Coffee beverage preparation device

Abstract

In a coffee beverage preparation device having an extraction device capable of supplying hot water under pressure from a water heater and a beverage outlet connected to the extraction device via a discharge pipe, and capable of supplying a freshly extracted coffee beverage via the beverage outlet to a beverage container arranged below the beverage outlet, a suck-back pump is provided which is fluidly connected to the outlet pipe on its suction side and opens on its pressure side into the outlet or a collection container, thereby sucking the coffee beverage from the coffee tube and directing it into the outlet or a collection container before, during or after the extraction process. A control device is used for controlling the suck-back pump and is configured to operate the suck-back pump during a pre-heating process in which hot water is directed into the outlet pipe or the extraction device and into the outlet pipe.

Claims

1. A coffee beverage preparation apparatus comprising an extraction device (1) capable of supplying hot water under pressure from a water heater (2), and a beverage dispensing unit (4) connected to the extraction device (1) via a discharge pipe (5), wherein the apparatus is capable of supplying freshly extracted coffee beverage to a beverage container (14) located below the beverage dispensing unit via the beverage dispensing unit, The system comprises a suck-back pump (6) which is fluidly connected to the discharge pipe (5) on the suction side and opens to the discharge section (7) or collection container on the pressure side, thereby sucking the coffee beverage from the discharge pipe (5) and introducing it into the discharge section (7) or collection container before, during, or after the extraction process, and a control device (15) for controlling the suck-back pump (6), The apparatus is characterized in that the control device (15) is configured to introduce hot water into the discharge pipe (5) or the extraction device (1) and the discharge pipe (5) during the preheating process and to operate the suck-back pump (6) during the preheating process.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (15) is configured to control the suck-back pump (6) so that any coffee beverage residue remaining in the discharge pipe (5) after the extraction process is sucked out.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device (15) is configured to control the suck-back pump (6) so that each portion of the freshly extracted coffee beverage is handled according to the purpose in a time-controlled manner during the coffee beverage extraction process.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the control device (15) is configured to change the amount of coffee beverage supplied per unit time from the discharge unit (4) during the extraction process by controlling the suck-back pump (6) and thereby changing the supply speed of the suck-back pump during operation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an extraction valve (8) located in a hot water pipe upstream of the extraction device (1), which is opened to start the extraction process and closed after the extraction process is completed, wherein the control device (15) operates the suck-back pump (6) before, simultaneously with, or after closing the extraction valve (8).

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a back pressure valve (9) positioned in the discharge pipe (5) between the extraction device (1) and the beverage dispensing section (4).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the suction pipe of the suck-back pump (6) branches off from the discharge pipe (5) downstream of the back pressure valve (9).

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suction pipe of the suck-back pump (6) is connected upstream of the extraction device (1) to the outlet of a hot water pipe or an extraction valve (8) connectable to the hot water pipe, so that the coffee beverage is sucked back through the extraction device (1) when the suck-back pump (6) is in operation.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suck-back pump (6) is a peristaltic pump.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control device (15) is configured to operate a flow of hot water through the extraction device (1) and the discharge pipe (5) for a short period of time before filling the extraction device (1) with coffee grounds to carry out the preheating process.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the extraction device (1) is provided with a heater (20), and the control device (15) is configured to operate a flow of hot water through the discharge pipe (5) via a valve (17) in order to carry out a preheating process.

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