Water distributing unit for an espresso coffee machine

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ESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE WATER DISTRIBUTION KIT

The invention which will be described relates to an infusion preparation machine, namely a coffee machine of the “espresso” type.

So-called "espresso" coffee machines are designed to operate in an increasing number of modes, corresponding to the preparation of different drinks or to the reheating of already ready drinks. Thus, most current machines have a nozzle for dispensing hot water or steam, operating alternately with the infusion unit intended for preparing coffee. The water distribution circuits 15 are thereby complicated, beyond the already numerous difficulties of organizing the circulation of water according to the different stages of preparation of coffee infusions.

In general, the invention relates to an espresso coffee machine comprising at least one water emitting member, at least one water receiving member, at least one emitting water pipe and at least two receiving water pipes each having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a water distributor receiving the outlet end of the emitting pipe and the inlet ends of the receiving pipes, and intended to selectively allow the passage of water from the emitting pipe to a receiving pipe.

To manage the flow of water from and to various parts of the machine, manufacturers commonly use solenoid valves controlled by an electronic module, the number of solenoid valves necessary for the operation of the machine increasing rapidly with the number of functions. . or organs available on the machine. The solenoid valves used are necessarily expensive, having regard to the operating conditions to which they are subjected, namely for example the temperature and the hardness of the water, and to the reliability demanded of such an apparatus. This results in unacceptably increased manufacturing costs, since the design of the infusion unit requires greater complexity of the water supply circuits, or the number of organs to be served is increased. In addition, despite the quality and size of the solenoid valves used, scaling remains a problem which has not been satisfactorily remedied.

The invention, for problems previously distributor comprises at actuated by a take several ends of the exposed, less one of the remedies disoose to the motor wafer so that rotating, to be able with respect to the positions of the pipes, electric angular said wafer having a shaped hollow to selectively connect, depending on the angular position of the plate, the outlet end of a transmitting pipeline with the inlet end of a receiving pipeline.

Thanks to this arrangement, the distributor generally consisting of a series of multi-way solenoid valves is replaced by a movable plate in rotation 30 actuated by an electric motor, which generates a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the machine, simplifies the production of the machine. sealing of the dispenser, and slows down its two circuit boards with high scaling. In addition, the use of pressure contact such as allows those to order to control infusion cylinders, unlike solenoid valves whose valves are fragile.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser of a coffee machine according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a section along line AA of the dispenser according to Figure 1;

- Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are respectively bottom, front and top views of a rotary plate used in the dispenser according to Figure 1;

- Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are respectively top, front and bottom views of a fixed plate used in the dispenser according to Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is another perspective view of the dispenser according to Figure 1.

Figure 1, a typical coffee machine has water emission 20,

The machine emission member and in this way and in the 1 represented the espresso dispenser. A classic coffee machine at least one organ less

30.

type of water of a receiving device following course, a water tank such as a cold water phase, thermal unit for receiving water the type of can be, preparation of a body of coffee the en

The next organ coffee machine, or

30, it can and the heating phase of another.

heater

As for also of course, pressing cylinder, coffee grinding and

The organ of the infusion chamber is a preparation

Water, receiving a drain.

hot water, or even a tank

Most current machines having a nozzle for distributing steam or hot water, this is likewise one of the receiving members. In order to allow water to circulate between a transmitting member 20 on the one hand, and a receiving member 30 on the other hand, at least one so-called "emitting" pipe 21 is provided, which comes from the 'water emitting member 20, and at least one so-called “receiving” pipe 31 leading to the receiving member 30. Each of said pipes 21, 31 has an inlet end and an outlet end, the distributor 1 receiving the outlet end 22 of the emitting pipes 21 and the inlet end 32 of the receiving pipes 31. The distributor 1 is intended for to selectively allow the passage of water from a transmitting pipe 21 to a receiving pipe 31.

