Automatic Coffee Machine With A Water And/Or Steam Dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000260-A1
Application number	US-201414768630-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2014
Priority date	Feb 27, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automatic coffee machine including a hydraulic circuit having a fixed terminal piece, for supplying water and/or steam, accessible from a front wall of the machine at a distance above a resting surface of the machine. Also included is a dispenser extending frontally of the front wall, comprising a hollow body having a first longitudinal portion, and a second longitudinal portion rigidly connected to the first longitudinal portion and developing along a second longitudinal axis transverse to a first longitudinal axis of the first longitudinal portion. The first longitudinal portion has a first longitudinal end conformed for a rigid, removable hydraulic and mechanical connection with the fixed terminal piece and a second longitudinal end distal from the front wall, wherefrom the second longitudinal portion extends. The second longitudinal portion slidingly supports along the axis thereof an extension for regulating a dispensing distance from the resting surface.

First claim

1 . An automatic coffee machine comprising:
a hydraulic circuit having a fixed terminal piece for supplying water or steam, accessible from a front wall of the machine at a distance above a resting surface of the machine; and a dispenser that extends frontally of the front wall, wherein the dispenser comprises a hollow body having a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion that is rigidly connected to the first longitudinal portion and developing along a second longitudinal axis transverse to a first longitudinal axis of the first longitudinal portion, the first longitudinal portion having a first longitudinal end conformed for a rigid, removable hydraulic and mechanical connection with the fixed terminal piece and a second longitudinal end distal from the front wall wherefrom the second longitudinal portion extends, the second longitudinal portion slidingly supporting along the second longitudinal axis thereof an extension for regulating a dispensing distance from the resting surface.

2 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein the extension is supplied with a manual grip for activation thereof.

3 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal portion comprises a first tubular wall, and internally thereof a second tubular wall is positioned and hydraulically connected to the first longitudinal portion.

4 . The coffee machine of claim 3 , wherein the extension has a tubular configuration and is slidable in a gap defined between the first and the second tubular walls.

5 . The coffee machine of claim 4 , wherein the extension is extractable from a longitudinal end of the second longitudinal portion.

6 . The coffee machine of claim 3 , wherein the second tubular wall of the second longitudinal portion has an external perimeter gasket for hydraulic sealing with the extension.

7 . The coffee machine of claim 3 , wherein the first and the second tubular walls and the extension are coaxial.

8 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein fixed terminal piece and the first longitudinal portion of the hollow body are coupled along an axis thereof oriented perpendicularly to the front wall.

9 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion develop along axes that are perpendicular to each other.

10 . The coffee machine of claim 3 , further comprising a manual grip for activation of the coffee machine, wherein the manual grip comprises at least a handle positioned externally of the first tubular wall and connected to the extension by a bridge positioned through a longitudinal groove in the first tubular wall.

11 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal end of the first longitudinal portion of the hollow body has a shape interlockingly joined to a recess in the front wall where the fixed terminal piece is positioned.

12 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal portion of the hollow body of the dispenser is made up of a first external and axially hollow piece, and internally thereof at least a second axially hollow piece is applied, delimiting a channel for passage of the water or steam, in cooperation with a third axially hollow piece made of rubber and applied inside the second axially hollow piece, and with a fourth axially hollow piece also applied in the second axially hollow piece to retain the third axially hollow piece inside the second axially hollow piece.

13 . The coffee machine of claim 12 , wherein the first external and axially hollow piece is, in turn, made in a single piece with a first wall of the second longitudinal portion of the hollow body.

14 . The coffee machine of claim 12 , wherein the fourth axially hollow piece has a sensing pin for activating a micro-switch positioned in a recessed seat of the front wall of the coffee machine where the fixed terminal piece is located.

15 . The coffee machine of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal portion comprises a compartment accessible to a spherical element that is movable in contrast to and by action of a spring for locking the mechanical and hydraulic connection of the dispenser to the fixed terminal piece.

Assignees

• De Longhi Appliances Srl

Inventors

• De Longhi Giuseppe
• Aibionti Andrea
• Altoe Edy

Classifications

• A47J31/46 Primary

  Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices · CPC title

• A47J31/4489

  Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk · CPC title

• A47J31/4482 Primary

  Details allowing to adapt the beverage-making apparatus to the size of the brewing vessel or the beverage container, e.g. with adjustable support for the beverage container or adjustable hot water outlet · CPC title