Hot beverage production equipment

Abstract

The hot beverage production device 1 comprises a water inlet 2, a water pump 3 connected to the water inlet 2 and equipped with a first control loop for controlling the generated flow, a thermal heater 7 connected to the water pump 3 and equipped with a second control loop for controlling the heating of the water supplied by the water pump 3, and a production unit 11 connected to the thermal heater 7 and equipped with a first outlet 12 for a hot beverage. The thermal heater 7 is equipped with a second outlet 13 for steam 14.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing hot beverages, comprising a water inlet, a water pump connected to the water inlet and provided with a first control loop for controlling the flow generated by the water pump, a thermal heater connected to the water pump and provided with a second control loop for controlling the heating of the water supplied by the water pump by the thermal heater, and a production unit connected to the thermal heater, the production unit having a first outlet for the hot beverage. [Background technology]

[0002] EP 3135162 discloses such a hot beverage production machine. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The object of the present invention is to expand the applicability of known hot beverage production devices under conditions of limiting costs and reducing CO2 emissions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The hot beverage manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a second outlet for steam; a first control loop for controlling the flow generated by the water pump, the first control loop having a zero-crossing detection circuit connected to a power input line of a power circuit supplying power to the water pump for detecting and selecting one of two half-waves of a power cycle present on the power input line; the first control loop further includes a drive circuit cooperating with the zero-crossing detection circuit; the first control loop further includes a switch in the power circuit of the water pump, the switch being driven by a drive circuit that repeatedly switches the switch on and off to supply the water pump with a predetermined percentage of the power available on the power input line during a selected half-wave of the power cycle; The drive circuitry operates in the unselected half of the power cycle present on the power input line. so that the current through the water pump can return to zero during Keeps the switch in the on position for a selected period of time do It was like this, It is characterized by the fact that

[0005] This allows the capacity of the water pump to be varied in the power range from 0% to 100%. Current spikes, radio frequency radiation, and losses are also effectively prevented. The hot drink making device of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in domestic, commercial, and light industrial environments. Furthermore, an acoustic noise reduction of at least 10 dB is achieved when operating the electric pump according to the present invention, further facilitating the use of the device in a domestic environment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the single-function hot beverage production device of the prior art is completed with a second function, i.e. the possibility to provide hot steam in addition to providing hot beverages, without the need to add an additional water pump or heating equipment. Thus, it is possible to provide both the equipment for producing hot beverages and the equipment for supplying hot water or steam in one housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control scheme for controlling the water pump of the hot beverage making machine of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 shows a more schematic representation of the control scheme shown in FIG. 1, but showing the complete control scheme for steam supply by the device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention will now be further elucidated, without limitation, with reference to the appended claims, with reference to the drawings of a control scheme for a hot beverage production machine according to the invention.

[0009] Whenever the same reference numbers are applied in the figures, they refer to the same items.

[0010] We first turn to Figure 2, which shows the control scheme of a hot beverage production device 1 according to the invention. Figure 2 further shows schematically that this device has a water inlet 2 and a water pump 3 connected to the water inlet 2. The water pump 3 comprises a first control loop for controlling the flow generated by this water pump 3. This first control loop comprises a flow measurement device 4, a control device 5 and, of course, the water pump 3 itself. A setpoint 6 for the water flow can be provided to the control device 5 according to a selected recipe, for example coffee.

[0011] 2 further shows that the device 1 comprises a thermal heater 7 connected to the water pump 3, the thermal heater 7 comprising a second control loop that controls the heating of the water supplied by the water pump 3 by the thermal heater 7. The second control loop comprises a thermistor 8 for measuring the temperature, the previously mentioned controller 5, repeated in dashed lines for clarity of the diagram, and electronics 9 for powering the thermal heater 7. A temperature setpoint 10 can be provided to the controller 5.

[0012] 2 further shows that there is a production unit 11 connected to the thermal heater 7. The production unit 11 has a first outlet 12 for a hot beverage. The previous features mentioned by the description of this figure, relating to the hot beverage production device 1 of the present invention, are known from the prior art. An additional and novel feature according to the present invention is that the thermal heater 7 is provided with a second outlet 13 for steam 14.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0014] The hot beverage production device 1 according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the first control loop for controlling the flow generated by the water pump 3 comprises a zero-crossing detection circuit 15. The zero-crossing detection circuit 15 is connected to a power input line 16 of a power circuit 17 supplying power to the water pump 3 and detects and selects one of two half-waves 18 of a power cycle 19 present on the power input line 16. The first control loop further comprises a drive circuit 20 cooperating with the zero-crossing detection circuit 15. The first control loop also further comprises a switch 21 provided in the power circuit 17 for the water pump 3. The switch 21 is driven by the drive circuit 20. The drive circuit 20 is configured to repeatedly turn the switch 21 on and off, thereby providing the water pump 3 with a predetermined proportion of the power available on the power input line 16 during the selected half-wave 18 of the power cycle 19.

[0015] Preferably, the drive circuit 20 is further configured to maintain the switch 21 in the on position for a selected period of time during the unselected half of the power cycle 19 present on the power input line 16, thereby allowing the current through the water pump 3 to return to zero during said second half.

[0016] The present invention has been described above with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the hot beverage production device of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment and can be modified in many ways without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the described exemplary embodiment should not be used to interpret the appended claims strictly according to the claims. On the contrary, this embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims, and is not intended to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted solely in accordance with the appended claims, and any ambiguities in the wording of the claims should be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

Claims

[Claim 1] A hot beverage production device (1) comprising a water inlet (2), a water pump (3) connected to the water inlet (2) and equipped with a first control loop for controlling the generated flow, a thermal heater (7) connected to the water pump (3) and equipped with a second control loop for controlling the heating of the water supplied by the water pump (3), and a production unit (11) connected to the thermal heater (7) and equipped with a first outlet (12) for a hot beverage. The heater (7) is provided with a second outlet (13) for steam (14), a first control loop for controlling the flow generated by the water pump (3) comprising a zero-crossing detection circuit (15) connected to a power input line (16) of a power circuit (17) supplying power to the water pump (3) for detecting and selecting one of two half-waves (18) of a power cycle (19) present on the power input line (16) as an available half-wave; The first control loop further comprises a drive circuit (20) cooperating with the zero crossing detection circuit (15); the first control loop further comprises a switch (21) in the power circuit (17) of the water pump (3), the switch (21) being driven by the drive circuit (20), the drive circuit (20) repeatedly switching the switch (21) on and off to supply the water pump (3) with a predetermined percentage of the power available on the power input line (16) during a selected half-wave (18) of the power cycle (19); the drive circuit (20) is adapted to maintain the switch (21) in an on position for a selected period of time to allow current through the water pump to return to zero during a non-selected half of a power cycle (19) present on the power input line (16); A hot beverage manufacturing apparatus characterized by:

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