Water filter for beverage preparation machine

Abstract

Title: Water Filter for Beverage Preparation Machine The invention relates to a water filter 1 for a coffee machine: • the water filter being intended to be totally immersed in a water reservoir 2 of the coffee machine by being fluidly connected to an opening 21 of the reservoir located in its lower part, and • the water filter comprising, or even being made of, an inverted siphon 11 filled at least partially with a water filtration material 3, • the water filter being essentially such that the inverted siphon includes an air purge valve 12 located in an upper part of the water filter. Such an inverted siphon allows the air present in the water filter to be purged. Most of the air trapped in the filter cartridge can thus escape, so that the small volume of residual air can be evacuated conventionally. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3B

Description

Title of the invention: Water filter for beverage preparation machine. Technical field.

[0001] The present invention relates to a water filter for a beverage preparation machine such as a coffee maker. With reference to the attached Figures 1 and 2, the present invention relates more particularly to a water filter 1 for a beverage preparation machine such as a coffee maker in which:

[0002] The water filter 1 is intended to be totally immersed in a water tank 2 of the machine by being fluidly connected to an outlet opening 21 of the tank 2 which is, for example, located in the base of the tank, and in which:

[0003] The water filter 1 comprises an inverted siphon 11 filled at least partially with a water filtration material 3 and from which water is intended to be drawn. PRIOR TECHNOLOGY

[0004] There are beverage preparation machines such as coffee machines comprising a water reservoir 2 as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 and conforming to the preamble given above.

[0005] The presence of water filters is necessary to prevent elements present in the water from entering the machine, which could be harmful to the quality of the coffee and to the user. Furthermore, certain elements, such as limescale, can build up in the components of the coffee machine, such as the boiler, which over time reduces its performance or even prevents it from functioning.

[0006] The water filter 1, or equivalently the filter cartridge, poses problems in this type of known coffee machine at the time of each priming of the coffee machine.

[0007] More specifically, to prime the coffee machine, the entire capacity of the reservoir is advantageously filled with water. One advantage of this type of device is that the water will be filtered in real time as it is used. However, this type of filter cartridge 1, which is shaped like an inverted siphon 11, cannot self-refill since the air contained in the filter cartridge 1 is trapped between the inlet of the filter 1 (immersed in the water of the reservoir 2) and the coffee machine pump (which, in the "off" state, acts as a plug).

[0008] Each time the machine is put into operation (to make a plurality of coffees with the water filling the reservoir 2), priming the water circuit is necessary to fill the tube 5 at the base of the reservoir 2 and the coffee machine pump, thus that the entire volume of the filter cartridge 1. This volume is all the more important as the quantity of microbeads constituting the filtration material 3 is large, but also because filters 1 of this type may have a chamber upstream of the filtration itself (cf. [Fig.2]).

[0009] In this context, the pumping of air, then water, is carried out by the coffee machine's pump. However, the quantity of air to be drawn in is very large, which results in: a. a necessary special machine priming cycle (with a very long pump activation time); and / or b. an oversized pump to draw a large amount of air (and over a long period of time); and / or c. accelerated aging of the pump (reduced lifespan due to usage conditions).

[0010] In this context, the present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art.

[0011] The present invention aims more particularly at optimizing the operation and lifespan of a coffee machine, in a way that is easy for the user and without significantly increasing the cost of the machine. SUMMARY

[0012] To achieve this objective, according to a first aspect of the invention, a water filter for a beverage preparation machine such that the coffee, conforming to the preamble given above, is provided, essentially such that the inverted siphon includes an air purge valve located in the upper part of the water filter. The air to be purged is therefore at least partly the air trapped in the water filter when it is placed in the reservoir.

[0013] The technical effect of such a reverse siphon is to allow the air present in the filter cartridge to be purged each time the coffee machine's reservoir is filled. Most of the air trapped in the filter cartridge can thus escape, so that the small volume of residual air can be evacuated conventionally, with a moderate pump operating time.

[0014] Another solution that has been considered involves having the user turn the filter inside the water-filled tank to expel all the air, and then attaching the filter to the tank outlet. During the development of the present invention, it was observed that with this solution, air purging is often incomplete because it is not performed perfectly by the user. This results in a significant amount of air accumulating in the pump, which tends to reduce its lifespan.

