DOSING ACCESSORY FOR COFFEE MACHINES

Abstract

A dosing accessory for automatic coffee machines comprising two or more independent hoppers (2) suitable for holding coffee beans of different types or varieties, each hopper (2) being equipped with a dosing pouring mechanism (3). The operation of this mechanism (3) causes a specific quantity of coffee to be poured into a lower channel (4) common to all the hoppers (2), into which the hopper mechanisms (3) of the hoppers (2) empty. This lower channel is also suitable for mounting on the receptacle that grinds the coffee beans of the automatic coffee machine in which the accessory (1) is incorporated. Preferably, the dosing pouring mechanism (3) of each hopper (2) is adjustable so that instead of a full dose of the aforementioned specific quantity of coffee, it pours half a dose and / or the dose of coffee poured is greater or lesser, at least between two pre-established volumes.

Description

DOSING ACCESSORY FOR COFFEE MACHINES OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as stated in the present descriptive memorandum, refers to a dosing accessory for coffee makers that provides, to the function for which it is intended, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below. The object of the present invention is an accessory that, especially applicable for incorporation into automatic coffee machines for whole bean coffee, is distinguished essentially by comprising more than one hopper in which different types of coffee beans can be incorporated. Each hopper has a dosing mechanism that allows the dosing of a specific dose of coffee, which is necessary for the machine to grind and operate. This allows the user to choose each time which hopper to use for coffee from among the different types filled with the hoppers, and optionally allows the dosing of half doses to grind a mixture of two different types of coffee. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of accessories for coffee machines. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Automatic coffee machines are well-known in the market, usually intended for professional use in catering establishments, which incorporate a hopper with a dosing mechanism to pour a specific amount of coffee beans into the machine to grind them just before making the coffee, since with this the quality and aroma of the coffee obtained is much better than if it is made with pre-ground and packaged coffee. The problem is that these machines only have one hopper for adding and dosing the coffee beans before brewing. This means you can only make coffee with the beans that have been poured into the hopper. If you want to change the type of coffee, you have to wait until the hopper is empty or empty it and add the other type of coffee, which is obviously inconvenient and impractical for the establishment. Furthermore, if you want to blend two different types of coffee, which gives the coffee specific and highly noticeable characteristics, you also have to mix the two types of beans in the hopper beforehand. You can only use this blend to make coffee once the hopper is empty or until the contents are completely replaced. The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide the market with an accessory for this type of automatic coffee bean machine that allows the professional to make coffee with different types of coffee beans or their mixtures without having to exhaust or change the contents of the hopper, for which it comprises several hoppers in which to incorporate different types of coffee beans and to be able to choose the one or the mixture of them that you want each time you are going to make coffee. 0 Furthermore, and with reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, at least as far as the applicant is concerned, there is no other dosing accessory for coffee machines that has technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal or similar to those claimed herein. 5 EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The dosing accessory for coffee makers proposed by the invention is configured as an optimal solution to the objectives indicated above, with the details or characterizing features that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description. Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously mentioned, is an accessory that, especially applicable for incorporation into an automatic coffee machine for whole bean coffee, dispenses a specific quantity of 5 coffee beans to be ground prior to the coffee brewing process in said machine. It is distinguished essentially by the fact that, instead of a single hopper with a dosed pouring mechanism, it comprises more than one hopper, preferably three, in which different types or varieties of coffee beans can be added. Each hopper has its own dosed pouring mechanism, so that the accessory allows the dispensing of a specific dose of coffee, which is necessary for the machine to grind and operate. Each time, the user can choose which hopper to use from among the different types of coffee beans that have been filled. Furthermore, in one version of the accessory, the dosed pouring mechanism of each hopper can be adjusted to dispense half a dose instead of a full dose. This allows the machine to pour two half doses from two different hoppers containing different types of beans, which are then ground together to make coffee from a blend of these two varieties. This greatly expands the machine's versatility, enabling it to make many more different types of coffee. Optionally, the metered pouring mechanism of the hoppers can also be adjusted to make the dose larger or smaller, allowing for a more or less intense coffee, as this depends on the amount of coffee used for each cup. Finally, it should be noted that, in one embodiment option, the hoppers have, at their top, an attachment that can be incorporated at will, preferably in a removable manner, to increase the volume of coffee that each of these hoppers can contain and to be able to include it or not, as appropriate in each case or depending on the forecast of consumption and / or the space available in the establishment where the coffee machine is installed. In a preferred embodiment, the accessory comprises three hoppers formed by respective containers suitable for a quantity of coffee beans corresponding to twelve doses and for up to twenty doses in the case of including the aforementioned capacity expansion annex. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a drawing is attached to this descriptive document as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figure 1 shows a schematic elevation view of an example of the dosing accessory for coffee makers that is the subject of the invention, showing its general configuration and main parts; Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the example of the dosing accessory according to the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure number 3.- Shows a schematic side elevation view of the example of the dosing accessory of the invention shown in figures 1 and 2; Figure number 4 - Shows a schematic perspective view of the metered pouring mechanisms incorporated in the accessory under each hopper; Figure number 5.- Shows an enlarged schematic view of one of the metered pouring mechanisms incorporated in the accessory hoppers, showing in greater detail the parts and elements it comprises; Figure number 6 shows a schematic perspective view of one of the accessory's hoppers, in this case represented with the metered pouring mechanism without including the cylinder of the dose volume regulator piston or the operating control; and Figure number 7 shows an enlarged schematic view of the drum of the dosed pouring mechanism, showing the rotating double wall and the regulating piston that it comprises. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them an example of a non-limiting embodiment of the dosing accessory for coffee makers of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below. Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the dosing accessory (1) of the invention essentially comprises two or more independent hoppers (2), suitable for holding coffee beans of different types or varieties, each of said hoppers (2) being equipped with a dosed pouring mechanism (3), the operation of which causes the pouring of a certain amount of coffee into a lower channel (4) common to all the hoppers (2) into which said mechanisms (3) of the hoppers (2) flow and which, in turn, is suitable for coupling onto the receptacle that grinds the coffee beans of the automatic coffee machine (not represented) to which it is intended and in which the accessory (1) is incorporated, preferably through a coupling platform (5). Preferably, the dosing mechanism (3) of each hopper (2) is adjustable so that instead of a full dose of the aforementioned quantity of coffee, it dispenses half a dose, allowing a mixture of two half doses from two different hoppers (2) containing two different types or varieties of coffee to be poured into the common lower channel (4). Alternatively, the dosing mechanism (3) of each hopper (2) is also adjustable so that the dispensed dose of coffee is either higher or lower, at least between two pre-set volumes, allowing the user to choose between making a stronger or weaker coffee. Preferably, said metered pouring mechanism (3) is manually operated by means of an actuating control (30), preferably in the form of a butterfly valve. Preferably, the metered pouring mechanism (3) comprises a rotating drum (31), connected by the drive handle (30), which is incorporated into the lower end or neck (20) of the hopper (2) to which it is coupled and which comprises a double inner wall (32) and an outlet window (33), such that when the window (33) is positioned at the top, the coffee falls into the drum (31) with a certain capacity and, when the drive handle (30) is turned, said window is positioned inwards and the contents of the drum (31) fall by gravity into the lower channel (4). And, preferably, when the metered pouring mechanism (3) is adjustable, the drum (31) comprises inside a piston (34) which, by means of a plunger (35) linked to an outer sleeve (36) where the drive handle (30) is inserted, can be moved longitudinally to expand or reduce the capacity of said inner space of the drum (31) so that the dose poured is greater or less, as shown in figures 5 to 7. In addition, said plunger (35) is provided with a tab (37), which emerges through a slot (38) so that it is visible externally to the outer sleeve (36), which marks the position of the piston (34) so ​​that the user can know whether the dose to be poured is greater or less. In any case, preferably, in order to carry out the longitudinal displacement of the piston (34) by pulling and pushing the outer sleeve (36), this has a locking and unlocking system (39) made up, preferably, of two retractable side stops which, when pressed, stop blocking the movement of the plunger (35) to which the piston (34) is rigidly attached in order to move it. Furthermore, preferably, each of the hoppers (2), formed in a known manner by a container with a hollow main body (21) with walls having a truncated conical or inverted truncated pyramidal configuration that facilitates the gravity flow of the contents towards the lower neck (20) of the hopper (2), comprises, in the upper part of said main body (21), a removable and attachable annex (22) to increase the coffee capacity it can hold, as shown in the example in Figure 6. In addition, preferably, said annex (22) has a vertical wall configuration, such that the upper closing lid (23) fits onto the hopper (2) with and without said annex (22) attached. In any case, preferably, each hopper (2) comprises a space (24) suitable for including a distinctive label with the name of the type of coffee it contains. In a preferred embodiment, the accessory comprises three hoppers (2) with three adjustable dosed coffee pouring mechanisms (3). Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field can understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it.

