Manual apparatus for preparing a hot beverage

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for producing a hot beverage based on coffee beans, comprising: a crank (3); a pressure chamber (22); a piston (18, 19) movable in the pressure chamber (22); a coffee sieve (25) for coffee bean-based powder, the coffee sieve (25) being attached to one end of the pressure chamber (22); a gear mechanism (100) arranged between the crank (3) and the piston (18, 19) and designed for manually applying a force to the piston (18, 19), the gear mechanism (100) comprising a rack (17), a worm (5), a worm gear (7) and a drive gear (8); and a housing (2) at least partially enclosing the pressure chamber (22) and the gear mechanism (100) with a filling opening (31) for water.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a manual apparatus for preparing a coffee bean-based hot beverage. In particular, the apparatus is suitable for preparing espresso. Technological background

[0002] Manual espresso machines have been around for some time and are enjoying increasing popularity. They can be used on the go, for example, at campsites, in parks, in minimally equipped office kitchens, or even in any traditional kitchen, as only hot water and ground coffee are required to make espresso. Furthermore, manual espresso machines have the advantage over automatic espresso machines in that the user has control over the brewing process. They can adjust all parameters, such as the water temperature, the type and consistency of the ground coffee, the extraction speed, the extraction quantity, and the extraction pressure.

[0003] For example, CN216675473U discloses a manual Italian espresso machine in which a pressure of up to 15 bar can be built up and an espresso prepared using a crank and a central spindle via a piston. However, this has the disadvantage that the crank protrudes far from the housing, thus significantly enlarging the basic cylindrical shape of the manual espresso machine. Furthermore, this espresso machine has hardly any convenience features. For example, it is unclear whether the built-up pressure is too high or too low. The amount of water to be added must also be estimated if, for example, 25 ml of water is used for an espresso, 15 ml of water for an espresso ristretto, 50 ml of water for an espresso lungo, or 30 ml for a double ristretto. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved manual espresso machine.

[0005] A first aspect of the invention is directed to an apparatus for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage. This apparatus has at least one crank for introducing energy into the apparatus. It also includes a pressure chamber in which, based on the introduced energy, pressure is exerted on the supplied hot water. To exert the pressure, a piston movable within the pressure chamber is included, which fits snugly within the pressure chamber and applies pressure to the water. It also includes a coffee strainer for coffee bean-based powder, which is attached to one end of the pressure chamber. This end is located opposite a water filler opening and below the pressure chamber. Various types of strainers of different brands and quality levels can be used as the coffee strainer. The underside of the strainer forms the outlet of the apparatus, i.e., the point at which the hot beverage emerges.Through the size of its pore openings, the sieve also determines the pressure in the pressure chamber during the extraction of the hot beverage. Furthermore, in the apparatus according to the invention, a gear mechanism designed to manually apply a force to the piston is arranged between the crank and the piston, wherein the gear mechanism has a rack. The gear mechanism converts the rotational energy manually introduced by the crank into a linear movement of the piston, whereby a force is exerted on the surface of the piston and thus pressure on the water in the pressure chamber. The pressure in the pressure chamber increases until the pressure reaches a point at which the water emerges from the lower end of the coffee sieve. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a housing that at least partially encloses the pressure chamber and the gear mechanism and has a filling opening for water.

[0006] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the crank is replaced by an electrically powered tool, such as a cordless screwdriver or motor. This allows the device to be driven either manually or electrically. In another preferred embodiment, the motor is an attachment that allows for battery operation and / or power supply operation. This embodiment thus offers the flexibility to operate the same device in a mobile manual mode, a mobile motorized mode with a battery, a stationary manual mode, a stationary with a battery, or a stationary with a power supply.

[0007] As already described at the beginning, the coffee bean-based hot beverage refers to at least one of the following beverages: espresso, espresso ristretto, espresso lungo, double ristretto, double espresso, coffee crema, or combinations of these variants with other foodstuffs such as ice cream, milk, or spirits. The use of a rack has the advantage that it can be easily adapted to other optional applications, since only one of four sides is provided with teeth. For example, a display is attached to one of the remaining sides. In addition, the use of a rack enables a robust construction and, especially in combination with other elements of the gear mechanism, the generation of large (compressive) forces with a (comparatively) small lever arm. Preferably, one side of the rack rests against a guide structure, so that this side serves as a guide, which provides particular stability.Likewise, the rack is preferably provided with attachments that perform additional functions. Furthermore, the rack is preferably provided with structures such as grooves or ridges to improve the mechanical stability of the rack. Furthermore, the gear mechanism has the advantage that the ratio of one crank revolution to the movement of the piston can be adjusted over a wide range. This allows high pressure to be built up even with little force. Alternatively, the length of the crank can be varied depending on the ratio. Exemplary further optional embodiments are described in the following claims.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the crank is connected to a crankshaft, and the crankshaft is arranged off-center with respect to the piston. Off-center means the following: the rack is arranged in the center of the piston in a plan view in order to exert the force on the piston evenly. For example, in the case of a circular piston, the center is the center of the circle. Generally, this point is referred to as the geometric center of gravity for a variety of geometric designs. In other words, this is the point at which the application of a force on the piston causes the piston to move evenly without any tension on the piston. Off-center therefore refers to a position which is spaced from the geometric center of gravity. Unless explicitly defined otherwise, the term center in this application refers to the geometric center of gravity.

[0009] The off-center placement of the crankshaft allows for a compact design, as other components of the gear mechanism can be arranged next to the rack. This reduces the overall height of the device and allows for a larger piston surface (in plan view). Furthermore, space is created for other components, which can be used flexibly.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the crank is connected to the crankshaft via a torque adapter. The connection between the crank and the torque adapter is preferably made via a coupling, such as a hex coupling, particularly preferably a 6.35 mm hex coupling. This coupling can also be driven by an electrical tool, such as a cordless screwdriver (see above).

