IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0681535
(2008-09-30)
|
등록번호 |
US-8600223
(2013-12-03)
|
우선권정보 |
EP-07117853 (2007-10-04); EP-08154918 (2008-04-22) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/EP2008/063092
(2008-09-30)
|
§371/§102 date |
20100528
(20100528)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO2009/043851
(2009-04-09)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Etter, Stefan
- Gavillet, Gilles
- Hodel, Thomas
- Kollep, Alexandre
- Möri, Peter
- Moser, Renzo
- Preisig, Peter
- Schwab, Robin
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
38 |
초록
▼
An integrated in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient, for instance within a pod or capsule, supplied into the brewing chamber. An upstream part
An integrated in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient, for instance within a pod or capsule, supplied into the brewing chamber. An upstream part of the brewing chamber may be formed by the heater. One or more electric components may be incorporated into the heater and rigidly connected to a printed circuit board. The heater may have a tubular inner core that is eccentric with respect to a tubular or prismatic outer member which form together a helicoidal heating chamber of variable cross-section.
대표청구항
▼
1. An in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which machine liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into the brewing chamber, with the heater comprising: a body incorporating an inl
1. An in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which machine liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into the brewing chamber, with the heater comprising: a body incorporating an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween, with the inlet, outlet and heating chamber forming together a rigid passage for guiding the liquid circulating through the body, with the body having an outer face arranged to delimit an upstream part of the brewing chamber, with the rigid passage of the body extending into the brewing chamber, wherein the body comprises a generally tubular or prismatic outer member and an inner core or insert that delimits with the outer member the heating member, with the inner core being is generally eccentric with respect to the tubular or prismatic outer member; andheating means cooperating with the body for supplying heat into the chamber. 2. The heater of claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises resistive heating means that includes a film and the outer face includes one or more protruding walls to delimit the upstream part of a brewing chamber; or connecting means for mechanical connection to a member delimiting a downstream part of the brewing chamber. 3. The heater of claim 1, wherein the outer member is covered with the heating means and has a thermal inertia that is lower than aluminum, with the generally tubular or prismatic outer member having optionally a base that forms the outer face of the body. 4. The heater of claim 1, wherein the heating chamber is a generally helicoidal chamber around the core, formed by a generally helicoidal groove or flange around the core. 5. The heater of claim 1, wherein one or more electric components are secured on or in the body of the heater, the electric components being temperature sensors, thermal fuses, flow meters, resistive heaters, ammeters or electric power regulators. 6. The heater of claim 5, wherein the one or more electric components are rigidly connected to a printed circuit board arranged to control the heater and optionally further functions, such as a pump or an electric interface, of a beverage preparation machine arranged to contain the heater. 7. A liquid food or beverage preparation machine for brewing a food or beverage ingredient that may optionally be contained in capsule or a pod, comprising: an electric supply circuit connectable to an electric power source;a heater powered by the electric supply circuit, the heater comprising: a body incorporating an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween, with the inlet, outlet and heating chamber forming together a rigid passage for guiding the liquid circulating through the body, with the body having an outer face arranged to delimit an upstream part of the brewing chamber, with the rigid passage of the body extending into the brewing chamber; andheating means cooperating with the body for supplying heat into the chamber, anda thermal fuse device in thermal communication with the heater and associated with the electric supply circuit, the fuse device being arranged to interrupt the electric supply circuit from the power source when the heater exceeds a temperature limit,wherein the thermal fuse device is reversible and comprises a switch for automatically interrupting the electric supply circuit when the heater exceeds the temperature limit, the switch being operable by a user to close the electric supply circuit when the heater has a temperature that has returned below the temperature limit, the fuse device comprising an actuator that is arranged to push out a pin, rod or piston against the user switch when the temperature limit is exceeded by the heater so as to actuate the user switch and open the circuit. 8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the fuse device has an actuator that comprises a thermo-mechanical component that is in thermal communication with the heater and that mechanically actuates the user switch to open the electric supply circuit when the heater exceeds the temperature limit, the thermo-mechanical component comprising a shape memory element or a bimetal element. 9. The machine of claim 7, wherein the fuse device comprises a safety electric temperature sensor in thermal communication with the heater and an electromechanical actuator that actuates the user switch to open the electric supply circuit when the safety sensor is exposed to a temperature generated by the heater which exceeds the temperature limit. 10. The machine of claim 9, which comprises a printed circuit board having a control unit for controlling the heater and optionally further functions a pump or electric interface of such machine, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a safety circuit that is electrically separated on the printed circuit board from the control circuit, with the safety circuit connected to the safety sensor and arranged to control the electromechanical actuator. 11. The machine of claim 7, which comprises a printed circuit board with a control unit for controlling the heater and optionally further functions a pump or an electric interface of such machine, and wherein at least one of the actuator, the user switch and, when present, the safety sensor, is rigidly connected to the printed circuit board, optionally on a part thereof that is electrically insulated from the control unit. 12. An electric power connector for a heater, comprising a pair of spaced apart feet for connection to a current supply circuit, each foot being connected to a first rigid spring member, the first spring members being connected together via a second rigid spring member, the second member having a socket for receiving and securing a rigid electric pin, the first and second spring members being resiliently displaceable along different directions for self-positioning the socket with respect to the rigid electric pin and thus providing an electric connection permitting passage of high current therethrough, wherein the heater comprises: a body incorporating an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween, with the inlet, outlet and heating chamber forming together a rigid passage for guiding the liquid circulating through the body, with the body having an outer face arranged to delimit an upstream part of the brewing chamber, with the rigid passage of the body extending into the brewing chamber; andheating means cooperating with the body for supplying heat into the chamber. 13. The power connector of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first spring members and the second spring member is generally blade-shaped, or the first spring members and the second spring member are generally M-shaped.
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