Controlling means for an automatic coffee machine

• US 5,568,763 A
• Filed: 09/14/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HGZ Maschinenbau AG
• Original Assignee: HGZ Maschinenbau AG
• Inventors: Kunzler, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Jenkins, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US08/306,171
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 99/280-283, 99/286, 99/290, 99/289 R, 99/295, 99/300, 99/299, 426/432, 426/433, 426/434
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

A method of controlling an automatic coffee machine, and an automatic coffee machine, are disclosed. The method of controlling the automatic coffee machine includes the steps of actuating a selector switch for a first time and starting the grinding of an amount of coffee beans for a coffee brewing cycle using a first set of brewing parameters in response thereto, monitoring the selector switch for a predetermined period of time in the range of from one to two seconds, delaying the start of coffee brewing in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a second time within the predetermined time period, and then grinding an additional amount of coffee beans and resuming the coffee brewing cycle using a second set of brewing parameters in response to the second actuation of the selector switch. The first set of brewing parameters is used to brew a single size serving of coffee, and the second set of brewing parameters are used to brew a double sized serving of coffee. The step of loading the first set of brewing parameters into the control processor of the coffee machine occurs in response to actuating the selector switch for the first time, and the step of replacing the first set of brewing parameters with the second set of brewing parameters in the control processor occurs in response to actuating the selector for a second time, whereupon the start of the coffee brewing cycle is resumed using the second set of parameters to brew the coffee.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an automatic coffee machine, the coffee machine having a supply of coffee beans, a coffee bean grinding device, a water heating device, a brewing chamber, and a dispenser for brewed coffee, the coffee machine also including at least one coffee selector switch in electronic communication with a control processor for operating the coffee machine, comprising the steps of:

a) actuating the selector switch a first time to enable the start of a coffee brewing cycle having a first set of brewing parameters;

b) starting the grinding of an amount of coffee beans in response to actuating the selector switch for the first time;

c) monitoring the selector switch for a predetermined period of time after the selector switch ia actuated for the first time;

d) delaying the start of the brewing of coffee in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a second time within said predetermined time period; and

grinding an additional amount of coffee beans and resuming the coffee brewing cycle using a second set of brewing parameters in response to the actuation of the selector for the second time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes the step of monitoring the selector switch during said predetermined period of time in the range of from one to two seconds.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes the step of setting said first set of parameters to brew a single sized serving of coffee.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step e) includes the step of setting said second set of parameters to brew a double sized serving of coffee twice the amount of said single sized serving.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes the step of beginning to grind an amount of coffee beans needed to make a single sized serving of coffee prior to brewing the coffee.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step e) includes the step of grinding an additional amount of coffee beans needed to make a double sized serving of coffee prior to starting the brewing of said single sized serving of coffee.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes the step of loading said first set of brewing parameters into the control processor of the coffee machine in response to actuating said selector for the first time, and wherein step e) includes the step of replacing said first set of parameters with said second set of brewing parameters in the control processor in response to actuating the selector for the second time, and then resuming said brewing cycle with said second set of parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, step b) including the step of loading the amount of ground coffee beans, hot water, and brewing time needed to brew a single sized serving of coffee as said first set of parameters.

9. The method of claim 7, step e) including the step of loading the amount of ground coffee beans, hot water, and brewing time needed to brew a double sized serving of coffee as said second set of parameters.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising the additional steps of:

g) once again monitoring the selector switch for said predetermined period of time after actuating the selector switch for the second time;

d) delaying the start of coffee brewing in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a third time within said predetermined time period; and

e) grinding an additional amount of coffee beans and resuming the coffee brewing cycle using a third set of brewing parameters in response to the actuation of the selector for the third time.

11. An automatic coffee machine, the coffee machine having a supply of coffee beans and being separately provided with water for brewing coffee, comprising:

a coffee bean grinding device constructed and arranged to receive the coffee beans for grinding;

a water heating device in communication with the water supply;

a brewing chamber in communication with said grinding device and said water heating device;

a dispenser in communication with said brewing chamber;

the coffee machine including at least one coffee selector switch in electronic communication with a control processor;

said control processor being constructed and arranged to automatically control the coffee machine and a coffee brewing cycle using a first set of brewing parameters in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a first time, monitor the selector switch for a predetermined period of time, delay the start of the coffee brewing cycle in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a second time within said predetermined period of time, and to resume said coffee brewing cycle using a second set of brewing parameters in response thereto.

12. The coffee machine of claim 11, wherein said control processor monitors the selector switch during said predetermined period of time in the range of from one to two seconds.

13. The coffee machine of claim 11, wherein said control processor includes a program memory adapted to store said first and second sets of brewing parameters, a time function element for measuring said predetermined period of time, and a working memory into which said sets of brewing parameters are loaded during the operation of the coffee machine.