METHOD FOR CLEANING A COFFEE MACHINE AS WELL AS COFFEE MACHINE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a coffee machine comprising a grinder, a brewing unit, and a control unit. The invention also relates to a coffee machine configured and programmed accordingly, as well as a corresponding computer program.

[0002] It is known that components of the coffee beans, such as oily substances, can accumulate on parts of coffee grinders. To counteract this deterioration in the quality of the coffee grounds prepared with the grinder, cleaning agents for grinders are available. These are sold, for example, as grinder cleaning tablets shaped like coffee beans or as cleaning granules. To clean the grinder, the tablets are inserted instead of coffee beans, ground, and then disposed of. The grinder is then manually operated until all the granules have been dispensed. Known methods for cleaning grinders are disclosed, for example, in US 8382907 B2, US 2015 / 238040 A1, and in the internet publication on youtube.com by Seattle Coffee Gear: "Urnex SuperGrindz Grinder Cleaner | Crew Review" (XP093219238).

[0003] However, this is not possible with grinders built into coffee machines without improperly tampering with the device. In such coffee machines, the ground coffee is usually fed directly to a brewing unit for brewing the coffee beverage after exiting the grinder. Therefore, if cleaning granules are added instead of coffee beans without manipulating the device, the cleaning granules will be ground into the brewing unit and added to the brewing process. Complete removal of the cleaning granules cannot be guaranteed. This can, if not be harmful to health, at the very least negatively affect the quality of subsequently prepared beverages or, in some cases, even damage the brewing unit.

[0004] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a method for cleaning a coffee machine, by which the cleaning of a grinder installed in the coffee machine can be carried out simply and safely.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​providing a special cleaning option for a coffee machine comprising a grinder, a brewing unit and a control unit, which enables an operator to clean the integrated grinder in a simple and safe manner, in particular in a particularly sustainable manner.

[0007] According to the invention, the problem is solved by a method for cleaning the coffee machine, which comprises the following steps: a) selecting and starting a grinder cleaning program via a menu, ensuring the brewing unit is in the grinder cleaning position, c) grinding a coffee bean supply to empty, in particular until a bean-empty message is detected, or detecting that a bean-empty message already exists or existed before or since the start of the grinder cleaning program, d) issuing a request to an operator to add cleaning agent to the grinder, e) activating the grinder to grind the cleaning agent and clean grinder components, f) deactivating the grinder after grinding the cleaning agent, in particular if another bean-empty message is detected, where "again" here means in particular after the message according to step c) and the fact that after starting step e) no such message exists anymore and now a message is detected again in step f).The following should be understood as follows: g) issuing a request to the operator to feed coffee beans to the grinder, h) activating the grinder to grind the fed coffee beans and to discharge any remaining cleaning agent, in particular for a defined time or a defined number of revolutions, until the grinder is deactivated, i) issuing a request to an operator to empty a collection tray, j) moving the brewing unit to a starting position and / or detecting that the brewing unit is in the starting position, k) ending the grinder cleaning program.

[0008] The inventive method now allows for the simple cleaning of grinders installed in coffee machines with cleaning agents, without requiring any manipulation of the coffee machine or risking harmful cleaning agent residues in its components. Furthermore, the operator does not need detailed knowledge of the various operating processes within coffee machines to perform the cleaning. This makes cleaning a grinder installed in a coffee machine not only simple but also safe for any operator.

[0009] Between step b) and step c), an intermediate step bx) can be implemented in which an operator is prompted to manually remove, or largely remove, all coffee beans that can be manually removed from the coffee machine's bean hopper. This not only reduces bean waste during the process but also significantly shortens the process time.

[0010] A bean-empty signal can be detected, in particular, by a relatively rapid drop in the grinder flow, which allows for a particularly cost-effective, as well as highly precise and fast, detection method. Here, a bean-empty signal is understood to be, on the one hand, a signal that provides information indicating that the bean supply has been exhausted and / or that beans need to be refilled, and on the other hand, a corresponding notification to the operator.

