Brewing head for coffee portion capsules of an espresso machine

• US 5,794,519 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Eugster/Frismag AG
• Inventors: Fischer, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/648,160
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 99/289 T, 99/295, 99/302 R, 99/302 P
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0678 Means to separate the cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber, e.g. grooves or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3695 Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673

Abstract

A brewing head includes a lower brewing head part having a first recess and a coffee discharge conduit formed therein. An upper brewing head part has a second recess and a hot water conduit formed therein. The upper brewing head part is pivotable to a closed position in which the first recess and the second recess form a receptacle that receives a coffee portion capsule. A plurality of hollow needles are attached to the upper brewing head part, and are in fluid communication with the hot water conduit. The needles project into the receptacle and are penetratable into a top side of the coffee portion capsule for delivering hot water from the hot water conduit into an interior of the coffee portion capsule when the upper brewing head part is in the closed position. A pyramid plate is located within the first recess and has a plurality of projections formed thereon, and a plurality of discharge holes formed therethrough that communicate the receptacle with the coffee discharge conduit. The projections punch holes through a lower side of the coffee portion capsule, so that the hot water together with dissolved coffee components are discharged through the discharge holes and the coffee discharge conduit, respectively. An ejector device is located within the upper brewing head part for ejecting a used coffee portion capsule.

Claims

1. A brewing head of an espresso machine, comprising:

a lower brewing head part having a first recess and a coffee discharge conduit formed therein;

an upper brewing head part having a second recess and a hot water conduit formed therein, said upper brewing head part being pivotable relative to said lower brewing head part to a closed position in which the first recess and the second recess form a receptacle that receives a coffee portion capsule, and to an opened position in which the first recess and the second recess are separated from each other so that the coffee portion capsule can be inserted or discharged;

a plurality of hollow needles attached to said upper brewing head part, and being in fluid communication with the hot water conduit, said needles projecting into the receptacle and being penetratable into a top side of the coffee portion capsule for delivering hot water from the hot water conduit into an interior of the coffee portion capsule when said upper brewing head part is in the closed position;

a pyramid plate located within the first recess and having a plurality of projections formed thereon, and a plurality of discharge holes formed therethrough that communicate the receptacle with the coffee discharge conduit, said projections punching holes through a lower side of the coffee portion capsule when the hot water delivered into the interior of the coffee portion capsule is at a pressure that exceeds a resistance of the coffee portion capsule to tearing, so that the hot water together with dissolved coffee components are discharged through the discharge holes and the coffee discharge conduit, respectively;

ejector means located within said upper brewing head part for ejecting a used coffee portion capsule from the hollow needles when said upper brewing head part is in the opened position;

a housing;

a pivoting arm having one end pivotably connected to said housing and another end connected to said upper brewing head part, said pivoting arm being pivotable to pivot said upper brewing head part to the closed and opened positions, said pivoting arm having a lifting pin connected thereto; and

expeller means comprising an expeller implement that receives the coffee portion capsule and positions the coffee portion capsule within the receptacle, and an expeller arm having one end connected to said expeller implement and another end pivotably connected to said housing, said expeller means engaging with said lifting pin when said pivoting arm is pivoted to move said expeller means in an upward direction, so that the coffee portion capsule within said expeller implement can fall from said expeller implement for disposal.

2. The brewing head defined in claim 1, wherein said ejector means comprises an ejector located within said upper brewing head part, and a spring connected with said ejector, said spring actuating said ejector when said upper brewing head part is in the opened position.

3. The brewing head defined in claim 1, further comprising a locking lever connected to said pivoting arm, said locking lever having a locking latch that is positionable to lock said upper brewing head part and said lower brewing head part together when said upper brewing head part is in the closed position.

4. The brewing head defined in claim 3, wherein said locking latch is pivotable relative to said locking lever.

5. The brewing head defined in claim 1, wherein all portions of at least one of said upper brewing head part and said lower brewing head part that come into contact with the hot water are comprised of a poor thermally-conducting material.

6. A brewing head of an espresso machine, comprising:

a lower brewing head part having a first recess and a coffee discharge conduit formed therein;

an upper brewing head part having a second recess and a hot water conduit formed therein, said upper brewing head part being pivotable relative to said lower brewing head part to a closed position in which the first recess and the second recess form a receptacle that receives a coffee portion capsule, and to an opened position in which the first recess and the second recess are separated from each other so that the coffee portion capsule can be inserted or discharged;

all portions of at least one of said upper brewing head part and said lower brewing head part that come into contact with the hot water have a low thermal capacity;

an insulation separating the portions having said low thermal capacity from any components comprised of thermally-conducting materials;

a plurality of hollow needles attached to said upper brewing head part, and being in fluid communication with the hot water conduit, said needles projecting into the receptacle and being penetratable into a top side of the coffee portion capsule for delivering hot water from the hot water conduit into an interior of the coffee portion capsule when said upper brewing head part is in the closed position;

a pyramid plate located within the first recess and having a plurality of projections formed thereon, and a plurality of discharge holes formed therethrough that communicate the receptacle with the coffee discharge conduit, said projections punching holes through a lower side of the coffee portion capsule when the hot water delivered into the interior of the coffee portion capsule is at a pressure that exceeds a resistance of the coffee portion capsule to tearing, so that the hot water together with dissolved coffee components are discharged through the discharge holes and the coffee discharge conduit, respectively; and

ejector means located within said upper brewing head part for ejecting a used coffee portion capsule from the hollow needles when said upper brewing head part is in the opened position.

7. The brewing head defined in claim 6, further comprising a lever connected to said upper brewing head part and being lockable to lock said upper brewing head part and said lower brewing head part together when said upper brewing head part is in the closed position.

8. The brewing head defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of said upper brewing head part and said lower brewing head part have a separate heating element located therein.