[0011] The torque adapter can be any component that gives way above a certain force and no longer transmits the force manually applied by the user via the crank to the gear mechanism or the piston. Such torque adapters are implemented, for example, using springs which, when adjusted to the application, give way above a predetermined force and, for example, break a positive connection. Examples of such positive connections are lamellae, lever arms, or balls pressed together by a spring. Preferably, the springs also implement an externally visible pressure scale which indicates the pressure in the pressure chamber in a range of, for example, 0-9 bar, and at 9.5 bar the torque adapter slips, triggers, or gives way. A predetermined maximum pressure in the pressure chamber exerted by the piston cannot therefore be exceeded.This also serves to protect the gear mechanism from overload due to incorrect operation or if there are foreign objects in the pressure chamber.

[0012] Preferably, the torque adapter is not permanently connected to the crank, but rather secured by a removable clamp or magnet. This allows for the attachment of different torque adapters, which can be triggered or released with varying degrees of force applied to the crank. The pressure in the pressure chamber can be adjusted by changing the torque adapter when operating the device.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the gear mechanism of the apparatus further comprises a worm, a worm gear and a drive gear.

[0014] The worm gear in combination with the worm gear enables effective eccentric placement of the drive mechanism. In combination with the drive gear, the gear ratio from crank to piston can be selected accordingly. A small gear ratio would result in a smaller stroke of the piston with one revolution of the crank, and therefore require less force from the user. The gear ratio can therefore be selected such that even a user in the target group can comfortably operate the device's crank with comparatively little force. A large gear ratio would result in a greater stroke of the piston with one revolution of the crank, and thus higher pressure, thus reducing the number of revolutions required. The gear ratio is preferably selectable or adjustable.

[0015] According to another preferred embodiment, the rack has a scale.

[0016] The scale indicates the user's set water quantity. This allows the piston to be raised to the position corresponding to the required amount of water and the correct amount of water to be added. This means that after just a few turns of the crank, pressure is applied when the piston closes. The scale preferably has markings for typical espresso variants. The scale preferably has markings at intervals of 5 ml or 10 ml. The scale is preferably clearly visible from outside the housing in the area of ​​the filler opening directly below the inner bowl. This means that the filler opening, which is required anyway, also serves as a viewing area for the scale. The scale is preferably read at a measuring point which is located in a central recess in the inner bowl.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises an acoustic signaling device.

[0018] The acoustic signaling device is designed to emit an acoustic signal when an espresso is ready or a lower stop of the piston and / or rack is reached. This means that the signaling device is automatically triggered. This point is preferably identical to the lower stop of the piston. This has the advantage that the user can concentrate on operating the device and does not continue to turn the crank unnecessarily, even though the coffee extraction process or the pressure build-up in the pressure chamber has already been completed.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the gear mechanism is further designed to actuate the acoustic signaling device.

[0020] By directly coupling the signaling device to the existing gear mechanism, additional components are saved and the device is compact even when the signaling device is provided.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the rack has a stop element at a distal end with a tongue protruding over the teeth of the rack. This tongue is designed to block the drive gear, which determines an end position of the rack. Furthermore, the tongue is designed to trigger the acoustic signaling device by actuating a bell clapper of the acoustic signaling device. This is achieved by the stop element passing the bell clapper, which carries it along and tensions a compression spring. If the tension is sufficient, the bell clapper slides over the tongue of the stop element and strikes an acoustic signaling device such as a bell or chime.

[0022] Preferably, the mechanical end position of the piston in the pressure chamber coincides with the stop of the stop element against the drive gear. Particularly preferably, a gap remains in front of the mechanical stop of the piston at this stop position of the drive gear. The mechanical stop is the position at which the piston reaches a lower limit. Preferably, the lower limit is the cover screen. When the mechanical end position of the piston is reached, the stop element activates the acoustic signaling device. This means that both actions—blocking the drive gear and actuating the signaling device—are realized by the same stop element. Preferably, these two actions are carried out simultaneously. Particularly preferably, there is a time offset between the two actions.This time offset can be adjusted either by the shape of the tongue and / or the bell clapper or by the distance of the drive gear from the signaling device. The time offset corresponds to half a crank revolution, preferably a full crank revolution. This stops the user from operating the crank before the piston has reached a physical stop. Thus, none of the moving parts of the gear mechanism, especially the drive gear, are subjected to stress.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the piston consists of an upper piston part and a lower piston part, which are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, an annular gap is present between the upper piston part and the lower piston part. An annular gap is an opening which is continuous along a circumference. However, the annular gap can also have gaps in the form of webs or sections without an opening if the water can flow essentially unhindered through the piston. The underside of the upper piston part has a continuous rise to a horizontal plane from a center of the upper piston part to a horizontally outer end of the upper piston part. In other words, the upper piston part tapers from its center to its edge on the underside of the upper piston part.

