into account the fact that not all beverage preparation devices or not in every operating mode necessarily require the grinding of ground coffee, for example, in a coffee grinder integrated into the device. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the first brewing chamber section is filled by manually or otherwise adding ground coffee into the ground coffee channel, which means that the corresponding position of the first brewing chamber section can also generally be referred to as the filling position.

[0023] A first advantageous embodiment of the brewing unit provides that the closure element has a mechanical driver which is designed to interact with the first brewing chamber part and / or the drive or adjustment device and moves the closure element depending on the movement of the first brewing chamber part between different operating positions between the closure position and the opening position.As already indicated above, the mechanical driver in the case of a closure element integrated into the brewing unit or integrated into the housing of the brewing unit not only enables the saving of installation space on the side of the beverage preparation device, but also enables dependent control or dependent actuation of the closure element, whereby the advantage is achieved that incorrect actuation, for example opening or closing of the closure element at the wrong time or in an incorrect position of the first brewing chamber part, is prevented and at the same time it is possible for the drive or adjustment device provided anyway for adjusting the first brewing chamber part to effect the movement of the closure element between the opening position and the closing position directly or indirectly, preferably via the mediation of the movement of the first brewing chamber part itself.

[0024] Particularly preferably, the closure element can be provided with two drivers arranged transversely to a direction of movement of the closure element on both sides of the closure element, preferably at the ends. The provision of two drivers arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the closure element, opposite one another and preferably at the ends, prevents one-sided and uneven force transmission to the closure element, which in turn counteracts jamming and / or a break or interruption in the transmission of drive force to the drivers and thus to the closure element. The direction of movement of the closure element does not have to be rectilinear or linear.Rather, when integrating the closure element into or within the housing, it is advantageous if the direction of movement or the movement vector of the closure element is curved and varies for different areas or sections of the closure element. This allows for particularly space-saving integration into the brewing unit housing.

[0025] According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the brewing unit, it can be provided that the at least one driver has a stop and sliding contour, preferably projecting inwards, which, depending on the relative arrangement between the driver and the first brewing chamber part and / or drive or adjustment device, effects a non-positive stop or a decoupling between the driver and the first brewing chamber part or drive and / or adjustment device.

[0026] The advantageous stop and sliding contour thus enables independent coupling and decoupling to the first brewing chamber part or to the drive and / or adjustment device. This means that, for example, during a first movement phase of the first brewing chamber part, the stop and sliding contour comes into frictional contact with an element or part of the first brewing chamber part, thus allowing a force to be transmitted to the driver.In a second movement section or a second part of a movement of the first brewing chamber part, the part, section or element of the first brewing chamber part which in the first movement section still ensured the force transmission or non-positive engagement with the stop and sliding contour can advantageously cause or enable sliding on the stop and sliding contour by changing the relative position and / or relative orientation, in particular rotation, of the device parts involved, which then leads to the driver being decoupled from the first brewing chamber part and consequently, as long as no other forces act on the closure element and / or the driver, remaining or persisting in the position in which decoupling by sliding took place.

[0027] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment, the driver and / or the stop and sliding contour can be designed such that pivoting or tilting the first brewing chamber part about a rotational axis causes a movement of the closure element between the closed position and the open position. This embodiment takes advantage of the fact that, in many designs or variants of known brewing units, in particular toggle-lever brewing units, tilting or pivoting of the first brewing chamber part is necessary or required to reach the grinding position or filling position of the first brewing chamber part, and also after filling the first brewing chamber part with beverage substrate or ground coffee.The driver and / or the stop and sliding contour can therefore advantageously be designed in such a way that a coupling or force transmission takes place precisely during these movements and no coupling or decoupling, for example by sliding, takes place during other movements, for example linear displacements, lowering or raising of the first brewing chamber part.

[0028] A further, particularly preferred embodiment of the brewing unit provides for one, preferably two or more, drive pins projecting laterally from the first brewing chamber part to interact with the driver and / or the stop and sliding contour. This enables the first brewing chamber part, which in turn is driven by the drive and / or adjustment device, to influence the driver and / or the stop and sliding contour, depending on the relative positioning and / or orientation of the first brewing chamber part to the driver and / or its stop and sliding contour.

[0029] The implementation of a laterally projecting drive pin, preferably two opposing, laterally projecting drive pins, is also a particularly simple and structurally easy way to achieve a detachable or decoupleable connection to the driver and / or its stop and sliding contour. Furthermore, it is also a space-saving design.

