초록 ▼

A heating unit for a beverage preparation machine. The machine includes a pump for circulating a beverage preparation fluid through the machine from a fluid source to the heating unit. The heating unit is suitable for heating the fluid and includes a housing which defines a fluid heating chamber. A

A heating unit for a beverage preparation machine. The machine includes a pump for circulating a beverage preparation fluid through the machine from a fluid source to the heating unit. The heating unit is suitable for heating the fluid and includes a housing which defines a fluid heating chamber. A heating element is located inside the housing and is adapted to heat the fluid. The heating unit further includes a pre-heating tube for conveying the fluid from the pump. The pre-heating tube includes a tube inlet and a tube outlet. The tube outlet connects with the heating chamber. The pre-heating tube is located at least partly within the housing such that the heating element will at least partially heat the fluid in the pre-heating tube before the pre-heated fluid is released into the heating chamber through the outlet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heating unit for a beverage preparation machine, the machine suitable for preparing a beverage by mixing a beverage ingredient with a fluid, the machine comprising a pump for circulating the beverage preparation fluid through the machine at least from a fluid source to the heating unit, the hea

1. A heating unit for a beverage preparation machine, the machine suitable for preparing a beverage by mixing a beverage ingredient with a fluid, the machine comprising a pump for circulating the beverage preparation fluid through the machine at least from a fluid source to the heating unit, the heating unit suitable for heating the fluid and comprising: (i) a housing defining a fluid heating chamber;(ii) a heating element located inside the housing and adapted to heat the fluid therein; the heating unit further comprises a pre-heating tube for conveying the fluid received from the pump through the heating unit, the pre-heating tube comprising a tube inlet and a tube outlet, the tube outlet connecting with the heating chamber; and wherein the pre-heating tube is located at least partly within the housing such that the heating element will at least partially heat the fluid in the pre-heating tube before the pre-heating tube ends and the pre-heated fluid is released into the heating chamber through the outlet, the pre-heating tube is located at a distance from the heating element that is less than 10 mm, and the heating unit has a single configuration selected from the group consisting of (a) a first configuration in which an outer diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the heating element is smaller than an inner diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube, and the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element is positioned within the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube, and (b) a second configuration in which an outer diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube is smaller than an inner diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the heating element, and the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube is positioned within the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element; and(iii) a central opening defined by a wall extending from the housing into an interior of the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element such that, in the first configuration, the central opening positions a portion of the pre-heated fluid between the wall and the inner diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element, and each coil of the pre-heating tube abuts the housing, or in the second configuration, the central opening positions a portion of the pre-heated fluid between the wall and the inner diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube, and each coil of the heating element abuts the housing, and at least one feature of the central opening selected from the group consisting of (i) a volume and (ii) a shape enables an optimization of a volume of fluid in the heating chamber in relation to the heating element. 2. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the heating element is located inside the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube. 3. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element is smaller than an inner diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube. 4. The heating unit according claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pre-heating tube is located inside the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element. 5. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube is smaller than an inner diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element. 6. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the central opening has a cross-section that is substantially circular at an at least one predetermined location. 7. A beverage preparation machine comprising: (i) a reservoir for a fluid;(ii) a brewing head adapted to receive at least one beverage preparation ingredient;(iii) a pump for pumping a predetermined volume of the fluid from the reservoir to the brewing head, such that the fluid can be injected into the brewing head, to mix with the ingredient under pressure and produce a predetermined volume of beverage;(iv) a heating unit for heating the fluid pumped from the reservoir before the fluid pumped from the reservoir enters the brewing head; and the heating unit comprises a housing defining a fluid heating chamber, a heating element located inside the housing and adapted to heat the fluid therein, a pre-heating tube for conveying the fluid received from the pump through the heating unit, the pre-heating tube comprising a tube inlet and a tube outlet, the tube outlet connecting with the heating chamber; and the pre-heating tube is located at least partly within the housing such that the heating element will at least partially heat the fluid in the pre-heating tube before the pre-heating tube ends and the preheated fluid is released into the heating chamber through the outlet, the pre-heating tube is located at a distance from the heating element that is less than 10 mm, and the heating unit has a single configuration selected from the group consisting of (a) a first configuration in which an outer diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the heating element is smaller than an inner diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube, and the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element is positioned with the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube, and (b) a second configuration in which an outer diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube is smaller than an inner diameter of a cylindrical coil shape of the heating element, and the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube is positioned within the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element; and(v) a central opening defined by a wall extending from the housing into an interior of the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element such that, in the first configuration, the central opening positions a portion of the pre-heated fluid between the wall and the inner diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the heating element, and each coil of the pre-heating tube abuts the housing, or in the second configuration, the central opening positions a portion of the pre-heated fluid between the wall and the inner diameter of the cylindrical coil shape of the pre-heating tube, and each coil of the heating element abuts the housing, and at least one feature of the central opening selected from the group consisting of (i) a volume and (ii) a shape enables an optimization of a volume of fluid in the heating chamber in relation to the heating element. 8. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 7, wherein the brewing head is adapted to receive at least one ingredient capsule comprising the least one beverage preparation ingredient and to inject the fluid into the at least one ingredient capsule, when received by the brewing head. 9. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 7, wherein the pump is configured to inject the fluid into the brewing head under pressure.