Luigi Lavazza S.p.a

Andrea Colonna

Denis Rotta

Gabriele Luciano Picone

Danilo Bolognese

Simone Rosetta

Luciano Gabriele Picone

A machine for the preparation of beverages, comprising a hydraulic circuit that includes: &#x2014;a brewing unit; &#x2014;a water tank; &#x2014;a pump having its inlet connected in fluid communication to the water tank and its outlet or delivery connected in fluid communication to the brewing unit; &#x2014;a heating device for heating water forced by the pump towards the brewing unit; &#x2014;a self-priming device (), which comprises a hollow housing structure (), having an inlet () in fluid communication with the outlet or delivery of the pump, and an outlet for spillage of water towards a collecting space, in particular the water tank. The self-priming device () comprises a spillage member (), which is set between the inlet () and the outlet (). The spillage member () has a body that is made of a material that is permeable to water and to air and that is such as to be traversed by water and air when the pump is active.

Machine for the preparation of beverages, in particular espresso coffee, and device for self-priming which can be used in said machine

The device () comprises a steam generator (), a compressed-air generator () and a dispensing wand () connected or adapted to be connected to the steam generator () and the compressed-air generator () and adapted to be introduced into a receptacle (R) containing the milk (M) to be heated and frothed. The dispensing wand () defines first and second conduits () separate from each other and having respective separate inlets () for connection to the steam generator () and the compressed-air generator (), respectively, as well as respective separate outlets () for dispensing during use a flow of steam and a flow of compressed air, respectively, within the milk (M) contained in the receptacle (R), said outlets () being arranged such that the flows of steam and compressed air exiting therefrom intersect each other.

Device for heating and frothing milk and wand for such a device

A machine for preparing beverages has a hydraulic circuit including a normally open discharge valve, which comprises a main inlet connected to a fluid actuator, a main outlet connected towards a collecting space, and a valve member between the main inlet and the main outlet, for enabling and preventing a flow of fluid between the main inlet and the main outlet. The discharge valve is a hydraulically driven valve, which also comprises a driving chamber for hydraulic driving the valve member. The driving chamber has an auxiliary inlet, connected to the delivery of a pump, and an auxiliary outlet, connected to a brewing unit and to the fluid actuator, in such a way that water delivered by the pump passes through the driving chamber before reaching the brewing unit and the fluid actuator, respectively. The driving chamber has a further outlet, connected in fluid communication to a device for spillage of water from the driving chamber.

Machine for preparing beverages, in particular espresso coffee, a valve and a valve unit that can be used in said machine

A machine for preparing beverages, in particular espresso coffee, comprises a hydraulic circuit including a brewing unit, a water tank, a pump having the inlet connected in fluid communication to the tank, and the outlet or delivery connected in fluid communication to the brewing unit. A normally closed one-way hydraulic valve, which is set between the pump and the brewing unit, enables a flow of water toward the brewing unit when the pressure of the water delivered by the pump exceeds a substantially predetermined threshold. There is a heating means for heating the water delivered by the pump. The machine has a normally open discharge valve having a main inlet (), connected between the one-way hydraulic valve and the brewing unit, a main outlet, connected toward a discharge space, and an open/close member set between the main inlet and the main outlet, designed to assume an open condition and a closed condition, where it enables and prevents, respectively, a flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet, with the open/close member being urged by a corresponding spring into the open condition. The discharge valve is a hydraulically driven valve, which includes a chamber for hydraulic driving of the open/close member, an auxiliary inlet of the driving chamber, connected to the delivery of the pump, and an auxiliary outlet of the driving chamber, connected to the brewing unit, in such a way that water forced by the pump passes through the driving chamber before reaching the brewing unit. The discharge valve has a further outlet of the driving chamber, connected in fluid communication to a device for spillage of water from the driving chamber, in particular towards one of the water tank and the inlet of the pump.

Machine for preparing beverages, in particular espresso coffee, and valve and valve unit for use therein

A machine () for the preparation of liquid products via capsules comprises a delivery assembly () having an actuation system that can be controlled to cause relative displacements between a first part and a second part of a preparation chamber. The actuation system comprises at least one first transmission member () and one second transmission member (). The first transmission member () includes two pins (), which are coaxial and are engaged in corresponding seats (), defined on respective side walls of the housing structure (). The seats () define a fixed axis of rotation of the first transmission element (). The second transmission member () is connected in an articulated way to the first transmission member () for turning about a movable axis of rotation, parallel to the fixed axis of rotation, and to one of the first part of chamber and the second part of chamber. The pins () have, in cross section, a non-circular geometry, and the side walls of the housing structure () have, in homologous positions, transverse passages () that extend from the seats (). The first transmission member () is constrained to the second transmission member () so as to move in an angular range that does not include an angular position of the first transmission member () such that the corresponding pins () would slide out transversely of the rotation seats () through the aforesaid transverse passages ().

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Turin, Italy

Andrea Colonna