Coffee machine with removable water tank

Abstract

The coffee machine (1) comprises a casing (2), a hydraulic circuit comprising a water tank (3) having a water filling mouth (13), a housing (5) for the water tank (3) formed by an external recess of a side of the casing (2), and guide means for extracting the water tank (3) from the housing (5), operative to guide the water tank (3) in a movement along an extraction path comprising a partially extracted position in which the water filling mouth (13) is accessible from the outside and a fully extracted position.

Description

[0001] COFFEE MACHINE WITH REMOVABLE WATER TANK

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a coffee machine with a removable water tank.

[0004] The tank of coffee machines is one of the parts of the machine that are subject to frequent maintenance in order to maintain water availability.

[0005] Over the years, various solutions have been studied to make maintenance easier, avoid water waste, ensure cleanliness, and provide level sensors.

[0006] Some of the implemented solutions involve extracting the tank from its housing. In these cases, the tank, having to be easily accessible, is usually placed in plain view and has a significant impact on the aesthetics of the coffee machine.

[0007] To limit the impact of the water tank on the aesthetics of the coffee machine, it has been proposed to hide it behind an openable flap, which, however, complicates the overall architecture of the coffee machine.

[0008] Moreover, in many cases the system for extracting the water tank proves to be complicated and inconvenient for the user.

[0009] Sometimes, in order to have a simpler and more convenient system for extracting the water tank, the compactness of the coffee machine is sacrificed, which is increased in height or width. The technical task that the present invention sets out to accomplish is therefore to provide a coffee machine with a removable tank that makes it possible to eliminate the technical drawbacks complained of in the known art.

[0010] Within the scope of this technical task, an object of the invention is to provide a coffee machine with a water tank that is easily accessible and easily removable.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a coffee machine with a water tank that is easy to access and extract without penalizing the compactness and constructional simplicity of the coffee machine.A further object of the invention is to provide a coffee machine with a water tank perfectly integrated into the aesthetics of the machine.

[0012] The technical task, as well as these and other objects, according to the present invention, are achieved by providing a coffee machine comprising a casing and a hydraulic circuit comprising a water tank having a water filling mouth, characterized in that it comprises a housing for the water tank formed by an external recess of a side wall of the casing, and guide means for extracting the water tank from the housing, operative to guide the tank in a horizontal movement along an extraction path comprising a partially extracted position in which the water filling mouth is accessible from the outside and a fully extracted position.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said guide means are operative to guide the tank in a roto-translational movement.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said filling mouth is arranged on a top wall of the water tank. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said water tank has, at the base of one of its rear walls, a plug-in connector provided with a shut-off valve for a removable hydraulic connection with a socket of the hydraulic circuit arranged in a rear wall of the housing, said connector and said socket having a connection axis oriented in the front-to-rear direction of the coffee machine. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said guide means comprise first guide means for translating the water tank in the front-to-rear direction of the housing toward a front wall of the casing to achieve a position of disconnection from the socket.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said housing has a first fixed abutment element to intercept said water tank upon reaching said position of disconnection from the socket. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said guide means comprise second guide means for rotating the water tank disconnected from the socket to achieve the partially extracted position.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said housing has a second fixed abutment element to intercept said water tank upon reaching said partially extracted position.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said guide means comprise third guide means for translating the water tank in an oblique direction of the housing to achieve the extraction position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said water tank has a front wall having a first portion positioned laterally overlapping a front wall of the housing and a second portion set back with respect to the first portion and positioned behind the front wall of the housing.

