The present invention relates to a device for producing coffee, more in particular to a coffee dispensing machine to stably and uniformly dispense coffee powder. Dispensing of coffee powder has a very strong effect on the espresso aroma. Under a condition of non-uniform dispensino of of coffee powder or coffee powder non correctly pressed, the espresso aroma will be inconsistent. Therefore, every barista will make coffee with a different aroma even if he uses the same coffee machine.

Typically, a conventional coffee dispensing machine has a stirring device, a rectilinear rib for example, to rotate to make the coffee powder in a container with a plane surface. The conventional coffee dispensing machine only flattens the surface of the coffee powder. However, while the coffee powder initially has no dispensino from the container, flattening of the surface only creates a small help in preparing coffee. Taking into account what is stated above, the main object of the present invention is providing a coffee dispensing machine which allows having a smooth dispensing of coffee powder in the container, in order to obtain a coffee whose aroma is stable and consistent.

In order to obtain the object of the present invention, a coffee dispensing machine includes a dispenser, a first regulator and a second regulator. The dispenser has a rod and a dispensing element on an end of the rod and the dispensing element has a propeller structure. The first and the second regulator are connected to the rod of the dispenser to be rotated with respect to the dispensing element, while the second regulator is between the dispensing element and the first regulator, and the second regulator is a through-hole so that the rod passes through it. The dispenser is capable of rotating to regulate the relative position to the second regulator when the first regulator is separated from the second regulator, and the dispenser is kept unmoving when the first regulator moves to touch the second regulator. The coffee dispensing machine of the present invention is connected to a container to allow the propeller structure to dispense the coffee powder in the container, and to flatten the surface of the coffee powder.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of the dispenser of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6 to 8 are sectional views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which shows the operation of the coffee dispensing machine;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which shows the coffee dispensing machine assembled on a container;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of Figure 9; and Figures 11 to 13 are views of a second embodiment of the coffee dispensing machine according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, a coffee dispensing machine of the preferred embodiment comprises a dispenser 10, a first regulator 20, and a second regulator 30. The dispenser 10 includes a rod 12 and a dispensing element 14 at an end of the rod 12. The dispensing element

14 has a propeller structure 16, which has four blades. The dispensing element 14 further has a scale 15.

The first regulator 20 is connected to the rod 12 of the dispenser 10 to be rotated, and the second regulator 30 is also connected to the rod 12, and is between the dispensing element 14 and the first regulator 20. In the present embodiment, the rod 14 has a threaded section 18, the first regulator 20 has a threaded hole 22, the second regulator 30 has a threaded hole 32, on the side wall of which a threaded section 34 is provided.

As shown in Figura 3, the rod 12 of the dispenser 10 passes through the through-hole 32 and the second regulator 30 and then the rod 12 is screwed in the threaded hole 22 of the first regulator 20, while the threaded section 18 of the rod 12 engages both the threaded section 34 of the second regulator 30, and the threaded hole 22 of the first regulator 20.

The second regulator 30 comprises a recess 36 on one of its sides which is in front of the dispensing element 14 of the dispenser 10. As a result, the dispensing element 14 can enter or leave the recess 36, while the dispenser 10 rotates with respect to the second regulator 30.

As shown in Figure 4, the propeller structure 16 has a plurality of ribs 40, 40a and a plurality of curved surfaces 42 beween nearby ribs 40, 40a, respectively. Preferably, the dispensing element 14, and in particular the propeller structure 16, is coated with Diamond Like Carbon, DLC.

As shown in Figure 5, every curved surface 42 has a first portion of curve 44, a second portion of curve 46, and a third portion of curve 48. A side of the first portion of curve 44 is connected to the rib 40 (40a), while the other side thereof is slanted towards the other rib 40a (40). The second curved portion 46 is connected to the first curved portion 44, and the third curved portion 48 has opposite ends connected to the second curved portion 46 and to the rib 40 (40a). The curvature radius R1 of the first curved portion 44 is greater than the curvature radius R2 of the second curved portion 46, and the curvature radius R2 of the second curved portion 46 is greater than the curvature radius R3 of the third curved portion 48. The curvature radius R3 of the third curved portion 48 is in a range between 0.4 mm and 1.00 mm to make a smooth junction between the third portion of curve 48 and the rib 40 (40a). The angle Q of the first portion of curve 44 is in a range between 13.5° and 22.5°. The ratio (d/D) of the depth (d) of every curved surface 42 and the thickness (D) of the dispensing element 14 is in a range from 0.35 to 0.55.

As shown in Figure 6, when a user rotates the first regulator 20 to make it leave the second regulator 30, the dispenser 10 is capable of being rotated to reciprocate. As shown in Figure 7, when the dispenser 10 is rotated, the dispenser 10 can enter or leave the recess 36 of the second regulator 30 to regulate the position of the propeller structure 16. A user can read the scale 15 on the dispensing element 14 to obtain the correct position of the dispensing element 14.

Then, as shown in Figure 8, the user rotates the first regulator 20 till it touches the second regulator 30 to keep the dispensing element 14 in its correct posizione through the threaded section 18 of the rod 12 which engages both the threaded section 34 of the second regulator 30 and the threaded hole 22 of the first regulator 20.

As shown in Figure 9 and in Figure 10, the coffee dispensing machine is associated with a container 50 wherein the coffee powder 52 is received. The propeller structure 16 of the dispensing element 14 can stir the coffee powder or flatten the surface of the coffee powder 52 regulating the position of the dispensing element 14. The design of the propeller structure 16 of the dispensing element 14 can re- arrange the coffee powder 52 when it is deeply immersed into the coffee powder 52, and can make the coffee powder 52 with a perfect plate surface when it moves backwards. Therefore, the coffee powder 52 is pressed. Finally, the coffee powder 52 can have a smooth distribution, and coffee made through such powder has a stable and consistent aroma. In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in

Figures 11, 12 and 13, the propeller structure 16 of the dispensing element 14 comprises a dispensing surface 116 comprising a plurality of ridges 140, 140a and a plurality of plane surfaces 142 arranged between adjacent ridges 140, 140a.

As shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, every plane surface

142 comprises a first portion 144 and a second portion 145; a side of the first portion 144 is connected to the second portion 145 in order to form the ridge 140, 140a, and the other side is connected to another second portion 145, in a preferred way through a radial portion 146 having for example a thickness of about 1 mm, to form a valley of the plane surface 142. Preferably, the first portion 144 and the second portion 145 are symmetrical with respect to the ridge 140, 140a and with respect to the radial portion 146.

In a preferred way, the dispensing surface 116 has a circular edge and the ridges 140, 140a are radial; for example, the dispensing surface 116 comprises four, substantially rectilinear radial ridges 140, 140a spaced bz an angle a egual to 90°, which separate four, mutually equal plane surfaces 142.

Preferably, the ratio (dl/Dl) of the depth (dl) of every plane surface 142 and the thickness (Dl) of the dispensing element 14 is in a range between 0.25 and 0.35. Preferably, the dispensing element 14, and in particular the dispensing surface 116 of the propeller structure 16, is coated with Diamond Like Carbon, DLC.

It is necessary to point out that the above described embodiments are only some of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which emply the concepts described in this document must fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the enclosed claims.