Coffee machine

• US 7,219,599 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WMF Group Gmbh (SEB SA)
• Original Assignee: WMF Wã¼Rttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG
• Inventors: Geiger, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/753,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 992/90, 992/99, 993/07, 993/06, 993/02.R, 992/84
• US Class Current: 99/299
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/461 Valves, e.g. drain valves

Abstract

A coffee machine (1) for preparing at least a first coffee beverage at a first brewing pressure and at least a second coffee beverage at a second brewing pressure, the second brewing pressure being higher than the first brewing pressure. The coffee machine is provided with a brewing means (5) which is connected via an outlet line (9) to a tap opening (1). A throttle means (12, 112) is provided in the outlet line (9) and is adjustable between a first and a second flow cross-section, the first flow cross-section being greater than the second flow cross-section. To simplify such a coffee machine in a constructionally simple way in terms of control, the throttle means (12, 112) is made adjustable by the action of the brewing pressure.

Claims

1. A coffee machine, comprising:

a brewing means for preparing at least a first coffee beverage at a first brewing pressure and at least a second coffee beverage at a second brewing pressure, the second brewing pressure being higher than the first brewing pressure, the brewing means being connected via an outlet line to a tap opening;

a throttle means which is provided in the outlet line and which is adjustable between a first flow cross-section and a second flow cross-section, the first flow cross-section being greater than the second flow cross-section, and the throttle means being adjustable by the action of the brewing pressure, wherein the throttle means includes;

a piston with a piston surface and a sealing surface, the piston surface adapted to be actuated by the brewing pressure for moving the piston in one direction and the sealing surface adapted to close the larger flow cross-section, and

a motion means for moving the piston in a direction that is opposite to the one direction.

2. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the throttle means is adjustable by the second brewing pressure.

3. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the motion means includes a spring having a force greater than the first brewing pressure exerted on the throttle means, but smaller than the second brewing pressure.

4. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the piston provides a passage defining the second flow cross-section.

5. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the second flow cross-section is defined by a permanently open passage and the first flow cross-section by the permanently open passage and a closable flow path surrounding the permanently open passage.

6. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the throttle means includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet in which the piston is movable with the piston surface facing the inlet and with the sealing surface facing the outlet, the sealing surface engageable with a sealing seat to at least partially define the first flow cross-section, a flow path being provided between the inlet and the sealing seat between the outer surface of the piston and the inner surface of the housing.

7. The coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein the passage is a through-hole extending through the piston.

8. The coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein the passage is formed by at least one passage opening between a sealing surface provided on the piston and an associated sealing seat.