[0024] A two-part piston has the advantage that the water can be filled from above the piston and then flows through the piston. The lower part of the piston has a larger radius than the upper part and is in contact with the pressure chamber via a sealing outer silicone gasket. The upper part of the piston is connected to the lower part of the piston via a guide and can move in one direction. Preferably, this one direction is vertical. When the upper part of the piston is in contact with the lower part of the piston, this contact is sealed by an inner silicone gasket so that the upper and lower parts of the piston together form a single piston in the closed position. When the upper part of the piston is spaced apart from the lower part of the piston, an annular gap forms between the upper and lower parts of the piston. The width of the annular gap is proportional to the distance between the upper part of the piston and the lower part of the piston.Water, which is poured into the pressure chamber from above, flows through this annular gap into the area of ​​the pressure chamber below the piston. In this lower area of ​​the pressure chamber, the piston builds up the pressure required to prepare the hot drink. In addition, the upper part of the piston is shaped in such a way that any air bubbles that may be present are pushed out of the area of ​​the pressure chamber below the piston when the upper part of the piston is lowered. This is achieved by the special shape of the upper part of the piston on its underside. Starting from the center of the underside of the upper part of the piston, the continuous rise by a certain height relative to a horizontal plane ensures that any air bubbles that may be present are first pushed radially outwards and then upwards over the upper part of the piston when the upper part of the piston is lowered. In order to transport the air bubbles upwards, the annular gap must still be open.This means that the water level preferably rises together with the air bubbles above the lower edge of the piston lower part before the piston upper part closes and seals the piston. As the piston upper part moves downwards, pressure is simultaneously built up below the piston when the annular gap is closed. The underside of the piston upper part is preferably conical, at least in sections. As the piston upper part is lowered into the piston lower part, the water volume below the piston upper part decreases. This allows the water level in the pressure vessel to rise and air bubbles to be pushed from the area below the piston upper part into the area above. It should also be noted that if there is a guide structure in the middle of the piston, the above-mentioned center designates the point closest to the geometric center of gravity.Preferably, the described functionality is also realized by an oval, rectangular, or any other shaped plunger. Furthermore, the plunger base has holes on its underside. These are preferably evenly distributed. In other words, the holes in the plunger base are equally spaced from each other. This allows the water to flow through, while also dividing the water into small drops, allowing for even irrigation of the coffee grounds.

[0025] Preferably, the upper and lower piston sections are sealed to each other, and the upper and lower piston sections are sealed to the pressure chamber via a single unitary sealing ring. Compared to a design with multiple sealing rings, this design offers the advantage of reduced assembly effort and better sealing, as the upper piston section presses the unitary sealing ring against the pressure chamber. Furthermore, the unitary sealing ring has a longer service life, as it is subject to less tension when the piston is open than a permanently installed sealing ring. The unitary sealing ring also allows for a larger and more even flow and irrigation of the coffee powder across a larger area, as the inner sealing ring is omitted, freeing up space.

[0026] In another preferred embodiment, a coffee portafilter designed to hold the coffee strainer is detachably connected to the pressure chamber. The detachable connection is preferably implemented via a thread. More preferably, this is a thread with multiple inlets. Most preferably, it is a 6-way thread. This facilitates working with hot water under time pressure, as there is no need to first search for the inlet of a single thread. The coffee portafilter has a dosing ring that can be fixed to the lower and upper ends of the coffee portafilter.

[0027] The coffee portafilter allows the use of different coffee filters from various manufacturers and quality levels. The portafilter is ideally suited for both E61 58mm espresso filters and the dosing ring. The coffee filter is ideally pressed into the portafilter by a number of clamping lugs, for example three, and held in position by these. A silicone ring is precisely inserted at the bottom of the coffee portafilter. This serves as a non-slip shelf, espresso powder compaction mat, holder for espresso cups or glasses, and holds the dosing ring in position by gently clamping it on three small lugs. The dosing ring is ideally removed by pulling gently, turned 180 degrees, and placed flush on top of the coffee filter through an edge that is preferably 2.5 mm deep.The flexible attachment of the dosing ring at both the top and bottom of the portafilter enables the realization of the following convenient features. When the dosing ring is fixed at the top of the portafilter, this allows for convenient filling of the portafilter with coffee grounds and their compaction. Because the dosing ring extends the portafilter tray upwards, less coffee grounds can fall out of the portafilter during compaction. The coffee grounds can then be easily added from the top (without spilling). This saves cleaning effort. Furthermore, the portafilter thread is protected from contamination with coffee grounds, which can hinder the attachment of the portafilter to the pressure chamber. When the dosing ring is attached to the bottom of the portafilter, its tapered ring shape allows it to be placed directly on cups of various sizes. The dosing ring can be removed optionally.This exposes a silicone ring on the underside of the filter holder. This silicone ring acts as a base and prevents the machine from slipping on smooth surfaces, especially when the crank is operated or the coffee grounds are compacted. The silicone ring is particularly useful for placing the machine on a cup, allowing it to accommodate cup diameters other than those used with the dosing ring.

[0028] A further embodiment relates to an apparatus further comprising a crank storage opening for receiving the crank, wherein the connection between the crank and the crankshaft is detachable and wherein one end of the released crank received in the crank storage opening is arranged in the pressure chamber.

[0029] The removable crank, which can be stored inside the device, makes the device compact, handy, and portable. Furthermore, all necessary parts are attached or incorporated into the device, so that no necessary component gets lost. When the device is in use, the crank is inserted into the crank's working opening and positively connected to a crankshaft of the gear mechanism via a coupling, such as a hexagon bolt. However, the coupling is not limited to this shape and can have any other positive-locking design, such as a slotted, triangular, square, or hexalobular fit. Preferably, the coupling is locked, for example, via a spring-loaded ball, or is positively attached, for example, clamped, so that it can only be released under the application of force. The piston is preferably in its lower end position when the crank is stored in the crank's storage opening.Preferably, the mount for the crank extends through the outer housing and the inner shell.

[0030] A preferred embodiment provides that the rack has an end marking.

[0031] The end marker allows the user to predict when the piston will reach its final position. This allows the user to better assess the status of the brewing process. If the end marker is not visible, the brewing process is not yet complete. The crank must continue to be operated. If the end marker is visible, it is clear to the user that the brewing process is nearing completion.