Claims

1. A dosing accessory for coffee machines, applicable for incorporation as an accessory in an automatic coffee machine for dispensing a specific quantity of coffee beans to be ground prior to the coffee brewing process in said machine, characterized by comprising two or more independent hoppers (2), suitable for holding coffee beans of different types or varieties, each of said hoppers (2) being equipped with a dosing pouring mechanism (3), the operation of which causes the pouring of a specific quantity of coffee into a lower channel (4) common to all the hoppers (2), into which said mechanisms (3) of the hoppers (2) empty, and which, in turn, is suitable for coupling onto the receptacle that grinds the coffee beans of the automatic coffee machine in which the accessory (1) is incorporated. 2.- A dosing accessory for coffee makers, according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing pouring mechanism (3) provided by each hopper (2) is adjustable so that instead of a full dose of the aforementioned quantity of coffee, it pours half a dose and / or the dose of coffee poured is greater or less, at least between two pre-established volumes.

3. A dosing accessory for coffee makers, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dosing pouring mechanism (3) is manually operated by means of an actuating control (30).

4. A dosing accessory for coffee makers, according to claim 3, characterized in that the dosing pouring mechanism (3) comprises a rotating drum (31), operated by means of the actuating control (30) to which it is linked, which is incorporated into the lower end or neck (20) of the hopper (2) to which it is attached and which comprises a double inner wall (32) and an outlet window (33). 5.- A dosing accessory for coffee makers, according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the drum (31) comprises internally a piston (34) which, by means of a plunger (35) linked to an external sleeve (36) where the operating control (30) is inserted, moves longitudinally to increase or decrease the capacity of said internal space of the drum (31).

6. A dosing accessory for coffee makers, according to claim 5, characterized in that said plunger (35) is provided with an externally visible tab (37) that marks the position of the piston (34) so ​​that the user can know whether the dose to be poured is greater or lesser.

7. A dosing accessory for coffee makers, according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the longitudinal displacement of the piston (34) has a locking and unlocking system (39). 8.- Dosing accessory for coffee machines, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the hoppers (2) comprises, in the upper part of its main body (21), a removable and attachable annex (22) to expand the volume of coffee capacity it can contain.

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