Coffee-making device with pressure control

• US 6,739,240 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: De Jong Duke
• Original Assignee: De Jong Duke
• Inventors: De Koning, Abraham Gijsbert, Van Hattem, Jan Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Reginald L.
• Application Number:
  US10/240,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 992/83, 992/99, 993/02.R, 993/02.P, 992/87, 992/79
• US Class Current: 99/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• 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

Abstract

Coffee-making device with a piston/cylinder unit, the piston (3) being driven by a crankshaft (11). A swivelling arm structure (13) is also driven by means of the crankshaft, with the interposition of a cam/cam follower mechanism. The swivelling arm structure is provided with a cover (19) for closing off the free end of the cylinder (2). The cover can be pressed onto the cylinder by means of a cam structure.

Claims

1. Coffee-making device (1, 51), comprising a coffee supply line, a hot water supply line (7) with a pump, a drink outlet (26) with shut-off valve, and a coffee outlet, said coffee-making device comprises a brewing compartment for holding coffee, which brewing compartment is connected to said water supply line and to said beverage outlet, said brewing compartment comprising a cylinder in which a piston is capable of reciprocating, characterized in that said shut-off valve is designed to provide either a first passage with relatively small surface or a second passage with relatively large surface, and in that said pump is designed to provide an appropriate first, small volume displacement at high pressure and a second, large volume displacement at low pressure.

2. Coffee-making device according to claim 1, in which said shut-off valve comprises a restriction which reacts to pressure, and is designed in such a way that at relatively low pressure a restriction with larger passage is present and at relatively higher pressure a restriction with smaller passage is present.

3. Coffee-making device according to claim 1, in which said shut-off valve comprises two electrically controllable valves.

4. Device according to claim 1, in which said brewing compartment comprises a cylinder in which a piston is capable of reciprocating.

5. Coffee-making device according to claim 4, comprising a cylinder with piston movable therein, in which said water supply is connected to the volume present above said cylinder, and means for containing coffee are present near the free end of said cylinder.

6. Coffee-making device according to claim 5, in which said piston comprises a piston head provided with a seal (4) which works relative to said cylinder, an inlet channel (6) being provided in said piston below said piston head, which inlet channel is sealed off relative to said cylinder and can be connected to said water supply line (7) in at least two different positions of said piston relative to said cylinder.

7. Coffee-making device according to claim 6, in which said inlet channel is connected by way of a non-return valve (33) to the compartment above said cylinder.

8. Coffee-making device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a housing with a cylinder (2) in which a piston (3) is provided, for compressing with the piston coffee placed on said piston, said piston being movable by means of a drive mechanism (10, 11) and said drive mechanism being provided in said housing, and comprising a cover (39) that can be placed on said cylinder, in order to bound a compression chamber with said cylinder and piston, means for introducing water into the compression chamber, means for discharging brewed coffee from the compression chamber, and also means for removing the compressed coffee tablet, said movable cover comprising a swivelling arm structure (13) which is rotatable around an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said cylinder in such a way that said cover can be moved above and away from the end of the cylinder, which swivelling arm structure is capable of reciprocating substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof, in order to bring said cover into engagement in a sealing manner with said cylinder end, said drive mechanism being designed to operate both said piston and said swivelling arm and comprising a rotary input shaft, characterized in that said drive mechanism for said piston is provided with means for converting a uniform rotating motion into a non-uniform reciprocating motion.

9. Coffee-making device according to claim 8, in which said means comprise a rotating curved disc and engagement means connected to the piston and engaging upon the curve of said disc.

10. Coffee-making device according to claim 8, in which said means comprise a crankshaft, in which the axis of rotation of said swivelling arm structure comprises the axis of said crankshaft, and in which said piston is connected to the driving rod of said crankshaft.

11. Coffee-making device according to claim 10, in which said swivelling arm structure (13) can be driven by said crankshaft.

12. Coffee-making device according to claim 8, in which a cam/cam follower mechanism is present for transmitting said reciprocating motion.

13. Coffee-making device according to claim 9, in which said cam or cam follower is fitted on said crankshaft and said cam follower or cam is fitted on said swivelling arm structure.

14. Coffee-making device according to claim 8, comprising spring means for driving said swivelling arm structure into the position above the free end of said cylinder.

15. Coffee-making device according to claim 8, in which said swivelling arm structure is provided with means (36) for discharging said coffee tablet.

16. Coffee-making device according to claim 8, in which said drive mechanism is designed to rotate in two directions.