[0032] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage using the apparatus according to the first aspect is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. In a first step, the coffee sieve is filled with coffee powder and the coffee portafilter is connected to the pressure chamber. Following the filling of the coffee sieve with coffee powder, the coffee powder is preferably compacted. Coffee powder within the meaning of this application includes any form of roasted and / or ground coffee beans and thus also, for example, espresso powder. In a second step, the crank is rotated in a first direction of rotation until an upper position of the piston is reached, wherein the upper part of the piston is separated from the lower part of the piston, forming an annular gap.The rotation of the crank in the first direction of rotation preferably occurs until the piston reaches a position which corresponds to the desired amount of hot beverage. The first direction of rotation is preferably counterclockwise. For this purpose, the scale is preferably read and the desired position on the scale is set. In a third step, the pressure chamber above the piston is filled with hot water through a filling opening in the device and hot water flows into the pressure chamber below the piston through the annular gap. The water preferably completely covers the upper part of the piston. In a fourth step, the crank is rotated in a second direction of rotation, whereby the upper part of the piston is pressed onto the lower part of the piston, the annular gap is closed and the hot water is forced out of the pressure chamber by means of the piston through the coffee powder and the coffee sieve.The rotation of the crank in the second direction preferably occurs until a tone from an acoustic signaling device such as a bell or a ringer sounds and / or until the end mark indicates the end of the brewing process. The second direction of rotation is preferably clockwise. The rotation of the crank in the second direction preferably occurs such that the desired pressure builds up in the pressure chamber. Slow rotation initially generates low pressure, while fast rotation generates high pressure more quickly, with a maximum pressure being predetermined by the torque adapter. Furthermore, the pressure prevailing in the pressure chamber also depends on the sieve used, the degree of compaction of the coffee powder, and the type of coffee powder. Furthermore, the pressure through the sieve dissipates over time, i.e. the pressure curve is time-dependent. The rotation speed is therefore also a factor for the pressure conditions in the pressure chamber.Regarding the direction of rotation of the crank, the first direction of rotation is opposite to the second direction of rotation.

[0033] Because pressure builds up in the pressure chamber immediately after the top of the piston is closed, the user can immediately tell that the brewing process has begun after turning the crank. The pressure builds up in the pressure chamber as the crank rotates. The brewing process begins immediately. This prevents the hot water in the machine from cooling down as much.

[0034] According to another embodiment of the method, the step of filling the coffee filter comprises the following substeps. First, the dosing ring is fixed to the upper end of the coffee portafilter with the coffee filter inserted therein. Subsequently, the coffee filter is filled with coffee powder through the fixed dosing ring. The dosing ring is then removed from the upper end of the coffee portafilter and the dosing ring is fixed to the lower end of the coffee portafilter.

[0035] As already described above, filling the coffee filter is made much easier by fixing the dosing ring onto the coffee filter holder from above.

[0036] According to another preferred embodiment, the dosing ring is connected to a drinking vessel during rotation of the crank in a second direction of rotation.

[0037] The dosing ring makes it easier to attach the device to different drinking vessel shapes, as described above, as well as to fill a drinking vessel, since less heat can escape during the brewing process and the dripping of coffee into the drinking vessel does not cause any contamination outside the drinking vessel. Short description of the characters

[0038] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a partially exploded view of the apparatus; Fig. 2a a schematic cross-section through the center of the apparatus; Fig. 2b an enlarged schematic cross-section of the piston; Fig. 3a a plan view of the apparatus with section line AA; Fig. 3b a schematic cross-section along the section line AA of the apparatus; Fig. 4a is a schematic perspective view of the gear mechanism of the apparatus in a first position; Fig. 4b is a schematic perspective view of the gear mechanism of the apparatus in a second position; Fig. 5a a schematic perspective view of the sieve holder; Fig. 5b another schematic perspective view of the sieve holder; Fig. 5c is a schematic perspective exploded view of the screen holder; Fig. 6a a schematic perspective overall view with stowed crank; Fig. 6b a schematic cross-section along the line AA with the crank stowed; Fig. 7a is a schematic perspective view of a piston according to another embodiment in a closed position; Fig. 7b a schematic cross-section of the piston from Fig. 7a; Fig. 7c is a schematic perspective view of a piston according to the other embodiment in the open position; Fig. 7d a schematic cross-section of the piston from Fig. 7c; Fig. 8a shows the sequence of a method for producing a hot beverage based on coffee beans; Fig. 8b shows the sequence of this method for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage. Detailed description of the invention

[0039] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a partially exploded drawing of the apparatus 1 for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage. This illustration shows the essential externally visible components. The housing 2 is shown lifted upwards. Starting from the top, the housing 2 is shown, which is cylindrical in its lower half 2b. In the upper half 2a, it tapers to a dome shape, with several openings 48, 50, 52 located on the dome. In the center of the dome is a rack outlet opening 52, through which the rack 17 can pass, depending on the position of the piston 18, 19 (not visible here). Next to the rack outlet opening 52, a crank storage opening 48 and a crank working opening 50 are located on a chimney-like pedestal. The crank working opening 50 serves to connect the crank 3 to a gear mechanism 100.The connection is made via an internal coupling (not visible). The crank storage opening 48 serves to store the crank 3. On one side of the dome is a notch 30. The notch 30 can also be referred to as a linear cut in the dome. The notch 30 has an opening angle of approximately 90°, but is not limited to this. The notch 30 begins at a distance from the uppermost point of the dome 30 and runs approximately to the connection between the cylindrical lower half 2b and the dome-shaped upper half 2a. On the underside of this notch 30, in the center, is a filler opening 31 for water. The water flows through this filler opening 31 directly into the pressure chamber 22. Concealed by the housing 2, an inner shell 15 is located beneath the dome, which accommodates the acoustic signaling device 90 and part of the gear mechanism 100.The acoustic signaling device 90 consists of a bell 9 for emitting an acoustic signal, a bell holder 10 for holding the components of the acoustic signaling device 90, and a bell clapper 11 held by a compression spring 12 for actuating the bell 9. The bell clapper 11 strikes the bell 9 and produces a tone. Furthermore, the inner shell 15 accommodates ball bearings 13, which hold an axis of the drive gear 8 and the worm gear 7 connected to it. Furthermore, bearings (not shown) are provided for the worm 5. The worm 5 is detachably connected to the torque adapter 4, which in turn is connected to the crank 3. The teeth of the drive gear 8 are operatively connected to the teeth of the rack 17, which drives the piston 18, 19 (not visible here). The piston 18, 19 is located in the pressure chamber 22. The pressure chamber 22 is cylindrical in shape and is located essentially in the lower half 2b.At the lower end of the pressure chamber 22, an internal thread 2c (cf. . Fig. 2a) of the housing 2, an external thread 26a of a coffee portafilter 26 is screwed (shown separately here). The coffee portafilter 26 is shown with a coffee portafilter 25 inserted. Between the pressure chamber 22 and the coffee portafilter 25 is a cover portafilter 29 for separating the coffee powder from the piston 18, 19. At the lower end of the coffee portafilter 26 is a dosing ring 28, which can be fixed to the lower and upper ends of the coffee portafilter 26.