[0030] An additional, advantageous further development of the brewing unit provides that the housing has guide means, in particular guide grooves for guiding the closure element. The guide means, in particular guide grooves, can preferably be provided parallel to the direction of movement of the closure element and enclose the lateral ends of the closure element in sections or regions and thus provide guidance. Furthermore, it can also advantageously be provided that guide means, in particular guide grooves, are provided perpendicular to the direction of movement of the closure element. These then act as a guide and / or stop for the closure element, in particular before or upon reaching the open position and the closed position. The guide means can particularly preferably be designed as a guide frame, particularly preferably on the inside of the housing on or in the housing.Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the guide means follow the shape and / or outer contour of the brewing unit housing, in particular parallel and offset inward. This allows the closure element to be guided in a minimal installation space. If necessary, parts or sections of the housing can even be used to support or guide the closure element and thus serve as a guide means.

[0031] According to a further, particularly preferred variant of the brewing unit, the housing opening can be enclosed by a sealing device on the inside of the housing, wherein, in the closed position of the closure element, an outer surface of the closure element comes into contact with the sealing device, at least in part, to form a seal. The sealing device arranged or provided on the inside of the housing can even more effectively prevent the escape of moisture, in particular water vapor, in the closed position of the closure element and thus any escape from the brewing unit. At the same time, this enables or prefers an arrangement of the closure element in the immediate vicinity or adjacent to the rest of the housing wall, which in turn advantageously reduces the required installation space.

[0032] Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the closure element has segments connected by film hinges. This ensures that the closure element can, on the one hand, follow a curved, non-linear movement for adjustment between the open position and the closed position and can thus be integrated into the contours and dimensions of the brewing unit and its housing in a particularly space-saving manner, without the closure element having potential leak points in the form of slits, gaps, or the like, thus ensuring the effective retention of moisture and / or water vapor.

[0033] Alternatively, it can advantageously be provided that the closure element comprises articulated, interconnected lamellae. This embodiment also allows the closure element, and in particular the movement of the closure element, to be adapted to the contours of the brewing unit and the brewing unit housing. The lamellae can also be designed, for example, with elastic edge sections or boundary sections, such that the slots or gaps between the lamellae do not impair, or do not noticeably impair, the retention of moisture, especially water vapor.

[0034] The above-mentioned object is also achieved with a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, which according to the invention has a preferably removable brewing unit according to one of the previously described embodiments. The beverage preparation device can preferably be designed as a fully automatic machine and, in addition to a fluid reservoir, in particular a water tank, can have a coffee grinder. The ground coffee does not necessarily have to be provided by the coffee grinder via the ground coffee channel, but manual access or access openings to the ground coffee channel can also be provided. It can be particularly advantageous that mechanical drive energy is transmitted to the brewing unit only at one point or with one device on the device side, for example between an electric drive fixed to the device and a coupling of the brewing unit, and in particular the closure element is indirectly controlled and driven.

[0035] Furthermore, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for operating a brewing unit, preferably according to one of the previously described embodiments, for a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, particularly preferably according to the previously described embodiment, which provides at least the method step of adjusting a first brewing chamber part between different operating positions by means of a drive or adjustment device, in particular with respect to a second brewing chamber part, preferably a brewing head, arranged stationary in a housing of the brewing chamber, wherein the housing has a brewing chamber opening for conveying a beverage substrate, in particular ground coffee, into the first brewing chamber part, preferably in a grinding position, wherein the method according to the invention providesthat within the housing or in the housing, a closure element movably mounted between a closure and an end opening position is moved in such a way that the housing opening is kept open while the first brewing chamber part is in the grinding position by the closure element remaining in the opening position and in at least one other position of the first brewing chamber part, the housing opening is closed by the closure element being transferred to the closure position.

[0036] To avoid unnecessary repetition, means and modes of action previously disclosed as device features and device advantages shall also be deemed to be correspondingly disclosed as process-related features. This also applies vice versa.

[0037] The method according to the invention enables the brewing unit itself to retain moisture, in particular water vapor, without the corresponding implementation of a closure element on the device side and without the need for separate control of an external closure element. For this purpose, the movement and / or reaching of the closure position or opening position of the closure element is advantageously coupled to the respective state of the brewing unit, so that the closure element is not only integrated into the brewing unit but also enables a dependent, indirect or direct control of the closure element, in particular without an independent or separate drive unit.

