Coffee Dispenser System

Abstract

The coffee dispenser system includes a coffee brewing unit 1, a container 12, a coffee supply path 11, and a coffee outlet path 13. The coffee supply path 11 is provided between the coffee brewing unit 1 and the container 12 and forms a fluid connection between them. The container 12 receives and holds coffee from the coffee brewing unit 1. The coffee outlet path 13 is connected to the container 12. Both the coffee supply path 11 and the coffee outlet path 13 are connected to the container 12 at the bottom side of the container 12. The coffee supply path 11, connected to the container 12, extends upward to the highest level inside the container 12. An air release chamber 16 is provided at the highest level to release air from coffee conveyed through the coffee supply path 11. A coffee mixing path 17 extends downward from the air release chamber 16 to a position above and close to the bottom of the container 12.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee dispenser system comprising a coffee brewing unit and an outlet passage for coffee. [Background technology]

[0002] Such a coffee dispenser system is described in Dutch patent application No. 202275, unpublished at the priority date of the present application. The coffee brewing unit comprises a vessel for receiving and mixing powdered material and hot liquid, a filter located below the vessel, a gas supply connected to the vessel via a duct for supplying pressurized gas into the vessel, and an outlet for the extracted liquid on the outlet side of the filter opposite the vessel, the outlet being connected to an outlet duct for the extracted liquid.

[0003] The quality of the coffee in such a coffee dispenser system is of the highest quality. Apart from this fact, one of the further advantages of this coffee dispenser system is that it is possible to extract large quantities of coffee without compromising the quality of the coffee. It is an object of the present invention to take full advantage of this advantageous property.

[0004] EP 3298934, US 3031947 and US 3345934 each disclose a coffee dispenser system comprising a coffee brewing unit, a container, a coffee supply passage and a coffee outlet passage. The coffee supply passage is provided between the coffee brewing unit and the container and constitutes a fluid connection between the coffee brewing unit and the container. The container receives and holds coffee from the coffee brewing unit. The coffee outlet passage is connected to the container.

[0005] In EP 3298934 and US 3031947 the coffee supply passage between the coffee brewing unit and the container and the coffee outlet passage both connect to the container at its bottom. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The coffee dispenser system according to the invention comprises one or more of the features of the accompanying claims.

[0007] In a first aspect of the invention, the coffee supply channel connected to the container extends upwards to a maximum level inside the container, which corresponds to the maximum liquid level that the coffee can reach in the container. At said maximum liquid level, an air escape chamber is provided for escaping air from the coffee conveyed through the coffee supply channel. From the air escape chamber, the coffee mixing channel extends downwards to a position above the bottom of the container, close to the bottom. This allows the coffee in the container to quickly leave the container through the coffee outlet channel with minimal heat loss when the container is not in active use. Furthermore, the structure of the coffee mixing channel ensures that the composition of the coffee in the container does not change.

[0008] In the coffee dispenser system of the present invention, it is possible to fill a drinking cup from the container all at once, but it is also possible to absorb peaks in demand by repeatedly dispensing cups of coffee from the container and at the same time refilling the container with as much coffee as possible from the coffee brewing unit.

[0009] Examples of peaks are, for example, the coffee demand during breaks in a theatre performance or at a breakfast buffet in a restaurant. If a coffee brewing unit can provide 480cc of coffee in one batch, four 120cc cups of coffee can be continuously provided in a much shorter time than if they were made separately when needed. With the coffee dispenser system of the present invention, the coffee delivery takt time becomes comparable to that of instant drinks. An additional advantage is that with these large batches, the temperature of the first cup is no longer an issue, as was the case in the prior art.

[0010] In order to maintain the "freshness" of the coffee, it is preferable for the container to be insulated. For example, it is feasible for the container to be embodied as a vacuum jacket. An (inverted) insulated container with a screw connection to the bottom plate that closes the container is an "easy to clean" and also relatively cheap embodiment.

[0011] A notable advantage is that the container can be provided without heating means, which also helps to maintain the freshness of the coffee.

[0012] Both the coffee supply passage and the coffee outlet passage are connected to the container at its bottom side, in particular at said bottom plate, so that the coffee dispenser system of the present invention can be used even when the container is not in operation, and freshly brewed coffee can flow through the coffee supply passage and into the coffee outlet passage substantially immediately.

[0013] Preferably, the container is provided with an air escape channel which determines the maximum possible level of coffee in the container.

[0014] Advantageously, the coffee dispenser system further comprises a sensor system for measuring the level of the coffee in the container, particularly when the sensor system is connected to a control system which drives the coffee brewing unit to maintain the level of the coffee in the container between preset minimum and maximum levels. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an example of a coffee dispenser system that is used to explain the present invention but is outside the scope of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a coffee dispenser system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] In the following, the invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawings of exemplary embodiments of a skinning device according to the invention, the drawings being non-limiting in relation to the appended claims.

[0017] Whenever the same reference numbers are applied in the figures, they refer to the same parts.