[0040] The description of the apparatus 1 is given below with reference to Fig. 2a, which shows a schematic cross-section through the middle of the apparatus 1. At the same time, reference is made to the Fig. 2b, which shows an enlarged view of the Fig. 2a shown piston. Everything described in the previous figure applies unchanged. In this sectional view, the internal components of the device 1 are clearly shown. It can be seen that the drive gear 8 engages with the teeth of the rack 17. The rack 17 has a stop element 16 with a tongue 46 at its upper end. When the rack 17 moves downwards, the tongue 46 presses the bell clapper 11 downwards. As soon as the bell clapper 11 is deflected such that it slides over the tongue 46, the bell clapper 11, mounted by the compression spring 12, strikes the bell 9 and causes it to vibrate, which produces a bell sound. For the movement in the opposite direction, the tongue 46 has a phase, so that the bell clapper 11 is only pushed away from the rack 17 during the upward movement.This is achieved in that the bell clapper 11 rests against the bell 9 in the rest position and therefore cannot be deflected in one direction. At the other end, the rack 17 is connected to an upper piston part 18. The upper piston part 18 is movably connected to the lower piston part 19. The lower piston part rests against the pressure chamber 22, sealed by an outer silicone sealing ring 20b. The upper piston part 18 and the lower piston part 19 can be moved between a closed position and an open position via a lifting mechanism 56. The open position is shown here, while for example . Fig. 3b shows the closed position. In the closed position, the upper piston part 18 rests directly against the lower piston part 19, with the two piston parts 18, 19 being sealed against one another by an internal silicone sealing ring 20a. In the closed position, the two-part piston 18, 19 behaves like a one-part piston. In the open position, the upper piston part 18 is spaced from the lower piston part 19. An annular gap 44 then forms between the two piston parts 18, 19. The maximum size of the annular gap 44 is reached when the lifting mechanism 56 is at its maximum stroke u. The open position causes water, which was introduced into the pressure chamber 22 from above through the filler opening 31, to pass through the piston 18, 19 to the cover sieve 29, which forms the bottom of the pressure chamber 22 in the operating state. Both positions are controlled by the movement of the rack 17 induced by the crank 3 via the piston upper part 18.As long as the lifting mechanism is not in an end position, the lower piston part 19 remains in its current position due to the friction of the outer silicone sealing ring 20b. Only when the maximum stroke u of the lifting mechanism 56 is reached during an upward movement of the rack 17 does the upper piston part 18 pull the lower piston part 19 upwards. Starting from this open position, the lower piston part 19 only moves downwards when the rack 17 with the upper piston part 18 has been moved downwards far enough that the stroke of the lifting mechanism 56 has been reduced to zero. The annular gap 44 is then closed and the upper piston part 18 presses the lower piston part 19 downwards and the piston 18, 19 builds up pressure in the area of ​​the pressure chamber 22 below. The lower piston part has several piston part holes 19a on its underside. These promote the even distribution of the water in the coffee grounds.A screw-in ring 24 is located around the pressure chamber 22 in the lower third of the pressure chamber 22. The screw-in ring 24 is connected to the pressure chamber 22 in a rotationally fixed manner and provides an external thread 24a for connection to the internal thread 2c of the housing 2. The coffee portafilter 26, with its external thread 26a, is also screwed to this internal thread 2c. It goes without saying that the external thread 24a and internal thread 2c can also be complementary and would achieve the same function. It is further shown that the coffee portafilter 26 receives a coffee filter 25. The coffee filter 25 receives coffee powder, which is covered by a cover filter 29. The cover filter 29 simultaneously forms the base for the pressure chamber 22, in which the added water collects.The sieve 25 is accommodated in the coffee portafilter 26 such that the beveled upper side of the sieve 25 is pressed against a silicone sealing ring of the pressure chamber 22 to tightly connect the sieve 25 to the pressure chamber 22. On the underside of the coffee portafilter 26, another silicone ring 28 is provided on its inside. This silicone ring 28 holds the dosing ring 28 in position on the underside of the coffee portafilter 26. The underside of the sieve 25 is exposed, allowing the hot beverage emerging from the underside of the sieve 25 to flow directly into a drinking vessel.

[0041] The Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show in comparison to Fig. 2a shows an off-center schematic cross-section of the apparatus 1. In particular, this cross-section is spaced from the rack 17 so that the scale 40 is visible. The scale 40 makes it possible to adjust the hot beverage extraction quantity when opening the piston 18, 19. The scale 40 is shown here like a metric ruler and contains short lines, preferably spaced 1 mm apart, and long lines, preferably spaced 5 mm apart, which are preferably embossed. However, the scale 40 is not limited to this embodiment and can also have markings in 5 ml increments or other increments. The scale 40 is read at a measuring point 41, which is located in a central recess of the inner shell 15. In addition, an end mark 42 is provided on the rack 17. This indicates to the user that the piston 18, 19 has reached its end position.The illustration shows that the piston 18, 19 rests against the cover sieve 29 at the bottom and, at the same time, the end mark points to the lower edge of the inner shell 15. This is visible to the user from the outside (see . Fig. 1: round recess above the filling opening 31). The storage opening 48 in the housing 2 is also clearly visible here. The storage opening 48 extends from the top of the housing 2 to the inner shell 15, passes through the inner shell 15, and opens into the pressure chamber 22. The crank 3 can be accommodated in this storage opening 48 if necessary.

