Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-03-27
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S287000, C099S28900D
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205909
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to infusion units for automatic beverage dispensers from powdered coffee or the like, and relates more particularly to an infusion unit comprising a body with a longitudinal axis V enclosing an infusion chamber having a bottom and an outlet, comprising a filter plate and adapted to receive a pressure piston mounted movably along the axis (V) by means of a drive mechanism, pump means adapted to create a circulation of water and infusion, as well as a boiler adapted to heat the water for the preparation of the infusion in the chamber.
In an infusion unit of this type, the boiler is generally independent of the body enclosing the infusion chamber and this gives rise to a large heat loss in the circulation of water and infusion. Moreover, because of the separation of this boiler, the body enclosing the infusion chamber is reheated only during passage of the hot water into said chamber, thereby giving, during the first cycles of production of the infusion, too low a temperature to this infusion, which satisfies no users.
On the other hand, in this type of infusion unit, the pumping means create a circulation of hot water from the boiler, via the pressure piston, to the infusion chamber through which the produced infusion flows, as will be understood, this direction of circulation of water increases the heat loss and hence is undesirable for good production of an infusion.
The invention has particularly for its object to overcome these drawbacks and to provide a unit of simple and economical design.
According to the invention, the infusion unit is more particularly characterized in that the boiler and the body are formed from a single piece of heat conductive material which contains a heating electrical resistance, channels for the passage and heating of the water whose inlets are connected to a cold water reservoir and whose ends empty onto the bottom of the infusion chamber, and the pressure piston has a conduit for passage of the infusion opening through an outlet opening, whilst the pumping means are adapted to create a rising circulation of infusion in the infusion chamber toward the passage conduit when the pressure piston closes the chamber.
Thus, thanks to this design, there is provided a compact assembly: boiler-body-infusion chamber, producing great homogeneity of temperature and hence rapid and marked heating of the water through the channel which communicate with the infusion in the course of production in the infusion chamber. Moreover, this rise in circulation in the chamber toward the piston minimizes heat losses and leads to obtaining an excellent infusion, namely, good extraction of the essences of the coffee powder at about 92° to 96° C. and a temperature suitable for this coffee of about 72° C., 75° C.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the channels extend mostly along axes parallel to the longitudinal axis V below the infusion chamber.
Thus, the problem of the buildup of scale generally connected with existing boilers is practically eliminated in the unit of the invention because the channels have no elbow in their hot portion. On the other hand, it will be understood that such channels can also be easily cleaned by a scraping tool to maintain them in their initially clean condition.
According to other characteristics of the invention, the body has in its side wall a groove for insertion of the resistance and comprises facing the resistance a secondary heater which has for this purpose a shaped housing adapted to mate with the sidewall by a peripheral profile by providing a flattened chamber having a cold water inlet and a steam outlet.
The secondary boiler connected to the body is particularly economical because it uses the body and the electrical resistance as common elements. The secondary boiler is particularly used for producing steam in the production of tea or cappuccino.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3413909 (1968-12-01), Heier
patent: 4852472 (1989-08-01), In-Albon et al.
patent: 5471910 (1995-12-01), Sager
patent: 5479849 (1996-01-01), King et al.
patent: 6116147 (2000-09-01), Schmed
patent: 42 03 088 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 0 270 141 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 2 444 437 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 2 447 173 (1980-08-01), None
Alexander Reginald L.
Moulinex (S.A.)
Young & Thompson
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