Appliance For Producing Hot Drinks

Abstract

An appliance for producing hot drinks comprising a water heating device; a heat source; a seat adapted to receive a product for preparing the drink; a duct for feeding hot water from the water heating device to the seat; a first temperature sensor associated with the water heating device; a control unit operatively associated with the temperature sensor and with the heat source said control unit the temperature of the water contained in the device, by switching on/switching off the heat source based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor associated with the hot water feeding duct; and said control unit is being adapted to control the temperature of the water contained in the device by switching on/switching off the heat source also based on the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor.

1 . Appliance ( 1 ) for producing hot drinks comprising
 a water heating device ( 30 ) comprising a heat source ( 32 );   a seat ( 50 ) adapted to receive a product for preparing the drink;   a duct ( 40 ) for feeding hot water from the water heating device ( 30 ) to the seat ( 50 );   a temperature sensor ( 31 ) associated with the water heating device ( 30 );   control means ( 60 ) operatively associated with the temperature sensor ( 31 ) and with the heat source ( 32 ) for controlling the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) by switching on/switching off the heat source ( 32 ) based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor ( 31 );   
     characterised in that it also comprises a second temperature sensor ( 41 ) associated with the hot water feeding duct ( 40 ) and in that the control means ( 60 ) is adapted to control the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) by switching on/switching off the heat source ( 32 ) also based on the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor ( 41 ). 
   
   
       2 . Appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the control means ( 60 ) is adapted to continuously control the temperature detected by the first ( 31 ) and by the second ( 41 ) temperature sensor and, at each control, to determine an optimum temperature value at which the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor ( 31 ) must be brought based on the temperature detected by the second sensor ( 41 ) and to switch off/switch on the heat source ( 32 ) so that the temperature detected by the first sensor ( 31 ) approaches the optimum temperature determined. 
   
   
       3 . Appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein the control means ( 60 ) is adapted to determine said optimum temperature value through a predefined algorithm that allows obtaining the value at which the temperature detected by the first sensor ( 31 ) must be brought, based on the temperature detected by the second sensor ( 41 ), in order to obtain the desired temperature for the water that reaches a predetermined type of product. 
   
   
       4 . Appliance according to  claim 3 , further comprising selection means ( 70 ) to allow the user to select a type of product among a plurality of products. 
   
   
       5 . Appliance according to  claim 4 , wherein the control means ( 60 ) is adapted to determine said optimum temperature value at which the temperature detected by the first sensor ( 31 ) must be brought based on the temperature detected by the second sensor ( 41 ), according to the type of product selected by the user by means of the selection means ( 70 ). 
   
   
       6 . Appliance according to any of  claims 1  to  5 , comprising at least one further temperature sensor ( 41   a ) associated with the duct, the second sensor ( 41 ) and said at least one further sensor ( 41   a ) being arranged in different positions along the duct ( 40 ) for detecting the temperature at two different positions of the duct ( 40 ). 
   
   
       7 . Appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein the control means ( 60 ) is adapted to adjust the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) by switching on/switching off the heat source ( 32 ) also based on the temperature detected by said at least one further temperature sensor ( 41   a ). 
   
   
       8 . Appliance according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein at least one portion of the duct ( 40 ) is in contact with the walls of the water heating device ( 30 ). 
   
   
       9 . Appliance according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein at least one portion of the duct ( 40 ) passes through the water heating device ( 30 ). 
   
   
       10 . Appliance according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , further comprising a water tank ( 10 ) at atmospheric pressure. 
   
   
       11 . Appliance according to  claim 10 , further comprising a pump ( 20 ) for feeding water from the tank ( 10 ) to the water heating device ( 30 ) at a predetermined pressure. 
   
   
       12 . Method for adjusting the water temperature in an appliance ( 1 ) for producing hot drinks, the appliance ( 1 ) comprising a water heating device ( 30 ) with a heat source ( 32 ), a seat ( 50 ) for containing a product for preparing the drink and a duct ( 40 ) for feeding the water from the device ( 30 ) to the seat ( 50 ), the method comprising the steps of
 a) switching the heat source ( 32 ) on for heating the water contained into the water heating device ( 30 );   b) detecting the temperature of the water contained into the water heating device ( 30 );   c) adjusting the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) by switching on/switching off the heat source ( 32 ) based on the temperature detected in step b);   
     characterised in that it also comprises a step of d) detecting a temperature associated with at least one point of the water feeding duct ( 40 ) and in that step c) is carried out also based on the temperature detected in step d). 
   
   
       13 . Method according to  claim 12 , wherein step c) comprises the steps of:
 c1) continuously checking the temperature detected in steps d) and b) and, upon each check,   c2) determining an optimum temperature value at which the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) must be brought, based on the temperature detected in step d),   c3) switching off/switching on the heat source ( 32 ) according to the temperature detected in step b) so as to bring the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) towards the optimum temperature value determined in step c2).   
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein in step c2), the optimum temperature value is determined by a predefined algorithm that allows determining the value at which the temperature of the water contained in the device ( 30 ) must be brought, based on the temperature detected in step d), in order to obtain the desired temperature for the water that reaches a predetermined type of product.