It is easy to see that the preparation of coffee in such a machine, all the more so if the machine is of the automatic type, and the provision of a nozzle for dispensing steam or hot water to the user, puts in game a large number of transmitting and receiving pipes, and consequently requires a large number of connections between pipes. This generally results in a great dispenser, and a cost in manufacturing complexity and mounting design, using a high, known type electronically controlled dispensers.

very quickly with together

The number of solenoid valves by connection increases the number of combinations between pipes.

As appears better in FIG. 2, the invention proposes to replace a distributor of known type using a set of solenoid valves, a distributor 1 comprising at least one rotating plate in the form of a plate to connect to.

22, 32 of selectively presenting a pipeline

Following a report to

31, said one digging the angular position of one with the receiving inlet 31.

favorite fashion first set 11 of

The first plate given in Figures 3a an electric motor with angular positions of the pipes shown in relation to

Each of the invention, in order to be rotary, only one of them comprises one is actuated so as to be able to take several; through

21, in relation to the ends 22,;

the ngures

22, 32

4a of the second plate to 4c, is fixed pipes

21,

2, 4 has at least one for selectively connecting, depending on the angular position, the outlet end conformed with

4, oar

31.

platelets

The receiving end 31.

of the one of entry again, the digging the first plate emitting pipe

2, a distributor pipe

Preferably second set 12 of two plates 2, the first plate rotating according to a movement indexed on 1 being rotary, the first plate 2

The ceramic plates 2, which provides comprises a superimposed, driven in th movement of the first set 11.

not only good mechanical and thermal performance are achieved, but also great dimensional stability during the aging of parts under severe operating conditions. In addition, such a material provides good sealing and reduced scaling.

The simultaneous and proportional movement of the two rotary plates 2 is carried out as follows: the motor comprises an output shaft 6, the movement of which is transmitted, either by means of a reduction system, or directly, to a wheel of toothed drive 7, while each of the movable plates 2 is carried by a crenellated plate 5, the drive wheel 7 and each of the plates 5 constituting a gear connection.

According to a particular embodiment, the espresso coffee selection machine actuated by angular comprises at least one user member, and the drive position 7 depends on the position of the selection member. A selection member consists, by way of example, of a switch with two “on” and “off” positions, a specific position of the plates 2, 4 being assigned to the “off” mode; another selection member may consist of a rotary control button, intended to select between an infusion preparation mode, a hot water distribution mode, or a steam distribution mode.

In a coffee preparation mode, the plates 2, 4 take variable angular positions with the preparation phases, namely for example, a first position allowing the passage of water between the cold water tank and the thermal block. ; a second position allowing the flow of water previously heated in the thermal block, towards the infusion chamber, seat of the infusion phase; a third position by which the residual water contained

<td colspan="2">in the drain thermal block.</td><td>is purged in a</td><td>tank</td>

<td>In</td><td>a mode of</td><td>water supply</td><td>hot one</td>

<td>fourth</td><td>position of</td><td>platelets 2, 4</td><td>authorize the</td>

<td>passage of</td><td>water comes out</td><td>ie thermal block</td><td>to the nozzle</td>

hot water distribution, preventing any possibility of water circulation to the infusion cylinder.

To achieve very high precision in the angular positioning of the wafers, provision can be made for the electric motor to be of the step-by-step type.

Alternatively, the motor may be of a more rudimentary design, for example of the synchronous or universal type, associated with at least one switch 10 for supplying the electric motor. As can be seen better in FIG. 5, a rotary plate 2 is then secured to a shaft 8, formed integrally with the plate 5, on the periphery of which is formed at least one cam 9 for actuating said switch 10, of so that the supply of the motor is interrupted as soon as said cam 9 reaches an angular position corresponding to a set angular position of the rotary plate 2, determined by the position of the selection member.

This arrangement provides great simplicity in controlling the motor, for relatively precise angular positioning.

As can be seen, the invention provides a significant simplification of the water distribution function in a coffee machine, this simplification being essential in the design of current machines given the number of operating modes required, and the level of automation of brewing preparation processes.