Espresso coffee machine

• US 6,109,168 A
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illycaffe SPA
• Original Assignee: Illycaffe SPA
• Inventors: Mastropasqua, Luca, Illy, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/297,523
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 99/285, 99/342, 99/343, 99/279, 99/323, 99/323.3, 99/302 R, 374/141, 374/180, 374/179
• US Class Current: 99/285
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0663 to be used with loose coffee A47J31/0689 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4464 by means of bayonet-type engagement
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls

Abstract

A temperature sensor is associated with a dose-holder in the coffee machine and is adapted to detect the thermal status thereof. The temperature sensor is connected to a measurement device that measures the temperature sensed and a signaling device for signaling the measured temperature positioned to be visible for the user.

Claims

1. An espresso coffee machine comprising

a dose-holder (1),

a temperature sensor (4) associated to the dose-holder (1) to sense the temperature of the dose-holder after the machine is turned on and before starting coffee brewing,

a measurement device (8) connected to the temperature sensor (4) to measure the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor (4), and

a display (9) on the outside of the machine associated to the measurement device (8) to indicate the temperature or that a desired temperature has been reached.

2. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is in contact with the wall of the cup (3) of the dose-holder (1).

3. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is incorporated in the thickness of the cup (3).

4. The espresso coffee machine of claim 2, wherein the wall of the cup (3) includes an extension (15) bearing a chamber (16).

5. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is in contact with a dose-holder channel (3a) through which the brewed coffee falls into the coffee-cup.

6. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is positioned so as to come into contact with the brewed coffee in a given point of a dose-holder channel (3a) through which the brewed coffee falls into the coffee-cup.

7. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is associated to the bottom wall (21, 25) of a dose-holder (17, 23) suited to receiving a dose of coffee in the shape of a capsule.

8. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein said measuring device (8) and the signaling device (9, 10, 11) are contained in a handle (5) of the dose-holder.

9. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (51) is sensitive to the infrared radiation emitted by the cup (3), is set at a distance from the dose-holder (1) and aimed at the cup (3).

10. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a photo-thermal heat sensor (4F) that changes color every time that the cup (3) has reached a threshold temperature correlated with the temperature desired for the dose-holder (1).

11. The espresso coffee machine of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is incorporated in the thickness of the cup (3).

12. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, further comprising a percolation head which passively heats the dose-holder by heat transfer when the machine is turned on.

13. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is suited to measuring temperatures over a range at least from room temperature to approximately 110°

C.

14. The espresso coffee machine of claim 1, wherein the display (9) indicates the temperature.

15. A process for preparing coffee with the espresso coffee machine of claim 1, said process comprising the following steps which take place after turning the machine on and before starting coffee brewing,

heating the dose-holder (1),

sensing the temperature of the dose-holder with the temperature-sensor (4),

measuring the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor with the measurement device (8), and

displaying the temperature or that a desired temperature has been reached, as measured by the measurement device (8), on the dispay (9) on the outside of the machine.