[0017] Advantageously, the water tank can be moved in a very simple and convenient manner and does not have a substantial impact on the frontal aesthetics of the coffee machine. Moreover, the water tank advantageously has a reduced frontal and partially lateral footprint, which makes it possible to keep the coffee machine extremely compact, especially in width. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the coffee machine with a removable water tank according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] figures la-le show the coffee machine in axonometric view in the sequence of positions of the water tank along its extraction path;

[0019] figures 2a-2e show a plan view of the water tank housing and of the water tank sectioned along a horizontal plane at the guide means, in the same sequence of positions of the water tank as figures la-le;

[0020] figure 3 shows, in axonometric view, the water tank housing and the water tank completely extracted;

[0021] figure 4 shows, in axonometric view, the water tank housing and, in a different axonometric view, the water tank, with indicative arrows for a better understanding of the operation of the guide means;figure 5 shows, in axonometric view, the water tank housing and the water tank sectioned along a horizontal plane at the guide means, in the position of connection of the hydraulic connector to the socket;

[0022] figure 6 shows, in axonometric view, the water tank housing and the water tank sectioned along a horizontal plane at the guide means, in the position of disconnection of the hydraulic connector from the socket;

[0023] figure 7 shows, in axonometric view, the water tank housing and the water tank sectioned along a horizontal plane at the guide means, with the water tank in the partially extracted position; and figure 8 shows, in axonometric view, the water tank housing and the water tank, with the water tank in the partially extracted position of figure 7 and with a directional arrow indicating the direction of manual pulling to complete the extraction of the water tank.

[0024] With reference to the cited figures, a coffee machine is shown, indicated overall by reference numeral 1.

[0025] The coffee machine comprises a casing 2 that houses a hydraulic circuit (not entirely shown) typically comprising in series a water tank 3, a feed pump, a boiler, a brewing unit, and an external coffee dispenser 4.

[0026] In addition to the hydraulic circuit intended for coffee production, a steam circuit having an external steam dispenser is preferably also present.

[0027] The steam circuit can be used for producing other hot beverages, for example tea or milk.

[0028] The external coffee dispenser 4 is positioned above a cup-support surface 11 in front of the front wall 7 of the casing 2.

[0029] The cup-support surface 11 is formed by a grid supported by an underlying liquid-collection trayThe water tank 3 is arranged in a housing 5 formed by an external recess of a side of the casing 2. The housing 5 of the water tank 3 is delimited by a side wall 6, a front wall 21, a top wall 8, a bottom wall 9, and a rear wall 10.

[0030] The water tank 3 has a front wall 32 having a first portion 32a positioned laterally overlapping the front wall 21 of the housing 5 and a second portion 32b set back with respect to the first portion 32a and positioned behind the front wall 21 of the housing 5.

[0031] The water tank 3 further has a water filling mouth 13.

[0032] The water filling mouth 13 is arranged on a top wall 14 of the water tank 3. The filling mouth 13 of the water tank 3 is hidden under the top wall 8 of the housing 5.

[0033] The water tank 3 further has, at the base of one ofits rear walls 15, aplug-in connector 16provided with a shut-off valve for a removable hydraulic connection with a socket 17 of the hydraulic circuit arranged in the rear wall 10 of the housing 5.

[0034] In order to minimize its aesthetic impact, the water tank 3 has only one of its side walls 20 visible, which is arranged flush with the external surface of the side of the casing 2, and the first portion 32a of its front wall 32, which in turn is arranged flush with the external surface of the front wall 7 of the casing 2.

[0035] The connector 16 and the socket 17 have a connection axis oriented in the front-to-rear direction of the coffee machine 1.

[0036] Advantageously, the coffee machine 1 provides guide means for extracting the water tank 3 from the housing 5.

[0037] To this end, the water tank is provided with a handle 19 for extraction from the housing 5. The handle 19 is formed by a vertical recess of the visible side wall 20 of the water tank 3. The handle 19 is adjacent to the first portion 32a of the front wall 32 of the water tank 3.

[0038] The guide means are operative to guide the water tank 3 in a horizontal movement along an articulated extraction path from the housing 5.Advantageously, the extraction path of the water tank 3 from the housing 5 comprises a partially extracted position of the water tank 3 in which the filling mouth 13 is accessible from the outside and a fully extracted position of the water tank 3.

[0039] Advantageously, the guide means are operative to guide the water tank 3 in a horizontal roto-translational movement.

