Coffee machine with limited rotation of its water and steam lances

Abstract

A coffee machine is described, equipped with a water / steam lance (1) mounted on a ball joint device (10), which has the function of guiding the rotations of the lance (1) around a rotation centre (10a) and of conveying the steam into the lance (1), wherein means (30) are provided, capable of limiting the rotations, to prevent the lance (1) from assuming dangerous positions for the operator, which include: a first ring nut (16), on which a slot (16a) and two stops (16b) are obtained; a body (11) of the ball joint device (10), which is inserted into the slot (16a) and which in correspondence with this has two parallel flat surfaces (11a), so that the body (11) cannot rotate, around its own axis, with respect to the first ring nut (16); a second ring nut (19), provided with a pair of limit switches (19a), within which the first ring nut (16) rotates, the rotation angle of which is limited by the limit switches (19a), against which the stops (16b) of the first ring nut (16) stop.

Description

[0001] COFFEE MACHINE WITH LIMITED ROTATION OF ITS WATER

[0002] AND STEAM LANCES

[0003] The present invention relates to a coffee machine provided with means for limiting the rotation of the water and steam lances.

[0004] Coffee machines are equipped with lances for dispensing hot water and steam for preparing infusions and for heating milk, with the formation of foam, for preparing cappuccino.

[0005] These lances can be oriented for more comfortable use by the operator; however, this can be a source of inconvenience, even serious, because in the event of accidental activation or malfunction, if the lance is oriented towards the operator's face, there is a high risk that this could cause even serious burns to the operator himself .

[0006] Documents WO-A1-2010 / 121299, US-A1- 2014 / 069279, CN-U-208 510 756 and CN-A-105 078 240 disclose coffee machines equipped with water / steam lances according to the preamble of Claim 1. Obj ect of the present invention is providing means to allow the lance to travel correctly, maintaining a fluid, j am- free movement in all directions , while preventing the lance from assuming positions that are dangerous for the operator .

[0007] The lance is normally mounted on a ball j oint , which allows any orientation . The correct movement of the lance would be a first oscillation, limited, on a vertical plane and a second oscillation, always limited, which allows the lance to exit the vertical plane .

[0008] The above and other obj ects , as will be explained below, are achieved with a cof fee machine in accordance with claim 1 .

[0009] This lance , which is of the orientable type , as it is mounted on a ball j oint device , which has the function of guiding the rotations of the lance and of conveying the steam into it , has means capable of limiting the rotations in order to prevent the lance from assuming dangerous positions for the operator . The means include : a first ring nut , on which a slot and two notches are made ; a body of the ball-j oint device which fits into the slot made in the first ring nut and which, in correspondence with the slot , has two parallel flat surfaces , so that the body cannot rotate , around its own axis , with respect to the first ring nut ; a second ring nut , provided with a pair of limit switches , within which the the first ring nut rotates , the rotation angle of which is limited by the the limit switches , against which the the stops of the first ring nut stop .

[0010] Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention form the subj ect matter of the dependent claims .

[0011] It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of this description .

[0012] The invention solves the drawbacks in question since the described mechanism prevents the lance from being directed towards the operator ' s face ; therefore , the risk of burns to the face is avoided .

[0013] It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modi fications can be made to what has been described ( for example relating to shape , dimensions , arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of the invention, as appears from the attached claims.

[0014] The present invention will be better described by a preferred embodiment, referring to a steam lance, provided by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows the lance according to the invention in various positions;

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a section of the lance rotation device ;

[0017] FIG. 3 shows the device that limits the rotations of the lance.

[0018] The mechanism that will be described, with reference to a steam lance, can be adopted, with the precautions that the expert technician in the sector is certainly aware of, for a lance for boiling water.

[0019] With reference to FIG. 1, (1) indicates a steam lance for a coffee machine, of which the square (2) represents a part of the bodywork on which the lance (1) is mounted.

[0020] The lance (1) is mounted on a joint device (10) , shown in section in FIG. 2, which has the function of guiding the rotations of the lance (1) and of conveying the steam into it, the rotations occurring with respect to a center of rotation (10a) .