[0015] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the filtered water is intended to be drawn in by a pump of the machine which is located downstream of the water filter.

[0016] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the air purge valve is a manually operated valve.

[0017] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the air purge valve includes a means for obstructing a passage provided in the upper part of the water filter, the filter being configured to have: a. a so-called passage closure configuration in which the obstruction means prevents the passage of water from the reservoir into the filter, b. an opening configuration in which the obstruction means allows the evacuation of air contained inside the filter into the reservoir by passing through said passage.

[0018] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the air purge valve includes means for returning the air purge valve, configured to: a. recall the means of obstruction in the passage closure configuration in the absence of manual intervention by a user and b. to allow the obstruction means to be moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration in the presence of a manual request from a user.

[0019] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the filtration material comprises at least one of resin microbeads impregnated with salts and activated carbon.

[0020] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the air purge valve passes through an upper wall of the water filter via the passage presenting:

[0021] inside and on either side of the passage, a rod with a diameter smaller than that of the passage,

[0022] inside the inverted siphon, the means for obstructing the passage (4) mechanically connected to the rod, preferably to a first end of the rod, and

[0023] outside the inverted siphon, the air purge valve return means arranged on the stem, preferably arranged on an upper half of the stem.

[0024] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the rod is mounted freely in translation in the passage so that the obstruction means can move alternately from a high position of closing the passage to a low position of opening the passage, and the return means are configured to return the obstruction means to its high closing position.

[0025] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the air purge valve is made in one piece and is made, for example, of silicone.

[0026] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the obstruction means is in the form of a substantially spherical cap whose concavity is preferably oriented upwards, the passage obstruction means being mechanically connected to the first end of the rod by the pole of the substantially spherical cap.

[0027] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the return means comprise at least one elastic arm acting as a spring and extending from the upper half of the rod towards the upper wall of the water filter.

[0028] According to an example of the first aspect of the invention, the air purge valve further comprises a bearing surface mechanically connected to a second end of the stem.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the invention, a water reservoir for a beverage preparation machine such as a coffee maker is provided, comprising a water filter as introduced above.

[0030] According to a third aspect of the invention, a beverage preparation machine, such as a coffee maker, is provided, comprising a water reservoir as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] The aims, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof, which is illustrated by the following accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig. 1] The [Fig. 1] represents a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment, according to the prior art, of a tank equipped with a water filter.

[0033] [Fig.2] Fig.2 represents a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment, according to the prior art, of a reservoir equipped with a water filter.

[0034] [Fig.3A] [Fig.3B] [Fig.3C] Figures 3A, 3B and 3C represent cross-sectional views of an embodiment of the invention at different stages of its use.

[0035] [Fig.4] Fig.4 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a valve air purging according to the invention.

[0036] [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic view of an example of a preparation machine of beverage incorporating a filter according to the invention.

[0037] The drawings are given by way of example and are not limiting of the invention. They constitute schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not necessarily to scale with practical applications. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] A first element "located upstream" or "located downstream" with respect to a second element of the coffee machine refers to the quality of the position of the second element relative to the first element along the path of the water within the coffee machine.

[0039] An inverted siphon is understood to be a siphon comprising, in its lower part, at least one first inlet opening for the liquid to be siphoned and at least one second outlet opening for the siphoned liquid. The siphon also comprises at least one vertical wall open at the top and extending between said at least one first opening and said at least one second opening. The vertical wall is configured so as to form, within the siphon, two spaces in fluidic communication with each other through the upper opening of the vertical wall, a first space (or chamber) open to said at least one first opening in which the liquid flows upwards and a second space (or chamber) open to said at least one second opening in which the liquid flows downwards.According to a non-limiting example (as there are versions where the "first space" is juxtaposed with the "second space"), the first and second spaces are concentric with each other and, for example, the first space extends around the second space. When the siphon includes a liquid filtration material, the latter can be located in the first space and / or in the second space (see figures 1 and 2).

