Apparatus for the preparation of hot drinks

Apparatus for the preparation of hot drinks and in particular for an espresso machine, said apparatus comprising:

• a distributing block with a feed duct for feeding hot water or superheated steam and a plurality of distributing ducts for distributing said hot water or superheated steam to other parts of said apparatus, said feed duct ending with an opening at and said distributing ducts emanating with an opening from a common plane which is located at the outside of said distributing block;
• and
• a multiway valve for selectably connecting said feed duct to one of said distributing ducts, said multiway valve including a valve housing which is flanged to said distributing block, thereby covering said common plane and defining together with said common plane a valve chamber;
• said multiway valve including a disk separate from said valve housing and located within said valve housing, said disk having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to said first main surface, said disk having a thickness, a normal direction, and a plurality of through holes extending through said disk parallel to said normal direction, said disk being fixedly mounted within said valve housing at a distance from said common plane and with said disk normal direction extending perpendicular to said common plane, said first main surface of said disk and said common plane together defining a distribution chamber, each of said through holes being in alignment with one of said emanating distributing ducts;
• said multiway valve including a plurality of valve rods, each valve rod being slideably mounted within one of said through holes, each valve rod having a length which is greater than said disk thickness, said valve rod closing said opening of the respective one of said distributing ducts when said valve rod is slid in the respective one of said through holes towards said common plane;
• said multiway valve including a plate cam located within said valve housing, said plate cam being rotatably mounted between said second main surface of said disk and said valve housing, said plate cam including a guide link for said valve rods, the position of each of said valve rods being determined by the rotary position of said plate cam;
• said valve housing having an opening through which said plate cam can be operated from outside said valve housing, a part of said plate cam projecting outwards from said valve housing through said valve housing opening, said projecting part of said plate cam being constructed as a gear wheel and being part of a gear;
• said plate cam being rotatably mounted about an axis of a central hole, said axis being an integral part of said disk and projecting from said second main surface outwards.

Apparatus for the preparation of hot drinks and in particular for an espresso machine, said apparatus comprising:

• a distributing block with a feed duct for feeding hot water or superheated steam and a plurality of distributing ducts for distributing said hot water or superheated steam to other parts of said apparatus, said feed duct ending with an opening at and said distributing ducts emanating with an opening from a common plane which is located at the outside of said distributing block;
• and
• a multiway valve for selectably connecting said feed duct to one of said distributing ducts, said multiway valve including a valve housing which is flanged to said distributing block, thereby covering said common plane and defining together with said common plane a valve chamber;
• said multiway valve including a disk separate from said valve housing and located within said valve housing, said disk having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to said first main surface, said disk having a thickness, a normal direction, and a plurality of through holes extending through said disk parallel to said normal direction, said disk being fixedly mounted within said valve housing at a distance from said common plane and with said normal direction extending perpendicular to said common plane, said first main surface of said disk and said common plane together defining a distribution chamber, each of said through holes being in alignment with one of said emanating distributing ducts;
• said multiway valve including a plurality of valve rods, each valve rod being slideably mounted within one of said through holes, each valve rod having a length which is greater than said disk thickness, said valve rod closing said opening of the respective one of said distributing ducts when said valve rod is slid in the respective one of said through holes towards said common plane;
• said multiway valve including a plate cam located within said valve housing, said plate cam being rotatably mounted between said second main surface of said disk and said valve housing, said plate cam including a guide link for said valve rods, the position of each of said valve rods being determined by the rotary position of said plate cam;
• said valve housing having an opening through which said plate cam can be operated from outside said valve housing, a part of said plate cam projecting outwards from said valve housing through said valve housing opening, said projecting part of said plate cam being constructed as a gear wheel and being part of a gear;
• said plate cam being rotatably mounted about an axis of a central hole, said axis being an integral part of said disk and projecting from said second main surface outwards;
• each of said valve rods resting in a lower position when the respective one of said openings of said distributing ducts is opened, said guide link of said plate cam being provided with at least one depressed sector for allowing one of said valve rods to rest in said lower position, said sector having a depth which is great enough such that said resting valve rod is spaced apart from said plate cam;
• said at least one depressed sector having a symmetrical form with respect to a rotation of said plate cam, said plate cam being rotatable in both directions to operate said valve rods.