[0042] The Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b show a schematic perspective view of the exposed gear mechanism 100 of the apparatus 1. All previous explanations of the Fig. 1 to 3b apply accordingly. The gear mechanism 100 comprises a worm 5, a worm wheel 7, a drive gear 8, and a rack 17. The part between the torque adapter 4 and the worm 5 is also referred to as the crankshaft 6. The crankshaft 6 thus comprises the worm 5, the wave-shaped extension between the worm 5 and the torque adapter 4, and the part of the coupling required for connection to the torque adapter 4. The worm 5 is driven via the torque adapter 4 and the crank 3, engages the worm wheel 7, and sets it in rotation. The worm wheel 7 is fixedly connected to the drive gear 8, the teeth of which engage the teeth of the rack 17, setting it in linear motion. The rack 17 is connected to the upper piston part 18, which is connected to the lower piston part 19 and thus sets the entire piston 18, 19 in motion.If the crank 3 is turned clockwise with the torque adapter 4, the worm 5 rotates and drives the corresponding worm gear 7. The drive gear 8 is pressed onto the worm gear 7. The rotational movement moves the rack 17 vertically downwards and moves the upper piston section 18 downwards until it presses the inner silicone sealing ring 20a of the piston 18, 19 onto the lower piston section 19 and seals it pressure-tight. The lower piston section 19 seals pressure-tight with the outer silicone sealing ring 20b of the piston 18, 19 to the pressure chamber 22. The lower section contains the coffee sieve 25 with compressed coffee powder, which is also pressure-tightly sealed to the pressure chamber 22 by a silicone sealing ring 23. If there is hot water in the pressure chamber 22 and the crank 3 is turned further clockwise, pressure is built up and the hot water is pressed through the coffee powder in the coffee sieve 25.If the pressure is high enough, the hot beverage extracted from the coffee powder and hot water begins to flow out through the fine perforations at the bottom of the coffee strainer 25. If, for example, 9.5 bar is reached, the torque adapter rotates and can only be rotated further when the pressure decreases. Once the end position is reached, the stop element 16 blocks the drive wheel 8 and, if the coffee strainer is not screwed in, prevents the lower piston section 19, upper piston section 18, the silicone sealing rings 20a and 20b, and the rack 17 from falling out. When moving clockwise, the piston 18, 19 is in the closed position. Fig. 4b shows the piston 18, 19 in the described closed position, which occurs when the rack 17 moves downward. During this movement, the piston 18, 19 moves into the closed position and the lower piston part 19 is pressed downward by the upper piston part 18 via the closed lifting mechanism 56. In this illustration, the stop element 16 described above with the tongue 46 protruding from the rack 17 is clearly visible. If the crank 3 in the torque adapter 4 is turned counterclockwise to the left, the rack 17 and the upper piston part 18 move upwards. If the silicone sealing ring 20a of the piston 18, 19 no longer closes properly with the upper piston part 18, the pressure can escape and water can flow in from above or be drained away.From a predetermined opening width between the upper piston section 18 and the lower piston section 19, a locking mechanism on the upper piston section 18 and the rack 17 pulls the lower piston section 19, along with the inner silicone seal 20 and the outer silicone seal 21, upwards. The locking mechanism is also referred to as a lifting mechanism 56. Once the upper end point of the rack 17 is reached, it slides through with the upper piston section 18 and stop element 16. During the counterclockwise movement, the piston 18, 19 is in the open position. Fig. Figure 4a shows the piston 18, 19 in the described open position, which occurs when the rack 17 moves upward. The piston 18, 19 then moves into the open position, and the lower piston part 19 is pulled upward by the upper piston part 18 via the opened lifting mechanism 56.

[0043] The Fig. 5a to 5c show schematic perspective views of the coffee portafilter 26 and the dosing ring 28 in various combinations. All previous explanations regarding the Fig. 1 to 4b apply accordingly. Fig. 5a shows the coffee portafilter 26 with the sieve 25 inserted and the dosing ring 28 attached. In this state, the coffee portafilter can be placed on a flat surface, with the silicone ring 27 (cf. Fig. 2a) creates a non-slip connection with the surface, as it protrudes beyond the body of the coffee portafilter 26. The dosing ring 28 is placed on top of the coffee portafilter 26 and simplifies filling the portafilter 25 with ground coffee, as the dosing ring 25 extends the inner wall of the portafilter 25 upwards, thus preventing ground coffee from falling out. Furthermore, the dosing ring 28 covers the external thread 26a of the coffee portafilter 26, protecting it from ground coffee. Fig. 5b shows an exploded view of all the components already Fig. 5a, wherein the dosing ring 28 is arranged below the filter holder 26 in this illustration. The dosing ring 28 can be easily removed from Fig. 5a, pulled upwards from the coffee portafilter 26 and placed on the opposite side onto the portafilter 26. The dosing ring 28 is held in place on the underside by the silicone ring 27. It is held in place here by three clamping lugs 60, the number of which can be chosen as desired. When the dosing ring 28 is attached at the bottom, the device 1 can simply be placed on a drinking vessel and the hot beverage can be brewed directly into the drinking vessel. The cover sieve 29 rests on the coffee powder when the coffee sieve 25 has been filled with coffee powder and closes the coffee sieve 25 at the top. This also protects against accidental spillage of coffee powder. Fig. 5c shows the same order of parts as Fig. 5b, except that the sieve 25 is inserted into the sieve holder 26. Compared to Fig. Figure 5a clearly shows how the edge of the sieve 25 and the external thread 26a of the coffee portafilter 26 are exposed. These exposed parts are protected by the dosing ring 28.

