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US 5,549,035 AGranted
Coffee making machines
AssigneeSimatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.
InventorLi Wing-Chung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coffee machine includes a microcomputer, a heater 14 and a thermistor element 17. The microcomputer is programmed to respond to several different temperature level signals provided by the element 17 for fully controlling operation of the heater. The machine has a pre-heat cycle, where the rate of temperature rise is slowed down, and an automatic cleaning cycle when required.
Claims5
A coffee making machine, comprising:
- a water reservoir,
- a hopper for holding coffee grounds and positioned for receiving water from the reservoir,
- a container mountable below the hopper for collecting coffee from the hopper, the container defining a temperature,
- a water passageway through which water is conveyed from the reservoir to a location above the hopper,
- a heater having a heating element for heating water in the passageway, the heater defining a temperature,
- first thermistor means for providing a first temperature signal dependent on the temperature of the heater,
- second thermistor means for providing a second temperature signal dependant on the temperature of the container,
- programmable microcomputer means responsive to the first and second temperature signals for controlling the coffee making machine, the microcomputer means comprising
- means for switching the heater on and off to reach a temperature within a selected range for at least one heating period,
- means for comparing the temperature of the container and a preselected temperature after the at least one heating period,
- means for modifying the selected range for subsequent heating periods in response to comparing the temperature of the container and the preselected temperature,
- whereby differences between the temperature of the container and the preselected temperature are reduced.
9 more elements
A coffee making machine, comprising:
- water reservoir,
- a hopper for holding coffee grounds and positioned for receiving water from the reservoir,
- a container mountable below the hopper for collecting coffee from the hopper, the container defining a temperature,
- a water passageway through which water is conveyed from the reservoir to a location above the hopper,
- a heater having a heating element for heating water in the passageway, the heater defining a temperature, the heater being operable to heat water from the reservoir at a water heating rate, the heater comprising a heat pump including a metallic body having a hollow tube connected to the passageway and an electrical heating element mounted in the metallic body adjacent the hollow tube, wherein water flows out of the heat pump at an overall flow rate,
- first thermistor means for providing a first temperature signal dependent on the temperature of the heater,
- second thermistor means for providing a second temperature signal dependant on the temperature of the container,
- programmable microcomputer means responsive to the first and second temperature signals for controlling the coffee making machine, the microcomputer means comprising
- means for switching the heater on and off at regular intervals to slow the overall flow rate,
- means for turning the heater on and off intermittently at regular intervals during at least an initial period to slow the water heating rate,
- means for switching the heater on at a temperature within a selected range for at least one heating period,
- means for comparing the temperature of the container and a preselected temperature after the at least one heating period,
- means for modifying the selected range for subsequent heating periods in response to comparing the temperature of the container and the preselected temperature,
- whereby differences between the temperature of the container and the preselected temperature are reduced.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.