[0011] Depending on the brewing unit's design, a grinder cleaning position can be a specific position used only for grinder cleaning, a rinsing position, a brewing position, or a loading position. In the case of a specific position, a rinsing position, or a brewing position, depending on the brewing unit's design, it can be advantageously ensured that no cleaning agent can enter the brewing chamber. This may require subsequent external cleaning of the brewing unit. In the case of a loading position, the cleaning agent can be removed using the same methods as used coffee grounds. This may require a rinsing step of the brewing unit.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the mill cleaning program in step a) can either be selected and started separately or selected and started together with other cleaning programs as a combined program. In particular, in a combined program, step a) can be considered the selection and start of the combined program and / or step k) can be the end of the combined program. This means, in particular, that steps of the other cleaning programs can also occur between the steps of the program according to the invention.This training can be particularly advantageous in satisfying the needs of different operators, some of whom prefer the reduced frequency of necessary cleaning processes through the combination of individual processes into a combined program, and others who prefer the optimized use of resources by cleaning each component only when its cleaning is explicitly indicated.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, when selected as a combined program with other cleaning programs, steps of a brewing unit cleaning program, in particular a brewing chamber interior cleaning program for cleaning the interior of the brewing chamber and, if necessary, of pipework in and / or downstream of the brewing chamber, are performed between steps h) and i), and / or i) and j) and k). This integrates the steps of the brewing unit cleaning program not only at a particularly intuitive point in the sequence of the combined program, but also allows for the more reliable removal of all conceivable cleaning agent residues from the grinder after the completion of step h).

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive method, prior to step a), during normal operation of the coffee machine, when the "bean empty" message is detected, a menu option for selecting and starting the grinder cleaning program is offered alongside the display of the "bean empty" message. This avoids the otherwise potentially time-consuming removal of coffee beans from the coffee bean container, reduces the time required to run the grinder cleaning program, and minimizes resource consumption.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive method, a prompt to empty a collection tray is included in step b) between step b) and step c). This creates additional space for the coffee powder expected in step c). This also prevents warm air or condensation from residual water or coffee grounds from rising in the collection tray during the emptying process in step c), which would promote the adhesion of dry coffee powder to parts of the coffee machine during the emptying process.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, an adjustment of the grinding setting to a predetermined cleaning setting is carried out in a step di) between step d) and step e). In an advantageous embodiment, this can be done automatically, or in a cost-effective variant, manually upon request. This allows a grinding disc spacing that is particularly advantageous for cleaning to be achieved, making the cleaning process even more thorough and effective.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a prompt to empty the collection tray is given in step fi) between step f) and step g). This allows residues of the cleaning agent and / or the ground-up cleaning agent to be removed without them mixing with coffee powder again.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a prompt to remove and clean the brewing unit is given in step ji) between step j) and step k). This allows any stubborn residues of the cleaning agent to be removed particularly effectively and safely.

[0019] The aforementioned task can also be accomplished by a coffee machine that includes a grinder, a brewing unit, and a control unit, and which is configured and programmed to carry out the previously described procedure. The aforementioned advantages can thus be achieved simply by configuring and programming the evaluation / control unit of an otherwise standard coffee machine accordingly, without any additional effort. Therefore, the aforementioned advantages can be achieved without the need to manufacture and use any further equipment or facilities, which also has a particularly beneficial impact on sustainability. The coffee machine can be designed as either a portafilter espresso machine or a fully automatic coffee machine, since there are also coffee machines that are not fully automatic, but there are no fully automatic coffee machines without a grinder.Since the grinders in fully automatic coffee machines are usually installed in inaccessible locations, and in particular since various cleaning programs are already established, the solution according to the invention is particularly advantageous here.

[0020] Furthermore, the aforementioned problem is also solved by a computer program product that includes commands which, when the program is executed by a control unit of a coffee machine, in particular the coffee machine described above, and especially preferably a fully automatic coffee machine, cause the control unit to execute the method described above. This allows a suitable conventional coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, to benefit from the aforementioned advantages by means of the computer program product according to the invention, for example, by downloading a corresponding app via the internet. In principle, it is not even necessary to manufacture a new coffee machine for this purpose, which enables a particularly sustainable solution to the aforementioned problem.

[0021] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawing and the associated description of the figures based on the drawing.

[0022] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description.

[0023] The only Figure 1 shows a coffee machine according to the invention during the execution of a cleaning method according to the invention, stylized in partial section.

[0024] The Figure 1Figure 1 shows a coffee machine 1 according to the invention, comprising a grinder 2, a brewing unit 3, and a control unit 4, performing a cleaning method according to the invention. The computer program product according to the invention enables the coffee machine 1 to perform this method. This is because the computer program product includes commands which, when executed by the control unit 4 of the coffee machine 1, cause the control unit 4 to carry out the method described below.