[0044] Fig. Figure 6a is a schematic perspective overall view of the apparatus 1 with the crank 3 stowed away. Fig. Figure 6b shows a schematic cross-section along the line AA with the crank 3 stowed, with the line AA running centrally through the stowed crank 3. All previous explanations of the Fig. 1 to 5b apply accordingly. Fig. 6a shows the device 1 with the housing 2 mounted and in the storage state 32. With the crank 3 mounted, the device 1 would accordingly be in the operating state. The crank working opening 50 and the crank stowage opening 48 are provided on a molded portion at the upper end of the device 1. After use of the device 1, the crank 3 with the torque adapter 4 can be pulled out of the crank working opening 50, and the crank 3 can be inserted with its long end into the stowage opening 48. Since the torque adapter 4 is connected to the crank 3, it protrudes from the outer end of the crank 3 into the free space above the housing 2. However, the invention is not limited to this variant, and the torque adapter 4 can also be integrated into the crankshaft 6 (not visible here). Fig. Figure 6b shows in detail how the crank 3 is accommodated in the storage state 32. In particular, it can be seen that the crank 3 extends into the pressure chamber 22. The piston 18, 19 is at or near its lower end position. Preferably, a gap remains between the end of the crank 3 in the pressure chamber 22 and the piston upper part 18.

[0045] Fig. 7a to 7d show a piston according to another embodiment. Fig. 7a shows the piston in a closed position and Fig. 7c shows the piston in an open position. The Fig. Figure 7b shows a cross section through the center of the piston in the closed position of Fig. 7a, and Fig. 7d shows a cross section through the center of the piston in the open position 7d. The piston consists, as previously described and explained in the previous embodiment, of a piston upper part 18 and a piston lower part 19. In comparison to the piston of the previous embodiment, which is particularly well suited to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2a, the new piston has only one unit sealing ring 21. This unit sealing ring 21 replaces the inner silicone sealing ring 20a and the outer silicone sealing ring 20b of the piston. This is achieved by the piston upper part 18 having a larger diameter, and thus a common unit sealing ring 21 connects both the piston upper part 18 to the piston lower part 19, as well as the piston upper part 18 to the pressure chamber 22 (see Fig. 7b and Fig. 7d). A further advantage of this embodiment is that the piston upper part actively presses the unit sealing ring 21 against the wall of the pressure chamber. This achieves a particularly good seal. Furthermore, in comparison to the Fig. 2a and Fig. 7b / 7d clearly shows that the upwardly directed surface 19b of the piston lower part 19 is larger, since the inner silicone sealing ring 20a is made of Fig. 2a is no longer available.

[0046] Fig. Figure 8a shows the sequence of a method 200 for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage using the apparatus 1 described above. All previous explanations regarding the Fig. 1 to 6b apply accordingly. First, in a step 210, the coffee sieve 25 is filled with coffee powder, and the coffee portafilter 26 is connected to the pressure chamber 22. When filling the coffee sieve 25, care must be taken to ensure that the coffee powder is compacted before use. The coffee powder should not contain any lumps. The connection between the coffee portafilter 26 and the pressure chamber 22 is sealed by a silicone seal 21 and is therefore pressure-tight. In a next step 220, the crank 3 is rotated in a first direction of rotation until the piston 18, 19 reaches an upper position. The user can select the upper position depending on the display on the scale 40, or when an upper stop of the piston 18, 19 is reached. The rotation of the crank 3 in the first direction causes the upper piston part 18 to be separated from the lower piston part 19, forming an annular gap 44.This results from the fact that the upper piston part is firmly connected to the rack 17 and follows its movement. The lower piston part 19 is connected to the upper piston part 18 via the lifting mechanism 56 and therefore only follows the upper piston part 18 with a delay, i.e. when the stroke u of the lifting mechanism has reached its maximum value. Then the annular gap 44 is at its maximum and the lifting mechanism 44 also transfers the movement of the rack 17 to the lower piston part 19. However, it is not necessary for the lifting mechanism to be fully open. Even if the annular gap 44 is partially open, the water can flow under the pistons 18, 19. If the piston 18, 19 is already in the correct position, i.e. at the correct height and with the annular gap 44 open, step 220 can also be omitted.In a next step 230, the pressure chamber 22 is filled with hot water from above the piston 18, 19 through a filling opening 31 of the apparatus 1, and the hot water flows into the pressure chamber 22 below the piston 18, 19 through the annular gap 44. In a next step 240, the crank 3 is rotated in a second direction, pressing the upper piston part 18 onto the lower piston part 19, thereby closing the annular gap 44. The closed piston 18, 19 presses the hot water out of the pressure chamber 22 at a pressure of, for example, 9 bar and through the coffee powder and the coffee sieve 25.