[0040] To overcome the drawbacks mentioned in the introduction, the user is asked to contribute, and the filter 1 is pre-filled by the user who manipulates it for this purpose. However, due to the very design of the filters 1 in question, this requires immersing the filter 1 while keeping its openings facing upwards, in order to expel all the air. The consequences of this priming method are: a. Incomplete purging causing machine malfunctions (air bubble trapped at the highest point of the fluid circuit in filter cartridge 1); and b. customers unhappy about having to purge filters manually (and by immersion) and who potentially do it incorrectly.

[0041] The present invention aims to address in a more relevant way the disadvantages mentioned in the introduction.

[0042] With reference to figures 3A, 3B and 3C, a first aspect of the invention relates to a water filter 1 for a beverage preparation machine such as a coffee maker.

[0043] The water filter 1 is intended to be totally immersed in a water tank 2 of the machine by being fluidly connected to an outlet opening 21 of the tank 2 which is located in the base of the tank 2.

[0044] Furthermore, the water filter 1 comprises, or is made up of, an inverted siphon 11 filled at least partially with a water filtration material 3 and from which water is intended to be drawn. For example, the filtration material comprises at least one of resin microbeads impregnated with salts and activated carbon.

[0045] Furthermore, the filtered water is typically intended to be drawn in by a pump (not shown in the figures) of the machine which is located downstream of the water filter 1.

[0046] The water filter 1 is essentially such that the inverted siphon 11 includes an air purge valve 12 which is located in the upper part of the water filter 1.

[0047] The proposed idea is therefore to add a drain 12 at the highest point of the inverted siphon 11. Preferably, the actuation of the drain 12 is manual.

[0048] The air purge valve 12 is more particularly such that it passes through an upper wall 13 of the water filter 1 by a passage 4.

[0049] In so doing, the air purge valve 12 may have, firstly, inside and on either side of the passage 4, a rod 121 with a diameter smaller than that of the passage; secondly, it may have, inside the inverted siphon 11, a means of obstruction 122 of the passage 4 mechanically connected to a first end 1211 of the rod 121; and thirdly, it may have, outside the inverted siphon 11, means of return 123 of the air purge valve 12 mechanically connected to an upper part 1212 of the rod 121.

[0050] In this way, the rod 121 is mounted freely in translation in the passage 4 so that the obstruction means 122 can alternately move from a high position of closing the passage 4 to a low position of opening the passage 4, and the return means 123 are configured to return the obstruction means 122 to its high position of closing from its low position of opening the passage 4, and to allow air to escape when the obstruction means 122 is in its low position of opening the passage 4.

[0051] With reference to [Fig.4], the air purge valve 12 is preferably made in one piece and is made, for example, of silicone.

[0052] With further reference to [Fig. 4], the obstruction means 122 may be in the form of a substantially spherical cap 1221, or mushroom, the concavity of which is preferably oriented upwards. The obstruction means 122 of the passage 4 is more particularly mechanically connected to the first end 1211 of the rod 121 by the pole 1222 of the substantially spherical cap 1221.

[0053] The return means 123 may include at least one elastic arm 1231 extending from the upper part 1212 of the rod 121 towards the upper wall 13 of the water filter 1. Alternatively, a compression spring could be fitted onto the upper part of the rod, the part that is outside the filter 1.

[0054] To facilitate its manual actuation, the air purge valve 12 may further include a bearing surface 124 mechanically connected to a second end 1213 of the rod 121.

[0055] Thus, an air purge valve 12 consisting of a mushroom 1221 and at least one silicone spring arm 1231 can be placed in an opening 4 made at the top of the filter cartridge 1.

[0056] Pressing the air purge valve 12, by a user, via the support surface 124, deforms each spring arm 1231 and the mushroom 1221 detaches from the upper wall 13 of the filter cartridge 1 to create a communication between the filter chamber 1 and the reservoir 2 of the coffee machine.

[0057] Releasing the pressure on the air purge valve 12 allows it, under the action of each spring arm 1231, to return to the closing position of the passage 4; the base of the mushroom 1221 then returns to contact with the upper wall 13 of the filter 1, and the passage 4 is obstructed.

[0058] As illustrated in [Fig. 3A], the filter cartridge 1 is placed in the reservoir 2 when empty, and then the reservoir is filled with water. Note that some water may enter the filter through its base, and more specifically through at least one opening made in the base of the filter 1.