[0018] In FIG. 1, a coffee dispenser system is shown with a coffee brewing unit 1 having a container 2 for coffee beans. Below the container 2, a grinder 3 is provided, which supplies ground beans to a chute 4. The chute 4 also receives hot water from a duct 5, which receives hot water from a heater 6 to which the duct 5 is connected. This hot water ensures that the ground beans from the grinder 3 are transported and received in a vessel 7 to which the chute 4 is connected. The vessel 7 has a closable opening at a position 23 on the upper side of the vessel 7 for receiving both the powdered material and the hot liquid, one of which is a hot liquid and the other of which. The closable opening is provided with a valve (not shown) at the height of the arrow 23 for opening and closing the opening. The valve is arranged to close the opening of the vessel 7 air-tight so that the vessel 7 can be pressurized by the operation of a gas supply pump. The position and operation of this valve is known from the prior art document EP 0 546 498 A1, and therefore there is no need to illustrate it further.

[0019] In connection with pressurizing the vessel 7, it is preferred, but not required, that the vessel 7 be movable up and down so that in the lowered position the vessel 7 can interface with the filter 8 below it and act as a seal therewith.

[0020] In Fig. 2 an exemplary embodiment of the coffee dispenser system of the present invention is shown with a coffee brewing unit 1. Here the emphasis is on the inert gas container 20 which supplies inert gas via valve 21 and gas supply 22 to pressurize the vessel 7. As in the coffee dispenser system of Fig. 1, in the system of Fig. 2 the vessel 7 is preferably, but not necessarily, movable up and down so that in the lowered position the vessel 7 can couple with the filter 8 below it and act as a seal against the filter 8.

[0021] In both systems of Figures 1 and 2, the coffee brewing unit 1 has an outlet 10 for discharging the brewed liquid at the outlet side of the filter 8 opposite the vessel 7. The outlet 10 connects to a coffee supply passage 11 for the brewed liquid. The coffee supply passage 11 connects the coffee brewing unit 1 with a container 12, thereby providing a fluid connection between the coffee brewing unit 1 and the container 12. The container 12 receives and contains the coffee from the coffee brewing unit 1. Figures 1 and 2 further show that the container 12 is provided with a coffee outlet passage 13 having a valve 13' for controlling the exit of the coffee from the container 12.

[0022] The container 12 preferably has thermal insulation properties. To that end, the container 12 is preferably embodied as an insulated container 12'. The insulated container 12' comprises a threaded connection 14. The threaded connection 14 connects to a bottom plate 15 which closes the insulated container 12'. One preferred feature is that the container 12 is provided without heating means.

[0023] Both the coffee supply channel 11 and the coffee outlet channel 13 are connected to the bottom side of the container 12, preferably to the bottom plate 15 of the container.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 2, which shows the structure of the container 12 according to the present invention, it can be seen that the coffee supply channel 11 connected to the container extends upward to the highest level inside the container 12. It can also be seen in Fig. 2 that at said highest level, an air escape chamber 16 is provided for escaping air from the coffee conveyed through the coffee supply channel 11. For this purpose, the air escape chamber 16 is provided with an air escape opening 16'. A coffee mixing channel 17 extends downward from the air escape chamber 16. The coffee mixing channel 17 extends above the bottom of the container and close to the bottom.

[0025] 2 further shows that the container 12 is equipped with an air release passage 18. The air release passage 18 determines the maximum possible level 18' of coffee within the container 12.

[0026] The coffee dispenser system of the present invention preferably further comprises a sensor system 19 for measuring the level of coffee in the container 12. The sensor system 19 is connected to a control system (not shown) which operates the coffee brewing unit 1 to maintain the level of coffee in the container 12 between preset minimum and maximum levels.

[0027] In the above, the present invention has been discussed with reference to exemplary embodiments of the coffee dispenser system of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and can be varied in many ways without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments discussed above should not be used to strictly interpret the appended claims in accordance with the same. On the contrary, the embodiments are merely intended to explain the language of the appended claims, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted solely in accordance with the appended claims, and any ambiguities that may arise in the language of the claims should be resolved using these exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. A coffee dispenser system comprising a coffee brewing unit (1), a container (12), a coffee supply path (11) and a coffee outlet path (13), the coffee supply path (11) being provided between the coffee brewing unit (1) and the container (12) to constitute a fluid connection between the coffee brewing unit (1) and the container (12), the container (12) receiving and holding coffee from the coffee brewing unit (1), the coffee outlet path (13) being connected to the container (12), the coffee supply path (11) and the coffee outlet path (13) both being connected to the container (12) at a bottom side of the container (12), A coffee dispenser system, characterized in that a coffee supply passage (11) connected to a container (12) extends upward to a highest level inside the container (12), an air escape chamber (16) is provided at said highest level for escaping air from coffee conveyed through the coffee supply passage (11), and a coffee mixing passage (17) extending downward from the air escape chamber (16) extends to near the bottom of the container (12) above the bottom.

2. 2. The coffee dispenser system according to claim 1, wherein the container (12) is thermally insulated.

3. 3. The coffee dispenser system according to claim 1, wherein the container (12) is embodied as an insulated container (12'), said insulated container (12') being provided with a screw connection (14) to a bottom plate (15) closing said insulated container (12').

4. 4. Coffee dispenser system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container (12) does not have heating means.

5. 5. A coffee dispenser system according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (12) is provided with an air vent (18) which determines the maximum possible level (18') of coffee in the container (12).

6. 6. Coffee dispenser system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sensor system (19) for measuring the level of the coffee in the container (12).

7. 7. A coffee dispenser system according to claim 6, characterized in that the sensor system (19) is connected to a control system, said control system operating the coffee brewing unit (1) to maintain the coffee level in the container (12) between preset minimum and maximum levels.

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