[0038] Individual aspects, advantages, and effects of the devices and method according to the invention are explained below with reference to purely schematic figures showing embodiments of the invention. Therein: Fig. 1: a section through a brewing unit according to the invention in a first position of the first brewing chamber part and a closing position of the closing element; Fig. 2: a section through a brewing unit according to the invention in a grinding position of the first brewing chamber part and a closure element in an opening position: Fig. 3: a detailed view of a section of the brewing unit according to the invention with a closure element in an opening position; Fig. 4: a detailed view of a section of the brewing unit according to the invention with a closure element in a closure position; Fig. 5: a perspective view of components of a brewing unit according to the invention.

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a brewing unit 01 configured as a toggle-lever brewing unit and, in addition to a first brewing chamber part 02 that can be moved between different operating positions, has a second brewing chamber part 03 configured as a brewing head. The first brewing chamber part 02 and the second brewing chamber part 03 are accommodated in the common housing 04 of the brewing unit 01. The housing 04 of the brewing unit 01 has a housing opening 05 that is used to fill the brewing unit 01, and in particular the first brewing chamber part 02, with ground coffee from a ground coffee channel of a beverage preparation device before it is used to prepare, in particular brew, a beverage.

[0040] A closure element 06 is arranged in the housing 04 or in the interior of the housing 04. The closure element 06 is guided by guide means 07, in particular guide grooves, which are formed on the inside of the housing, preferably by housing parts or housing extensions. In the illustration of the Fig. 1, the closure element 06 is shown in a closed position in which the housing opening 05 of the housing 04 is closed. The first brewing chamber part 02 is shown in the illustration of Fig. 1 is shown in a position assumed by the brewing unit 01 after the completion of a brewing process or before the start of a brewing process. The position of the first brewing chamber part 02 can accordingly be referred to as the rest position or neutral position.

[0041] In the Fig. 1 that the closure element 06 has a mechanical driver 08 which extends into an area or into a space towards the housing interior of the brewing unit 01, which is also used or required by the first brewing chamber part 02 during the movement or adjustment, in particular pivoting or tilting, of the first brewing chamber part 02. The mechanical driver 08 is designed, as will be made even clearer by the description of the further figures, to temporarily or in spatial dimensions in sections during the movement of the first brewing chamber part 02 establish a coupling with the first brewing chamber part 02 and to temporarily or in sections also release said coupling again, i.e. to bring about a decoupling between the first brewing chamber part 02 and the mechanical driver 08.

[0042] The Fig. 2 shows the brewing unit 01 in a grinding position or filling position of the first brewing chamber part 02. This was, as can be seen from the comparison with the Fig. 1, was essentially achieved by tilting or pivoting the first brewing chamber part 02 about a rotation axis R. In the process, the closure element 06 was also moved along the guide means 07 into an open position, in which a mechanical coupling and / or force transmission was temporarily established between the mechanical driver 08 and the first brewing chamber part 02. The state of the coupling is shown in the position of the first brewing chamber part 02 in the illustration of Fig. 2 is already canceled again. This means that advantageously during the tilting or pivoting of the first brewing chamber part 02, the closure element 06 reaches its opening position and at the same time or at least shortly before or shortly after the coupling with the first brewing chamber part 02 is canceled and subsequently the first brewing chamber part 02 still executes a certain residual path or a certain residual tilting or pivoting before the state occurs which is described in the Fig. 2. As will be explained below, this is advantageous in order to establish a second-way coupling, which makes it possible to transfer the closure element 06 and / or the mechanical driver 08 in a simple and effective manner via the first brewing chamber part 02 in both directions, i.e. from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

[0043] In contrast to the Fig. 1, in which the housing opening 05 is closed by the closure element 06, is in the Fig. 2 the housing opening 05 of the housing 04 is opened, since the closure element 06 is in the open position. In the state of Fig. 2, both ground coffee can be poured into the first brewing chamber part 02 through the housing opening 05, and residual moisture, in particular water vapor, can escape from the interior of the brewing unit 01 through the housing opening 05, for example, toward and / or into a ground coffee channel of a beverage preparation device. Therefore, it is advantageous and desirable to keep the housing opening 05 in the closed position or to leave it in the closed position in as many operating states or operating positions of the brewing unit 01, in particular of the first brewing chamber part 02, as possible.