[0059] Then, by pressing the air purge valve 12, the air trapped in the filter escapes, as illustrated in [Fig.3B], at the highest point of the inverted siphon 11.

[0060] With most of the air having escaped, the small volume of residual air can be evacuated conventionally, with a moderate operating time of the coffee machine's pump. This reduced stress helps to extend the lifespan of the coffee machine.

[0061] The present invention also relates to a water reservoir 2 for a beverage preparation machine such as a coffee maker comprising a water filter 1 as described above.

[0062] The present invention further relates to a beverage preparation machine such as a coffee maker, comprising a water reservoir 2 as introduced above. With reference to [Fig. 5], such a machine 100 comprises a pump 101, a boiler 102, and a brewing chamber 103, the pump 101 being arranged to pressurize a fluid contained in a section of the fluid circuit comprising the pump 101 and the brewing chamber 103 and including the boiler 102.

[0063] The invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described and extends to all embodiments covered by the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Water filter (1) for beverage preparation machine such as coffee: • the water filter (1) being intended to be totally immersed in a water reservoir (2) of the machine by being fluidly connected to an outlet opening (21) of the reservoir (2), and • the water filter (1) comprising, or even being made up of, an inverted siphon (11) filled at least in part with a water filtration material (3) and from which water is intended to be drawn, • the water filter (1) being characterized in that the inverted siphon (11) comprises an air purge valve (12) which is located in an upper part of the water filter (1) characterized in that the air purge valve (12) is a manually operated valve.

2. Water filter (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the air purge valve includes a means for obstructing (122) a passage (4) formed in the upper part of the water filter (1), the filter (1) being configured to have: i. a so-called closed configuration of the passage (4) in which the obstruction means (122) prevents the passage of water from the reservoir into the inside of the filter (1), ii. an so-called open configuration in which the obstruction means (122) allows the evacuation of air contained inside the filter (1) into the reservoir through said passage (4).

3. Water filter (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the air purge valve (2) includes return means (123) for the air purge valve (12), configured to: i. return the obstruction means (122) to the closed position of the passage (4) in the absence of manual intervention by a user, and ii. allow the obstruction means (122) to be brought from the closed position to the opening configuration in the presence of a manual request from a user.

4. Water filter (1) according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the air purge valve (12) passes through an upper wall (13) of the water filter (1) by way of the passage (4) having: • Inside and on either side of the passage (4), a rod (121) of a diameter smaller than that of the passage, • Inside the inverted siphon (11), the means for obstructing the passage (4) mechanically connected to the rod (121), preferably to a first end (1211) of the rod (121), and • Outside the inverted siphon (11), the means for returning the air purge valve (12) arranged on the rod (121), preferably arranged on an upper half of the rod (121).

5. Water filter (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein: • the rod (121) is mounted freely in translation in the passage (4) so ​​that the obstruction means (122) can alternately move from a high closing position of the passage (4) to a low opening position of the passage (4), and wherein: the return means (123) are configured to return the obstruction means (122) to its high closing position.

6. Water filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air purge valve (12) is made in one piece and is made, for example, of silicone.

7. Water filter (1) according to any one of the two preceding claims and claim 2 in combination, wherein the obstruction means (122) is in the form of a substantially spherical cap (1221) whose concavity is preferably oriented upwards, the obstruction means (122) of the passage (4) being mechanically connected to the first end (1211) of the rod (121) by the pole (1222) of the substantially spherical cap (1221).

8. Water filter (1) according to any one of the three preceding claims and claim 3 in combination, wherein the return means (123) comprise at least one elastic arm

9.

10.

11.

12.

13. (1231) acting as a spring and extending from the upper half (1212) of the rod (121) towards the upper wall (13) of the water filter (1). Water filter (1) according to any one of the four preceding claims, wherein the air purge valve (12) further comprises a bearing surface (124) mechanically connected to a second end (1213) of the rod (121). Water filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter material comprises at least one of resin microbeads impregnated with salts and activated carbon. Water reservoir (2) for beverage preparation machine such as coffee comprising a water filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. Beverage preparation machine (100) such as coffee comprising a water reservoir (2) according to the preceding claim. Machine (100) according to the preceding claim, comprising a pump (101) located downstream of the water filter (1) and configured to draw in the filtered water.

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