# US 10,307,013 B2 · Professional coffee machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,013 B2 - Document ID: US10307013B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/763,101 - Filed: 2016-10-20 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-21 - Applicants: Elektra S.r.l. - Inventors: Andrea Fregnan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307013B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/542: {Continuous-flow heaters} - A47J 31/007: {for brewing on a large scale, e.g. for restaurants, or for use with more than one brewing container} - A47J 31/0576: {with a sealed water boiling vessel in which the steam pressure urges the hot water through a rising pipe (with brewing vessel adapted for extraction under pressure A47J31/30)} - A47J 31/4403: {Constructional details} - A47J 31/4485: {Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle} - A47J 31/4489: {Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk} - A47J 31/461: {Valves, e.g. drain valves} - A47J 31/465: {for the heated water} - A47J 31/469: {Details of hydraulic circuits} - A47J 31/56: having water-level controls; having temperature controls - A47J 31/30: with hot water under steam pressure - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A professional coffee machine includes a supporting frame; a boiler mounted thereon with a tank of at least 8 liters receiving water and heating it to a temperature of about 122-130° C. for the thermo-controlled production of pressurized steam; a preheater having a first heat exchanger associated to the boiler so that the boiler water heats, by heat exchange, the supply water crossing the first exchanger to a first temperature T1 that is lowerly close or substantially equal to a second temperature T2, optimal for preparing a coffee infusion; a dispensing unit of the coffee infusion having its own thermo-controlled heating element, configured to bring the water outlet from the preheater to the second temperature T2, if T1 is less than T2; a thermal insulating member that mechanically constrains the dispensing unit to the supporting frame; and a dispenser of pressurized steam in communication with the tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A professional coffee machine comprising: a supporting frame (2); a boiler (12) mounted on said supporting frame (2) and comprising a tank (11) of at least 8 liters which is supplied with water and which is provided with a heating device heating the water to a temperature of about 122° C.-130° C., said boiler being configured for a thermo-controlled production of pressurized steam; at least one preheater (30) for preparation of a coffee infusion, comprising a first heat exchanger which is associated with said boiler (12) so that the water contained and heated in said boiler (12) heats, by heat exchange, supply water that crosses said first heat exchanger to a first temperature T1, said first temperature T1 being in lower proximity or substantially equal to a second temperature T2, which corresponds a desired temperature for the preparation of the coffee infusion; a dispensing unit (4) of the coffee infusion provided with a thermo-controlled heating element (44), which is configured to bring a water outlet from said preheater (30) to said second temperature T2, if said first temperature T1 is less than said second temperature T2; a thermal insulating member (34) for mechanically constraining said dispensing unit (4) to said frame (2) of the coffee machine; and a dispenser (6) of the pressurized steam in communication with the tank (11) of said boiler (12). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the water inside the tank (11) of the boiler (12) is balanced with the pressurized steam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said first heat exchanger of said preheater (30) is sized so as to generate hot water at the first temperature T1 comprised between 60° C. and 70° C., when the hot water in said boiler (12) is at a temperature of 122° C.-130° C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said thermo-controlled heating element (44) of said dispensing unit (4) is configured to ensure that the water reaches or maintains said second temperature T2, which is comprised between 70° C. and 95° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing unit (4) is mechanically constrained to said supporting frame (2) through blocks (34) of a synthetic material having a low heat transmission coefficient and a high mechanical resistance, said dispensing unit (4) and said supporting frame (2) being independently constrained to said blocks (34). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser (6) of the pressurized steam is connected with the tank (11) of said boiler (12) with a conduit (16) provided with an intercepting member (18) and an adjusting member (20) of steam flow. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, further comprising, for preparation of a tea infusion, a heater comprising a second heat exchanger (28) associated with said boiler (12) and configured so that the water contained and heated in said boiler (12) heats, by heat exchange, supply water that crosses said second exchanger (28) to a third temperature T3, said third temperature T3 corresponding to a desired temperature for preparation of the tea infusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The professional coffee machine according claim 7, wherein said second heat exchanger (28) is configured so as to generate hot water at said third temperature T3 of approximately 70° C.