[0047] Fig. Figure 8b shows the sequence of a preferred method 200 for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage using the apparatus 1 described above. All previous explanations regarding the Fig.1 to 8a apply accordingly, so that only the new steps 210a to 210c, which replace step 210, are discussed here. In step 210a, the dosing ring 28 is fixed to the upper end 210a of the coffee portafilter 26 with the coffee filter 25 inserted therein. Fixing takes place precisely from above, with the dosing ring 28 being placed exactly over the external thread 26a of the coffee portafilter 26. The dosing ring 25 is clamped or held in position by gravity. In the next step 210b, the coffee filter 25 is filled with coffee powder through the fixed dosing ring 28. Since a force essentially acts from top to bottom when filling the coffee filter 25, the dosing ring is sufficiently held in position by gravity. Subsequently, in step 210c, the dosing ring 28 is detached from the upper end of the coffee portafilter and fixed to the lower end of the coffee portafilter 26.The fixing is achieved by clamping the clamping lugs 60 to the silicone ring 27 at the lower edge of the coffee portafilter 26. This clamping secures the dosing ring 28. The dosing ring 28, attached to the lower edge of the coffee portafilter 26, can be connected to a drinking vessel during rotation of the crank in step 240. Optionally, after the brewing process, the user can turn the crank 3 back in the first direction to open the piston 18, 19 and release the remaining pressure and water. Reference symbol 1 device 2 housings 2a upper half 2b lower half 2c internal thread housing 3 crank 4 torque adapters 5 snail 6 Crankshaft 7 Worm gear 8 drive gear 9 Bell 10 bell holders 11 bell clappers 12 compression spring 13 ball bearings 14 ball bearing holder 15 inner shell 16 Stop element 17 Rack 18 piston top 19 Piston lower part 19a Piston bottom holes 19b upward-facing surface of the piston lower part 20a inner silicone sealing ring piston 20b outer silicone sealing ring piston 21 Standard sealing ring 22 pressure chamber 23 Silicone sealing ring pressure chamber 24 Screw-in ring pressure chamber 24a external thread screw-in ring 25 coffee strainer 26 coffee portafilters 26a external thread coffee portafilter 27 silicone ring 28 Dosing ring 29 Cover sieve 30 notch 31 Filling opening 32 Storage status 33 Operating status 40 scale 41 measuring point 42 End marking 44 Annular gap 46 Tongue 48 Crank storage opening 50 Crank working opening 52 Rack outlet opening 54 Bottom of the piston top of the piston 56 Lifting mechanism 60 clamping lugs 90 acoustic signaling device 100 gear mechanism 200 procedures 210 Filling the coffee filter 210a Fixing the dosing ring at the upper end 210b Filling the coffee filter through the dosing ring 210c Loosen the dosing ring from the upper end of the coffee portafilter and fix the dosing ring at the lower end of the coffee portafilter 220 Rotation of the crank in the first direction of rotation 230 Filling the pressure chamber 240 Rotation of the crank in the second direction 300 distribution tools 301 slider 302 cover 303 needles 304 Guide pin a height of rise h horizontal plane u Stroke of the lifting mechanism QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 216675473U

[0003]

Claims

[1] Apparatus (1) for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage, comprising: a crank (3); a pressure chamber (22); a piston (18, 19) movable in the pressure chamber (22); a coffee strainer (25) for coffee bean-based powder, the coffee strainer (25) being attached to one end of the pressure chamber (22); a gear mechanism (100) arranged between the crank (3) and the piston (18, 19) and designed to manually apply a force to the piston (18, 19), the gear mechanism (100) having a rack (17); and a housing (2) at least partially enclosing the pressure chamber (22) and the gear mechanism (100) with a filling opening (31) for water. [2] Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the crank (3) is connected to a crankshaft (6) and wherein the crankshaft (6) is arranged off-center of the piston (18, 19). [3] Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the crank (3) is connected to the crankshaft (6) via a torque adapter (4). [4] Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gear mechanism (100) further comprises a worm (5), a worm gear (7) and a drive gear (8). [5] Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rack (17) has a scale (40). [6] Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises an acoustic signaling device (90). [7] Apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein the gear mechanism (100) is further configured to actuate the acoustic signaling device (90). [8] Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the rack (17) has at a distal end a stop element (16) with a tongue (46) projecting over teeth of the rack (46), which tongue is designed to block the drive gear (8), which determines an end position of the rack (17) and wherein the tongue (46) is designed to trigger the acoustic signaling device (90) by actuating a bell clapper (11) of the acoustic signaling device (90). [9] Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston (18, 19) consists of an upper piston part (18) and a lower piston part (19) which are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position an annular gap (44) is present between the upper piston part (18) and the lower piston part (19) and wherein the underside (54) of the upper piston part (18) has a continuous rise to a horizontal plane (h) from a center of the upper piston part (18) to a horizontally outer end of the upper piston part (18). [10] Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a coffee portafilter (26) designed to receive the coffee portafilter (25) is detachably connected to the pressure chamber (22) and wherein the coffee portafilter (26) has a dosing ring (28) which can be fixed at the lower and upper ends of the coffee portafilter (26). [11] Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a crank storage opening (48) for receiving the crank (3), wherein the connection of the crank (3) and the crankshaft (6) is detachable and wherein one end of the released crank (3) received in the crank storage opening (48) is arranged in the pressure chamber (22). [12] Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rack (17) has an end mark (42). [13] A method (200) for producing a coffee bean-based hot beverage using the apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps: Filling the coffee sieve (210) with coffee powder and connecting the coffee sieve holder (26) to the pressure chamber (22); Rotation of the crank in a first direction of rotation (220) until an upper position of the piston (18, 19) is reached, wherein the piston upper part (18) is separated from the piston lower part (19) to form an annular gap (44); Filling the pressure chamber (230) above the piston (18, 19) with hot water through a filling opening (31) of the apparatus (1) and flowing the hot water into the pressure chamber (22) below the piston (18, 19) through the annular gap (44) and Rotation of the crank in a second direction of rotation (240), whereby the upper piston part (18) is pressed onto the lower piston part (19), the annular gap (44) is closed and the hot water is pressed out of the pressure chamber (22) by means of the piston (18, 19) through the coffee powder and the coffee sieve (25). [14] The method (200) of claim 13, wherein the step of filling the coffee sieve (210) consists of the following steps: Fixing the dosing ring at the upper end (210a) of the coffee portafilter (26) with the coffee portafilter (25) inserted therein; Filling the coffee sieve (210b) with coffee powder through the fixed dosing ring (28); and Loosen the dosing ring from the upper end of the coffee portafilter and fix the dosing ring to the lower end of the coffee portafilter (210c). [15] Method according to one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the dosing ring (28) is connected to a drinking vessel during rotation of the crank (3) in a second direction of rotation.

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