Automatic coffee machine for delivering coffee alone or, combined with milk, in the form of cappuccino

• US 5,463,934 A
• Filed: 01/26/1994
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cimbali S.p.A
• Original Assignee: Cimbali S.p.A
• Inventors: Locati, Santino
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/187,209
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 99/286, 99/279, 99/295, 99/289 R, 99/299, 99/300, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/286
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3614 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3619 Means to remove coffee after brewing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/42 Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08

Abstract

Automatic machine for a coffee beverage, deliverable as coffee alone or, combined with milk, in the form of cappuccino, in which the unit, formed by the coffee grinder, its grinding chamber, and a channel chute, is capable of being moved.

Claims

1. Automatic coffee machine comprising

a feeder containing coffee beans;

a grinder having a grinding chamber in which beans coming from the feeder are reduced to a powder in the grinding chamber of the grinder;

an infusion chamber into which the coffee powder is deposited;

an infuser piston and a filter piston, and in said infusion chamber, means for compressing the coffee powder between said infuser piston and said filter piston and from said infusion chamber the coffee exits as a beverage,

a grinding unit comprises said grinder, said grinding chamber adjacent to a channel chute; and

means for supporting said grinding unit for movement between an initial position in which the coffee beans can enter from the feeder into the grinding chamber and a final position in which the ground coffee can pass from the grinding chamber through the adjacent channel chute into said infusion chamber.

2. Automatic coffee machine according to claim 1,

wherein said means for moving moves the grinder into its final position for operation for a determined period of time, so as to ensure complete grinding of the coffee beans contained in grinding chamber, depositing the ground coffee directly in the infusion chamber.

3. Automatic coffee machine according to claim 1,

wherein said supporting means for movement of the grinder unit has a stop arm;

wherein said infuser piston has a stop arm;

wherein said supporting means for movement of the grinder unit causes said grinder unit stop arm to move said infuser piston stop arm to cause the release of the filter piston, which drops to the bottom of the infusion chamber.

4. Automatic coffee machine according to claim 1,

wherein said means for moving the grinding unit causes the positioning of the channel chute for the introduction of the ground coffee into the infusion chamber.

5. Automatic coffee machine according to claim 1,

wherein said supporting means for movement of the grinding unit brings about the measuring of the coffee beans from the feeder into the grinding chamber to be ground, based upon the volume of the grinding chamber.

6. Automatic coffee machine according to claim 1,

wherein said supporting means for movement of the grinding unit causes the moving of said channel chute for the expulsion of a tablet of compressed and spent coffee grounds by said channel chute.

7. Automatic coffee machine according to claim 1,

further comprising a body which can be inserted into the grinding chamber for the purpose of varying the useable volume of the grinding chamber and thereby also the quantity of coffee to be ground.