[0021] The lance (1) is shown in three different positions in its oscillation in a vertical plane passing through the center of rotation (10a) .

[0022] The joint device (10) comprises (FIG. 2) : a body (11) , inside which a duct (12) is made for the passage of steam which, on the part facing towards the inside of the machine, ends with a spherical head (13) whose geometric center coincides with the center of rotation (10a) ; a front cup (14) and a rear cup (15) , tightened against the spherical head (13) , so as to allow rotation but not movement of the body (11) , the cups (14, 15) being blocked between a first ring nut (16) , which screws onto the body (17) of the joint device (10) and a preload spring (18) .

[0023] The body (17) of the joint device (10) is then mounted on the body (2) of the coffee machine by means of a second ring nut (19) .

[0024] The lance (1) is mounted by means of a locking nut (20) on the body (11) , on the side opposite the spherical head (13) .

[0025] The steam enters the swivel device (10) from the rear mouth (21) , passes through the body (17) and, passing through the duct (12) , present in the body (11) , enters the lance (1) .

[0026] The ball joint (10) allows the lance (1) to be oriented in any direction. To limit the positions that the lance (1) can assume, the invention provides a device (30) , the components of which are shown in FIG. 3.

[0027] The device (30) comprises: the first ring nut (16) , on which a slot (16a) and two stops (16b) are obtained, the first ring nut (16) being preferably mounted so that the slot (16a) can assume a vertical position; the body (11) of the joint device (10) , which fits into the slot (16a) and which in correspondence with the slot (16a) has two parallel flat surfaces (Ila) , so that the body (11) cannot rotate around its own axis with respect to the first ring nut (16) ; the second ring nut (19) , provided with a pair of limit switches (19a) , within which the first ring nut (16) rotates, the permitted rotation angle of which is (a + p) , being limited by the limit switches (19a) against which the stops (16b) of the first ring nut (16) stop.

[0028] In summary: the oscillations of the lance (1) in the vertical plane passing through the center of rotation (10a) are limited by the two ends of the slot (16a) , against which the body (11) of the articulated device (10) stops; the oscillations of the lance (1) outside the vertical plane passing through the center of rotation (10a) are limited by the fact that the rotations of the body (11) of the joint device (10) are limited as a consequence of the limitation of the rotation of the first ring nut (16) with respect to the second ring nut (19) , the rotation of the body (11) of the joint device (10) with respect to the first ring nut (16) being prevented.

[0029] As is clear from the description above, the mechanism described only allows limited rotations of the lance (1) , which can however be positioned in the way preferred by the operator, but cannot, under any circumstances, be oriented towards the operator's face.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Coffee machine equipped with a water / steam lance (1) mounted on a ball joint device (10) , whose function is guiding rotations of the lance (1) around a rotation centre (10a) and of conveying the steam into the lance (1) , wherein means (30) are provided, suitable for limiting said rotations, to prevent said lance (1) from assuming dangerous positions for an operator; characterised in that said means (30) , suitable for limiting the rotations of the lance (1) comprise:- a first ring nut (16) , on which a slot (16a) and two stops (16b) are obtained;- a body (11) of the ball joint device (10) , which fits into the slot (16a) and which in correspondence with said slot (16a) has two parallel flat surfaces (Ila) , so that the body (11) cannot rotate, around its own axis, with respect to said first ring nut (16) ;- a second ring nut (19) , provided with a pair of limit switches (19a) , within which said first ring nut (16) rotates, whose rotation angle is limited by said limit switches (19a) , against which said stops (16b) of the first ring nut (16) stop.(1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first ring nut (16) is mounted so that the slot (16a) is in a vertical position.

3. Coffee machine provided with a water / steam lance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that :- the oscillations of the lance (1) in a plane passing through said centre of rotation (10a) are limited by the two ends of the slot (16a) , against which the body (11) of the joint device (10) stops;- the oscillations of the lance (1) outside the plane passing through the centre of rotation (10a) , are limited by the fact that the rotations of the body (11) of the joint device (10) are limited as a consequence of the limitation of the rotation of the first ring nut (16) with respect to the second ring nut (19) , the rotation of the body (11) of the joint device (10) with respect to the first ring nut (16) being prevented.

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