[0025] In the procedure for cleaning coffee machine 1, the grinder cleaning program is first selected and started via a menu, in this example by an operator. Subsequently, the brewing unit 3 is moved into a grinder cleaning position by commands from the control unit 4 until a current monitoring system (not shown) detects that the brewing unit 3 is in the grinder cleaning position. Then, in an intermediate step, the operator is prompted to manually remove as many coffee beans as possible from the bean hopper of coffee machine 1. If the bean hopper is removable, the operator may also be prompted to remove the hopper, empty it, and replace it. Finally, a supply of coffee beans is ground to empty, if necessary.The bean hopper below the removable container is emptied, and grinder 2 operates until a "bean empty" message is detected. The operator is then prompted to add a cleaning agent, shown here as approximately bean-shaped cleaning tablets, to grinder 2. C , to supply. Figure 1 shows coffee machine 1 with cleaning tablets already inserted. C , which were placed in the coffee bean supply, in this case a bean container, instead of coffee beans. Then grinder 2 is activated to grind the cleaning agent, in this case the cleaning tablets. C, to grind and thereby clean the grinding mechanism components. After grinding the cleaning agent, in this case the cleaning tablets, C , another bean-empty message is recorded and grinder 2 is then deactivated.

[0026] The operator is then prompted to feed coffee beans to grinder 2. Grinder 2 is then reactivated to grind the coffee beans and expel any remaining cleaning agent. This process continues for a defined time, stored in the memory of control unit 4, until grinder 2 is deactivated; in this example, 10 seconds. The operator is then prompted to empty a collection tray 5. Brewing unit 3 is then moved to its starting position until it is detected that brewing unit 2 is also in its starting position. The grinder cleaning program is then terminated.

[0027] This method allows the grinder 2 to be easily cleaned with cleaning agent, even though it is installed in the coffee machine 1, without requiring any manipulation of the coffee machine 1 or risking harmful cleaning agent residues in its components. The operator, who in this example has no detailed knowledge of the various operating procedures of the coffee machine 1, is readily able to perform the cleaning of the grinder 2, which is installed in the coffee machine 1, not only easily but also safely.

[0028] In the example described above, the grinder cleaning program was selected and started separately. However, it can also be selected and started as a combined program with other cleaning programs. This allows all necessary cleaning programs for coffee machine 1 to be completed in one go. Reference sign

[0029] 1 Coffee machine 2 Grinder 3 Brewing unit 4 Control unit 5 Drip tray

Claims

1. Method for cleaning an automatic coffee machine (1), which comprises a grinder (2), a brewing facility (3) and a control facility (4), characterised by the steps; a) selecting and starting a grinder cleaning program via a menu, b) bringing the brewing facility into a grinder cleaning position and / or detecting that the brewing facility is located in the grinder cleaning position, c) grinding a coffee bean supply to empty, in particular until a bean-empty message is detected, or detecting that a bean-empty message already was or is present before or since the start of the grinder cleaning program, d) outputting a request to an operator, to supply cleaning agent to the grinder, e) activating the grinder to grind the cleaning agent and clean grinder components, f) deactivating the grinder after the grinding of the cleaning agent, in particular when a new bean-empty message is detected, g) outputting a request to the operator to supply coffee means to the grinder, h) activating the grinder to grind the supplied coffee beans and to deliver residues of the cleaning agent, in particular for a defined time or a defined number of cycles, until a deactivation of the grinder, i) outputting a request to a / the operator, to empty a collection tray (5), j) bringing the brewing facility into a starting position and / or detecting that the brewing facility is located in the starting position, k) ending the grinder cleaning program.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that in step a) the grinder cleaning program can either be selected and started separately, or can be selected and started as a combined program together with other cleaning programs.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that when selected as a combined program together with other cleaning programs, at least one step of a brewing facility cleaning program takes place between steps h) and i), and / or i) and j) and / or j) and k).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that before step a), in normal operation of the automatic coffee machine, when the bean-empty message is detected in a step 0-a) in addition to the output of the bean-empty message, a selection of the menu is offered for selecting and starting the grinder cleaning program.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a request to empty the collection tray (5) takes place between step b) and c) in a step b-i).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that an adjustment of a degree of grinding setting to a predetermined cleaning setting takes place between step d) and step e) in a step d-i), in particular automatically or manually in response to an output request.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a request to empty the collection tray (5) takes place between step f) and step g) in a step f-i).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a request to remove and clean the brewing facility (3) takes place between step j) and step k) in a step j-i).

9. Automatic coffee machine (1), with a grinder (2), a brewing facility (3) and a control facility (4), characterised in that the control facility (4) is configured and programmed to perform the method according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Computer program product, comprising commands which, when the program is executed by a control facility (4) of an automatic coffee machine (1) according to claim (9), prompt the control facility (4) to perform the method according to one of claims 1 to 8.