[0040] The guide means comprise first guide means for translating the water tank 3 in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 5 toward the front wall 7 of the casing 2 in order to achieve a position of disconnection of the connector 16 from the socket 17.

[0041] The housing 5 has a first fixed abutment element 21a to intercept the water tank 3 upon reaching the position of disconnection from the socket 17.

[0042] The first fixed abutment element 21a is formed by the base of the front wall 21 of the housing 5. The guide means further comprise second guide means for rotating the water tank 3 disconnected from the socket 17 in order to achieve the partially extracted position. The housing 5 has a second fixed abutment element to intercept the water tank 3 upon reaching the partially extracted position.

[0043] The second fixed abutment element, as will be seen below, is formed by an oblique side surface 27a of a wedge-shaped element 27.

[0044] Finally, the guide means comprise third guide means for translating the water tank 3 in an oblique direction of the housing 5 in order to achieve the extraction position.

[0045] The guide means are provided between the bottom wall 9 of the housing 5 and a bottom wall 18 of the water tank 3.

[0046] In the illustrated solution, the first guide means comprise a guide recess 23 for a pin 22.

[0047] The pin 22 has a vertical extension and projects downward from the outer surface of the bottom wall 18 of the water tank 3.The recess 23, open at the front and closed at the rear, is delimited by a first side surface 25 of a projection 24 of the bottom wall 9 of the housing 5.

[0048] The second guide means comprise a sliding plane for the pin 22 and the above-mentioned wedge-shaped element 27.

[0049] The sliding plane is formed by a second side surface 26 of the projection 24, contiguous with the first side surface 25.

[0050] The second side surface 26 of the projection 24 is flat and extends in the widthwise direction of the housing 5.

[0051] The wedge-shaped element 27 projects upward from the bottom wall 9 of the housing 5 and extends longitudinally in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 5.

[0052] The wedge-shaped element 27 has, in addition to the oblique side surface 27a, a side surface 27b that extends in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 5.

[0053] The wedge-shaped element 27 acts as a pivot for rotation of the water tank 3 and, for this purpose, is engaged in a longitudinal recess 28 on the outer side of the bottom wall 18 of the water tank 3. The recess 28 extends longitudinally in the front-to-rear direction of the water tank 3 and has a first longitudinal side wall 28a and a second longitudinal side wall 28b parallel to each other. The third guide means comprise a third oblique side surface 30 of the projection 24 oriented parallel to the oblique side surface 27a of the wedge-shaped element 27.

[0054] The third oblique side surface 30 of the projection 24 is configured and arranged to guide the base of the side wall 31 of the water tank 3 facing the bottom of the external recess of the side of the casing 2.

[0055] The extraction of the water tank 3 takes place as follows.

[0056] The user grasps the handle 19 and exerts a horizontal forward pull on the water tank 3. As a result of the forward pull, the water tank 3 performs a horizontal forward translation guided both by the sliding of the second longitudinal side wall 28b of the recess 28 along the side surfacefinal position is reached in which the pin 22, extracted from the front end of the recess 23, abuts against the first fixed abutment element 21a formed by the base of the front wall 21 of the housing 5.

[0057] The stop abutment of the water tank 3 against the first fixed abutment element 21a makes the achievement of the position of disconnection of the water tank 3 from the socket 17 clearly perceptible to the user.

[0058] At this point, the user, still grasping the handle 19, exerts a horizontal lateral pull on the water tank 3.

[0059] As a result of the lateral pull, the pin 22 slides along the second surface 26 of the projection 24 and the water tank 3 begins its rotation in a horizontal plane around the pivot represented by the wedge-shaped element 27.

[0060] The rotation of the water tank 3 ends when the first longitudinal side wall 28a of the recess 28 aligns with and rests against the oblique surface 27a of the wedge-shaped element 27. Also in this case, the stop abutment of the first longitudinal side wall 28a of the recess 28 against the oblique surface 27a of the wedge-shaped element 27 makes the achievement of the partially extracted position of the water tank 3 clearly perceptible to the user.

