US 2006/0137534 A1Published application

Motorized and remote-controlled cabinet design of filter holder for pressurized espresso machines

AssigneeElectrical and Electronics Limited

InventorsAndrew Chin Chen, Sum Poon

Life of this patent

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Abstract

This invention pertains to a brewing head assembly of a coffee machine that enables easy insertion and removal of the filter as well as locking of the filter and the filter holder into the brewing head to form a water-tight seal under pressure. The filter holder can be inserted into the brewing head assembly by sliding the filter holder into the brewing head assembly from the front, top, or side or by swinging the filter holder, which may be pivotally-attached to the brewing head assembly, into the coffee machine. The locking mechanism for inserting and securing the filter holder to the brewing head assembly may be motor-driven. Additionally, the motorized method for opening/closing and locking/unlocking the brewing head assembly may be operated by remote control. Furthermore, the boiler or heating system is may be maintained separately from the brewing head assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A brewing head of a coffee machine, comprising:

(a) a rotate-to-lock assembly, which comprises a handle having two ends, wherein each end of said handle is movably-joined to one end of a rotate plate, rotate rod, and top frame by a fixed pin;
wherein a portion of a back connection plate is fixedly-attached to the side of said top frame and the other portion of said back connection plate is movably-joined to a support base;
wherein one end of a front connection plate is moveably-joined to the other end of said rotate plate, and the other end of said front connection plate is moveably-joined to said support base;
and wherein a motor is connected to the rotate rod and handle, and wherein a remote control printed control board is connected to the motor;
(b) a filter holder assembly, which comprises a filter, filter handle, filter holder, and coffee chamber;
wherein the filter contains a flange;
and
(c) a sealing assembly, which comprises a seal ring, inserted between a water connection plate and a water spreader;
wherein a water outlet valve, water outlet spring, said seal ring, and said water spreader are fixedly attached to the water connection plate by a water outlet valve holder;
wherein the water connection plate is fixedly attached to the top frame;
wherein the water connection plate contains an opening for connecting the water connection plate to a hose for delivering heated and/or pressurized fluid from a boiler, in the closed position, the handle is rotated downward to move the front connection plate to a vertical position;
wherein the seal ring forms an air- and water-tight seal with the flange of the filter;
wherein the rotate-to-lock assembly, the filter holder assembly, and the sealing assembly are operatively-linked to sustain pressures up to twenty bars.

10 more elements

A brewing head of a coffee machine, comprising:

(a) a rotate-to-lock assembly, which comprises a handle having two ends;
wherein each end of the handle is moveably joined to a cam pin and a top frame;
wherein one member of each connection plate is fixably attached to each side of the top frame by hinge pins and moveably joined to the cam pin;
wherein the other member of each connection plate is pivotably joined to a support base;
and wherein a motor is connected to the cam pin and handle, and wherein a remote control printed control board is connected to the motor;
(b) a filter holder assembly, which comprises a filter, a filter handle, a filter holder, and a coffee chamber;
wherein the filter contains a flange;
and
(c) a sealing assembly, which comprises a seal ring, inserted between a water connection plate and a water spreader;
wherein a water outlet valve, a water outlet spring, the seal ring, the water spreader are fixedly attached to the water connection plate by a water outlet valve holder;
wherein the water connection plate is fixedly attached to the top frame;
wherein the water connection plate contains an opening for connecting the water connection plate to a hose for delivering heated and/or pressurized fluid from a boiler,
in the closed position, the handle is rotated downward to lower the connection plate;
wherein the seal ring forms a pressure- and/or water-tight seal with the flange of the filter;
wherein the rotate-to-lock assembly, the filter holder assembly and the sealing assembly are operatively linked to sustain pressure up to twenty bars.

12 more elements

A brewing head of a coffee machine, comprising:

(a) a rotate-to-lock assembly, which comprises a handle having two ends, wherein each end of the handle is joined to a rotation pole having a protruding member, wherein each rotation pole is moveably attached to a protruding member of a support base, wherein the protruding member is moveably joined to one end of a moving rod, wherein the other end of the moving rod is moveably joined to a upper protruding member of a slider plate, wherein the movement of the slider plate is guided by the slider plate holder attached the support base;
wherein a shower head is attached to the bottom of the slider plate;
and wherein a motor is connected to the rotation pole and handle, and wherein a remote control printed control board is connected to the motor;
(b) a filter holder assembly, which comprises a filter, a filter basket, a filter handle, a filter holder and a coffee chamber;
wherein the filter contains a flange;
and
(c) a sealing assembly, which comprises a seal ring fixed on the shower head;
wherein a water spreader is attached to the shower head by a spreader holder;
wherein the pressurized or heated fluid and/or steam from the boiler is delivered to the shower head by a tube or pipe,
in the closed position, the handle is rotated downward to move the rotation pole, which causes the moving rod to swing or move downward;
wherein the slider plate which is attached to one end of the moving rod lowers the shower head onto the filter basket;
wherein the seal ring on the shower head forms a water- and pressure-tight seal, capable of sustaining pressures up to 20 bars.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/325,806Filed 5 Jan 2006
Priority: EP 03029686.723 Dec 2003
Published: 29 Jun 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A47J 31/3685
Permeable cartridges being employed: brewing heads therefor
A47J 31/0626
Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor: with means for securing the filter holder to the beverage container
A47J 31/0663
For brewing coffee under pressure, e.g. for espresso machines: to be used with loose coffee
A47J 31/0684
For brewing coffee under pressure, e.g. for espresso machines: sealing means for sealing the filter holder to the brewing head

Family

Application10/745,440Continuation in part · filed 23 Dec 2003
Application11/325,806Continuation in part · filed 5 Jan 2006
US 2005/0132891 A1Published application
US 7,237,475 B2Related patent
US 7,617,763 B2Related patent
US 2006/0137534 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.