Coffee Machine with Losing Filter or Capsule

• US 20090114100A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinel, S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Spinel, S.r.l.
• Inventors: Spinelli, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/289.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4471 by means of a hinge
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

Espresso machine with disposable filter or capsule comprising a chassis (1), a porta-capsule body comprising a rotating part (2) and a fixed part (3), which lodges a disposable filter or capsule (14), a heat exchanger (5), an electro-pump (24), an infusion piston (6), a pressure cam (7), a coffee brewing cam (19), control and regulation means, supporting means, fixing means, sealing means, characterized by the fact that:

• • the seal between the capsule (14) and the infusion piston (6) is ensured by the clamping given by a vertical mechanical motion, by means of the rotation of said cam (7);
  • the removal of the capsule is ensured by a rear sensor shaft system (29) and a front gravity extractor (35);
  • it uses a semi-automatic system to load and remove the capsule with the rotation of said rotating part (2) of the porta-capsule body;
  • It is equipped with an electro-mechanical clamping and safety system operated by said cams (7, 19) and controlled by a number of micro-switches;

Claims

1. Espresso machine using a disposable filter or capsule, comprising a chassis (1), a capsule-holder body comprising a rotating part (2) and a fixed part (3), which lodges a disposable filter or capsule (14), a heat exchanger (5), an electro-pump (24), an infusion piston (6), a pressure cam (7), a coffee brewing cam (19), control and regulation means, supporting means, fixing means, sealing means, characterized by the fact that the seal between the capsule (14) and the infusion piston (6) is ensured by the clamping given by a vertical mechanical motion, by means of the rotation of said pressure cam (7).

2. Espresso machine according to claim 1 wherein said seal between the capsule (14) and the infusion piston (6) is ensured by the adjustment of the macro-distance between the piston and the capsule, by the piston (6) rotation, by the controlled slide of two Belleville washers (15) of said tappet (9) and by an O-ring (27).

3. Espresso machine according to claims 1 comprising a rear sensor shaft system (29) and a front extractor (35), located in a way to insure the removal and fall of the capsule into a suitable container.

4. Espresso machine according to claim 1, comprising a semi-automatic system to load and remove the capsule with the rotation of said rotating part (2) of the capsule-holder body, hinged by a grooving (11) to the fixed part (3) of the capsule-holder body, which ensures the removal of the used capsule, making the system ready for the next capsule and the next coffee brewing.

5. Espresso machine according to claim 4 wherein the positioning of said two parts (2 and 3) is made by the grooving and tonguing joint and the ball (46).

6. Espresso machine according to claim 4 wherein said rotating part (2) of the capsule-holder body is made of plastic;

the gravity extractor (35) being equipped with a rubber terminal (49) and the infusion piston (6) presses the capsule (14), and lock said rotating part of the capsule-holder body to avoid its opening.

7. Espresso machine according to claim 1 comprising an electro-mechanical clamping and safety system operated by said cams (7, 19) controlled by an electric motor (21);

said cams located the piston (6) on the capsule (14) and with the same action, they allow the electro-pump (24) feeding the brewing coffee.

8. Espresso machine according to claim 1 comprising a number of micro-switches connected to an electrical or electronic circuit, which provides an easier and safer use of the machine with only one manual operation, that is the load and removal of the capsule.

9. Espresso machine according to claim 1, wherein the infusion piston (6) has a truncated-conical shape close to the contact with the capsule (14), to avoid possible spurts of coffee or hot water.