[0061] In this partially extracted position of the water tank 3, the water filling mouth 13, being at least partially offset from the top wall 8 of the housing 5, allows the water tank 3 to be refilled. In this partially extracted position of the water tank 3, moreover, the front wall 32 of the water tank 3 is completely outside the outline of the front wall 21 of the housing 5.

[0062] At this point, the user, still grasping the handle 19, exerts an oblique horizontal pull on the water tank 3. The third side surface 30 of the projection 24 and the oblique side surface 27a of the wedge-shapedelement 27, in cooperation, guide the water tank 3 until the recess 28 disengages from the wedge-shaped element 27 and the water tank 3 can finally be completely extracted from the housing 5. In figures 2a-2e, the overall trajectory followed by the pin 22 is indicated by a dashed line having a starting point A and an end point B.

[0063] To reposition the water tank 3 in the housing 5, the user can perform the reverse operation to that described.

[0064] In the operation of repositioning the water tank 3, upon reaching the position of connection of the connector 16 to the socket 17, a stop abutment occurs of a lower fin 33 of the non-visible side wall 31 of the water tank 3 against a shoulder 34 of the projection 24.

[0065] The coffee machine with removable tank thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0066] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A coffee machine (1) comprising a housing (2) and a hydraulic circuit including a water tank (3) with a water refill opening (13), characterized by comprising a compartment (5) for the water tank (3) formed by an external recess on a side of the housing (2), and guide means for extracting the water tank (3) from the compartment (5), which operate to guide the water tank (3) in a horizontal movement along an extraction path including a partially extracted position where the water refill opening (13) is accessible from the outside and a fully extracted position.

2. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide means operate to guide the water tank (3) in a roto-translational movement.

3. The coffee machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guide means are provided between a lower wall (9) of the compartment (5) and a bottom wall (18) of the water tank (3).

4. The coffee machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water refill opening (13) is arranged on a top wall (14) of the water tank (3), hidden beneath an upper wall (8) of the compartment (5), and in said partially extracted position of the water tank (3), it is at least partially offset from the upper wall (8) of the compartment (5).

5. The coffee machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water tank (3) has, at the base of its rear wall (15), a plug-in connector (16) equipped with a shutoff valve for a removable hydraulic connection with a socket (17) of the hydraulic circuit, arranged in a rear wall (10) of the compartment (5), said connector (16) and said socket (17) having a connection axis oriented in the front-rear direction of the coffee machine (1).

6. The coffee machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guide means comprise first guide means for translating the water tank (3) in the front-rear direction of the compartment (5) towards a front wall (7) of the housing to achieve a disconnection position from the socket (17).

7. The coffee machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said compartment (5) has a first fixed abutment element (21a) for intercepting said water tank (3) when reaching said disconnection position from the socket (17).

8. The coffee machine (1) according to any of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said guide means comprise second guide means for rotating the water tank (3), once disconnected from the socket (17), to achieve the partially extracted position.

9. The coffee machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said compartment (5) has a second fixed abutment element (27a) for intercepting said water tank (3) when reaching said partially extracted position.

10. The coffee machine (1) according to any of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said guide means comprise third guide means for translating the water tank (3) in an oblique direction of the compartment (5) to achieve the fully extracted position.

11. The coffee machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water tank (3) has a front wall (32) with a first portion (32a) overlapping laterally with a front wall (21) of the compartment (5) and a second portion (32b) set back from the first portion (32a) and positioned behind the front wall (21) of the compartment (5).

12. The coffee machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said hydraulic circuit comprises, downstream of the water tank (3), a feed pump, a boiler, a brewing unit, and an external coffee dispenser (4), wherein said coffee dispenser (4) is positioned above a cup support surface (11) in front of the front wall (7) of the housing (2), and wherein said cup support surface (11) consists of a grid supported by an underlying drip tray (12).

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