-90° C. when the water in said boiler (12) is at a temperature of 122° C.-130° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The professional coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said boiler (12) is mounted on said supporting frame (2) with a thermal insulating constraining element. ### Claim 10 A professional coffee machine comprising: a supporting frame (2); a boiler (12) mounted on said supporting frame (2) and comprising a tank (11) of at least 8 liters which is supplied with water and which is provided with a heating device heating the water to a temperature of about 122° C.-130° C., said boiler being configured for a thermo-controlled production of pressurized steam; at least one preheater (30) for preparation of a coffee infusion, comprising a first heat exchanger which is associated with said boiler (12) so that the water contained and heated in said boiler (12) heats, by heat exchange, supply water that crosses said first heat exchanger to a first temperature T1, said first temperature T1 being in lower proximity or substantially equal to a second temperature T2, which corresponds a desired temperature for the preparation of the coffee infusion; a dispensing unit (4) of the coffee infusion provided with a thermo-controlled heating element (44), which is configured to bring a water outlet from said preheater (30) to said second temperature T2, if said first temperature T1 is less than said second temperature T2; a thermal insulating member (34) for mechanically constraining said dispensing unit (4) to said frame (2) of the coffee machine; and a dispenser (6) of the pressurized steam in communication with the tank (11) of said boiler (12), wherein said dispensing unit (4) comprises its own heat exchanger connected at an input with said preheater (30) and at an output with a filter holder (46) provided with at least one dispensing spout (48) of the coffee infusion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The professional coffee machine according to claim 10, wherein said dispensing unit (4) comprises a metal body (32) made of a material with a low heat transmission coefficient and a high specific heat. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The professional coffee machine according to claim 11, wherein a conduit for passage of the water coming from said preheater (30) and intended to reach said filter holder (46) is obtained in said metal body (32), and an electrical resistance (44) for heating said water is also obtained in said metal body (32), said electrical resistance being supplied by a control unit controlling a temperature sensor (50) arranged in said conduit, downstream of said temperature sensor (50) there being provided a solenoid valve (52) which is adapted to be actuated by an operator or by said control unit. ### Claim 13 A professional coffee machine comprising: a supporting frame (2); a boiler (12) mounted on said supporting frame (2) and comprising a tank (11) of at least 8 liters which is supplied with water and which is provided with a heating device heating the water to a temperature of about 122° C.-130° C., said boiler being configured for a thermo-controlled production of pressurized steam; at least one preheater (30) for preparation of a coffee infusion, comprising a first heat exchanger which is associated with said boiler (12) so that the water contained and heated in said boiler (12) heats, by heat exchange, supply water that crosses said first heat exchanger to a first temperature T1, said first temperature T1 being in lower proximity or substantially equal to a second temperature T2, which corresponds a desired temperature for the preparation of the coffee infusion; a dispensing unit (4) of the coffee infusion provided with a thermo-controlled heating element (44), which is configured to bring a water outlet from said preheater (30) to said second temperature T2, if said first temperature T1 is less than said second temperature T2; a thermal insulating member (34) for mechanically constraining said dispensing unit (4) to said frame (2) of the coffee machine; and a dispenser (6) of the pressurized steam in communication with the tank (11) of said boiler (12), wherein said dispenser (6) of the pressurized steam is connected with the tank (11) of said boiler (12) with a conduit (16) provided with an intercepting member (18) and an adjusting member (20) of steam flow, and wherein said adjusting member (20) of the steam flow comprises a body (56) having an inner cylindrical cavity (58) communicating upstream with said intercepting member (18) and downstream with a spout (60) for dispensing the pressurized steam, a shutter (62) which controls passage of the steam flow with its axial position being axially movable in said inner cylindrical cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The professional coffee machine according to claim 13, wherein said shutter (62) consists of a single rod associated, by its axial movements, with a graduated wheel (66). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The professional coffee machine according to claim 14, wherein said rod (62) is has a cylindrical shape and has a reduced-section portion (68) which controls the passage of the steam flow through said body with the axial position of said rod (62).