Motorized brewing unit
AssigneeLuigi Lavazza S.P.A.
InventorsGabriele MOLINARO, Denis ROTTA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motorized brewing unit for preparing beverages from a powdered product has a dispensing assembly having a first assembly part provided with a receptacle adapted to receive the powdered product, and a second assembly part, relative to which the first assembly part is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are coupled to each other to define a brewing chamber therebetween. The motorized brewing unit has an electric motor that controls movement of the first assembly part between the open position and the closed position.
Claims22
A motorized brewing unit for preparing beverages from a powdered product containing at least one ingredient in form of a compacted tablet, comprising
- a support structure,
- a dispensing assembly supported by the support structure and including
- a first assembly part movable relative to the support structure and comprising a receptacle adapted to receive said powdered product, and
- a second assembly part, relative to which the first assembly part is movable between an open position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are spaced apart from each other to allow said powdered product to be inserted into the receptacle, and a closed position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are coupled to each other to define a brewing chamber therebetween,
- an electric motor adapted to control movement of the first assembly part relative to the second assembly part between the open position and the closed position.
A method for preparing a beverage from a powdered product containing at least one ingredient in form of a compacted tablet, with a motorized brewing unit comprising
- a dispensing assembly that includes
- a first assembly part comprising a receptacle adapted to receive said powdered product, and
- a second assembly part, relative to which the first assembly part is movable between an open position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are spaced apart from each other to allow said powdered product to be inserted into the receptacle, and a closed position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are coupled to each other to define a brewing chamber therebetween,
- an electric motor adapted to control movement of the first assembly part relative to the second assembly part between the open position and the closed position,
- wherein the first assembly part further comprises a plunger slidable within the receptacle, said plunger carrying a brewing head adapted to inject water into the brewing chamber,
- said method comprisingthe following steps:
- a) with the first assembly part in the closed position, supplying cold water to a hydraulic cylinder to move the plunger forward and carry said powdered product against the second assembly part,
- b1) through the plunger and the brewing head, supplying optionally a first quantity of heated water into the brewing chamber to wet the powdered product,
- b2) waiting optionally a predetermined time interval,
- c) through the plunger and the brewing head, supplying a second quantity of heated water, greater than said first quantity, into the brewing chamber to prepare the beverage, and
- d) supplying optionally further cold water to the hydraulic cylinder to move the plunger further forward and compact a used powdered product against the second assembly part.
A method for preparing a beverage from a powdered product containing at least one ingredient in form of a compacted tablet, with a motorized brewing unit comprising
- a dispensing assembly that includes
- a first assembly part comprising a receptacle adapted to receive said powdered product, and
- a second assembly part, relative to which the first assembly part is movable between an open position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are spaced apart from each other to allow said powdered product to be inserted into the receptacle, and a closed position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are coupled to each other to define a brewing chamber therebetween,
- an electric motor adapted to control movement of the first assembly part relative to the second assembly part between the open position and the closed position,
- wherein the first assembly part further comprises a plunger slidable within the receptacle, said plunger carrying a brewing head adapted to inject water into the brewing chamber,
- said method comprising the following steps:
- through the plunger and the brewing head, supplying a quantity of heated water into the brewing chamber to prepare the beverage in an infusion step, wherein the brewing head exerts a pressure on the powdered product inserted in the receptacle throughout the brewing step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.