Apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters, in particular pressure, for a coffee machine, machine and operating method therefor

• US 8,156,858 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rancilio Macchine Per Caffe' S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Rancilio Macchine Per Caffe' S.p.A.
• Inventors: Carbonini, Carlo
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US12/304,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 992/80, 992/81, 992/82, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5251 of pressure

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters, in particular pressure, in a coffee machine. The apparatus comprises a keyboard, arranged for activating the machine and setting operation parameters, and a plurality of light or sound emitting elements arranged to be selectively activated for highlight through a plurality of configurations the operation parameters of the machine set through the keyboard. Thanks to the invention it is possible to avoid on the machine the presence of a display that makes more complex and less reliable the machine. The invention relates also to a machine that comprises the apparatus and to the operating method of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters, in particular pressure, in a coffee machine, comprising:

a commands inputting device arranged for commanding operation of said machine during an operative mode and for setting operation parameters chosen among a plurality of operation parameters during an operative parameters programming mode;

a control device having memory means, said control device connected to said commands inputting device and arranged, during said parameters programming mode, to store said parameters in said memory means;

wherein said commands inputting device comprises a plurality of keys alternatively arranged

to activate the supply of different types of coffee during said operative mode;

to modify and store values of said operation parameters during said parameters programming mode; and

to command switching from said operative mode to said parameters programming mode and vice-versa; and

wherein said apparatus comprises

a plurality of light or sound emitting elements connected to said control device, that, during said parameters programming mode are actuatable by said control device to emit light or sound at different frequency, respectively, according to configurations having each a predetermined meaning to signal during said parameters programming mode a corresponding value of the operation parameter chosen among a plurality of operation parameters and inputted through said commands inputting device set by said keys.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a management device having at least one sensor arranged to detect a particular value of the operation parameter in said machine and activation means configured for activating devices adapted to manage said value of the operation parameter in said machine;

wherein said control device is connected to said management device and is configured for measuring said particular value of the operation parameter, comparing said particular value of the operation parameter with said value of the operation parameter chosen among a plurality of values of the operation parameters and commanding said activation means to regulate said particular value of the operation parameter in said machine as a function of said value of the operation parameter chosen among a plurality of values of the operation parameters.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined configurations comprise the fixed activation of at least one first emitter element and the fixed or intermittent activation of at least one second emitter element.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control device is configured for:

activating said management device to regulate said particular operation parameter in said machine as a function of said operation parameter chosen among a plurality of operation parameters;

activating at least one emitter element during activation of said activation means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of values of the operation parameters chosen among a plurality of operation parameters is realised by at least one first key configured for diminishing said value of the operation parameter and at least one second key configured for increasing said value of the operation parameter, said first key and said second key, respectively, being arranged to store said value of the operation parameter in said memory means.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claim 1, wherein said values of the operation parameters are operation pressure values in said machine.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control device comprises:

at least one microprocessor circuit comprising program means configured for controlling said keys and said plurality of emitting elements.

8. Coffee machine comprising at least one supplying group for supplying coffee and at least one boiler connected to the supplying group, wherein the machine comprises an apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters as claimed in claim 1.

9. Operating method of an apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters, in particular pressure, in a coffee machine comprising a plurality of keys, the method, comprising the steps of:

inputting, by using at least one key of said keys, commands for alternatively switching from an operative mode wherein said keys are arranged for commanding operation of said machine, to a programming mode wherein said keys are arranged for setting values of one operation parameter chosen among a plurality of operation parameters;

activating during said operative mode the supply of different types of coffee with said keys;

modifying and storing during said programming mode values of said operation parameters with said keys;

activating, by a control device, a plurality of light or sound emitting elements to emit light or sound at a different frequency, respectively, to signal during said programming mode, according to configurations having each a predetermined meaning, a corresponding value of the operation parameter set by said plurality of keys.

10. Method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

comparing, using said control device, said stored value of the operation parameter with a particular value of the operation parameter detected by at least one sensor;

regulating, using activation means controlled by said control device, said particular value of the operation parameter in said machine as a function of said stored value of the operation parameter.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein said step of regulating, using said activation means controlled by said control device, said particular value of the operation parameter in said machine comprises the steps of:

activating regulation of said particular value of the operation parameter in said machine as a function of said stored value of the operation parameter;

activating in intermittent way at least one emitter element during said step of activating regulation.

12. Method according to claim 9, wherein said step of setting values of the operation parameters chosen among a plurality of values of the operation parameters comprises the step of:

activating in fixed way at least one first emitter element and in fixed or intermittent way at least one second emitter element.

13. Method according to claim 9, wherein said step of setting values of the operation parameter chosen among a plurality of values of the operation parameters comprises the step of:

setting an operation pressure value in said machine.

14. Computer program product or set of computer program products directly loadable in the internal memory of at least one electronic computer and comprising software code portions arranged to perform, when the product is run on at least one electronic computer, the method according to claim 9.