[0044] Fig. 3 shows a section of the Fig. 2, in which a part of the housing 04 including the housing opening 05 as well as the guide means 07 inside the housing and the closure element 06 guided therein including the mechanical driver 08 can be seen more clearly. For reasons of clarity, the first brewing chamber part 02 is not shown in the illustration of the Fig. 3 is not shown. Firstly, it can be seen that the closure element 06 has undergone or allows a partial bending in some areas. This can be achieved by the closure element 06 having one, preferably several film hinges 09, which connect segments 10 of the closure element 06 lying therebetween or arranged therebetween. Furthermore, it can be seen that the mechanical driver 08 has a stop and sliding contour 11, which in the illustration of the Fig. 3 protrudes or projects beyond the inner surface 12 of the mechanical driver 08 from the plane of the drawing. The stop and sliding contour 11 essentially has two stop surfaces 13 and 14. Via the stop surfaces 13 and 14, a force can be transmitted, for example from the first brewing chamber part 02, to the stop and sliding contour 11, which then, in the case of the stop surface 13, leads to the opening or transfer of the closure element 06 into the opening position and, in the case of the stop surface 14, to the closing or transfer of the closure element 06 into the closing position.Furthermore, the stop and sliding contour 11 also comprises sliding surfaces 15, 16 which, depending on the relative arrangement and relative alignment between the stop and sliding contour 11 and the first brewing chamber part 02, ensure that a force transmission and / or coupling between the mechanical driver 08 and thus with the first brewing chamber part 02 is canceled or interrupted, in particular when or shortly before the first brewing chamber part 02 completes a pivoting, tilting or rotational movement.

[0045] In the Fig. 3 further shows a sealing device 17 which can be designed as a sealing ring and encloses the housing opening 05 on the inside of the housing. As with reference to Fig. 4 will become even more apparent, the sealing device 17 enables a sealing contact between an outer surface 18 of the closure element 06.

[0046] The enlarged view of the Fig. Figure 3 also shows that the guide means 07 are formed transversely to the direction of movement of the closure element 06, and the grooves of the guide means 07 accordingly preferably form a circumferential frame. Furthermore, it can be seen that parts of the housing 04 itself are used or serve to support or guide the closure element 06, and that the movement of the closure element 06 runs along the housing shape or contour. This allows the closure element 06 to be integrated into the housing 04 in a very space-saving manner.

[0047] The Fig. 4 corresponds with the elements of the brewing unit 01 according to the invention shown therein essentially to the representation of the Fig. 3. The essential difference between Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is that the closure element 06 in the illustration of the Fig. 4 is shown again in the closed position, whereby the Fig. 4 an enlargement or an enlarged section of the representation of the Fig. 1. The guide means 07, in particular the guide means 07 which run transversely to the direction of movement of the closure element 06, form as in the Fig. 4, also a type of stop for a front end 19 of the closure element 06 connected to the mechanical driver 08. Thus, the guide means 07 can also support the decoupling between the mechanical driver 08 and / or the stop and sliding contour 11 by forcing or promoting a coupling element or coupling means on the side of the first brewing chamber part 02 to slide on the sliding surface 16, since the stop on the side of the guide means 07 prevents the closure element 06 from being moved or displaced. Fig. 4 also shows the sealing contact between the sealing device 17 and the outer surface 18 of the closure element 06.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 5 again shows, in isolation, a part of the housing 04 with the housing opening 05 formed therein, which is closed by the closure element 06. Also shown is the first brewing chamber part 02, with drive pins 21 arranged on both sides at an upper end or in the region of an upper end 20, which are designed to stop and slide on the mechanical drivers 08. Thus, the Fig. 5 also shows an advantageous embodiment in which mechanical drivers 08 are arranged on the end of the closure element 06 on both sides transversely to the direction of movement of the closure element 06, wherein preferably each of the mechanical drivers 08 has a stop and sliding contour 11, which in turn protrude inwards over the mechanical driver 08 on the housing side and thus enable coupling and decoupling with the respective laterally projecting drive pin 21.

[0049] In the Fig. 5 it is clearly visible that when a tilting or rotating movement of the first brewing chamber part 02 is started or initiated, this leads to the drive pins 21 coming into contact with the stop surfaces 13 of the respective stop and sliding contour 11 and the rotation or pivoting of the first brewing chamber part 02 thus also leads to the closure element 06 being moved out of the closed position and towards an open position via the mechanical drivers 08. This continues until the tilting and / or lowering of the closure element 06 in the housing 04 by the movement along the guide means 07 allows the drive pins 21 to slide off the stop and sliding contour 11, whereby the mechanical drivers 08 and thus also the closure element 06 are decoupled from the first brewing chamber part 02, in particular the drive pin 21, and the closure element 06 remains in a corresponding open position.A reverse tilting of the first brewing chamber part 02 from a position as shown in the . Fig. 2, would conversely bring about the transfer of the closure element 06 into the closure position in that the laterally projecting drive pins 21 temporarily or partially come into contact with the stop and sliding contour 11, in particular the stop surface 14 and the sliding surface 16, and slide off. List of reference symbols 01 Brewing unit, brewing chamber 02 first brewing chamber part 03 second brewing chamber part 04 Housing 05 Housing opening 06 Closure element 07 Management tools 08 mechanical driver 09 Film hinges 10 segments 11 Stop and sliding contour 12 inner surface 13,14 Stop surfaces 15,16 Sliding surfaces 17 Sealing device 18 Exterior area 19 front end 20 upper end 21 drive pins R rotation axis

Claims

[1] Brewing unit (01) for a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, with a first brewing chamber part (02) which can be adjusted between different operating positions by means of a drive or adjustment device, a second brewing chamber part (03) arranged in a fixed position in a housing (04), preferably a brewing head, wherein the housing (04) has a housing opening (05) for conveying a beverage substrate into the first brewing chamber part (02), preferably in a grinding position, characterized by that a closure element (06) is arranged within the housing (04) or in the housing (04) and is mounted so as to be movable between a closure and an opening position, which closure element keeps the housing opening (05) open in at least the grinding position of the first brewing chamber part (02) in the opening position and closes the housing opening (05) in at least one other position of the first brewing chamber part (02) in the closure position. [2] Brewing unit (01) according to claim 1, characterized by in that the closure element (06) has a mechanical driver (08) which is designed to interact with the first brewing chamber part (02) and / or the drive or adjusting device and moves the closure element (06) between different operating positions between the closure position and the opening position depending on the movement of the first brewing chamber part (02). [3] Brewing unit (01) according to claim 2, characterized by two drivers (08) which are arranged transversely to a direction of movement of the closure element (06) on both sides of the closure element (06). [4] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized bythat the driver (08) has a stop and sliding contour (11), preferably projecting inwards, which, depending on the relative arrangement between the driver and the first brewing chamber part (02) or drive and / or adjusting device, effects a non-positive stop or a decoupling between the driver (08) and the first brewing chamber part (02) or drive or adjusting device. [5] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the driver (08) and / or the stop and sliding contour (11) is / are designed such that pivoting or tilting of the first brewing chamber part (02) about a rotation axis (R) causes a movement of the closure element (06) between the closure position and the opening position. [6] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized byone, preferably two or more, drive pin(s) (21) projecting laterally from the first brewing chamber part (02) for interacting with the driver (08) and / or the stop and sliding contour (11). [7] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the housing (04) has guide means (07), in particular guide grooves for guiding the closure element (06). [8] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the housing opening (05) is enclosed by a sealing device (17) on the inside of the housing, wherein in the closed position of the closure element (06) an outer surface (18) of the closure element (06) comes to rest at least partially in a sealing manner against the sealing device (17). [9] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the closure element (06) has segments (10) connected to film hinges (09). [10] Brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the closure element (06) has articulated lamella members. [11] Beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, characterized by a preferably removable brewing unit (01) according to one of claims 1 to 10. [12] Method for operating a brewing unit (01), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, for a beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee and / or espresso machine, particularly preferably according to claim 11, comprising the method step: adjusting a first brewing chamber part (02) between different operating positions by means of a drive or adjusting device, in particular with respect to a second brewing chamber part (03), preferably a brewing head, arranged stationary in a housing (04), wherein the housing (04) has a housing opening (05) for conveying a beverage substrate into the first brewing chamber part (02), preferably in a grinding position, characterized bythat within the housing (04) or in the housing (04) a closure element (06) which is movably mounted between a closure and an opening position is moved in such a way that the housing opening (05) is kept open while the first brewing chamber part (02) is in the grinding position, in that the closure element (06) remains in the opening position and in at least one other position of the first brewing chamber part (02) the housing opening (05) is closed by the closure element (06) being transferred into the closure position.

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