The present invention relates to a dosing means for dosing the materials to be used, especially coffee beans. Background of the Invention

The devices that are used for preparing food products might take the materials required for preparing the said product from a container and transfer them to another container. Similarly, some coffee machines might take the coffee beans from a bean container and transfer them to another container.

Dosing means enable a predefined amount of material to be taken from a material container. Afterwards, the taken material might automatically be fed to another container.

While preparing coffee beverage, the users might want to use more or less coffee, according to their palates.

The United States patent document numbered US10383479B2 in the background of the invention discloses a coffee bean dispenser. The said dispenser comprises a bean container above, and a dosing means suitable for receiving a predetermined amount of beans from the said container, and to transfer the beans to another container. The dosing means comprises a body having two apertures, one being above and one being below, and a container rotatable inside the body. However, the volume of the container in the said dosing means is constant and thus, the amount of the material to be taken cannot be adjusted. In the state of the art, no dosing means, where the amount of the materials to be taken is adjustable, is encountered. However, such a dosing means is needed.

Short Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a dosing means for dosing the materials to be used, and especially coffee beans, where the amount of the materials to be taken may be changed.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The dosing means in order to fulfill the objects of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1. Cross-sectional view of the placement of the external body and the limiter, in the inventive dosing means

Figure 2. Cross-sectional view of the positioning of the external body and the internal body, in the inventive dosing means Figure 3. Cross-sectional view of the placement of the external body, internal body and the limiter, in the inventive dosing means Figure 4. Exploded view of an embodiment of the inventive dosing means

Elements shown in the figures are individually numbered, and the correspondence of these numbers are given as follows:

1. Dosing means

2. External body

21. Housing

22. Inlet opening

23. Outlet opening 24. Shaft hole

25. Switch hole

3. Internal body

31. Gap

32. Opening

4. Limiter

41. Head

42. Shaft

5. Switch

Dosing means (1) for dosing the materials to be used, and especially coffee beans, where the amount of the materials to be taken may be changed, essentially comprises; at least one external body (2) comprising at least one housing (21) at least one end of which is open, and which has a hollow, circular cross-section, at least one inlet opening (22) for receiving materials, at least one outlet opening (23) for discharging the materials, and at least one shaft hole (24) located at the closed end of the external body (2), suitable for a shaft to pass through, at least one internal body (3) having at least one gap (31) suitable for receiving the materials therein and at least one opening (32) for allowing access to the said gap (31), and having hollow, circular cross-section with one end open, and which is suitable to enter the housing (21) and rotate therein, at least one limiter (4) having at least one head (41) which is suitable to enter the said gap (31) and move, therein, towards the closed end of the internal body (3), and at least one shaft (42) suitable for passing through the shaft hole (24).

The dosing means (1) for dosing the materials to be used, especially coffee beans, wherein the amount of the receivable materials could be changed, comprises at least one external body (2) having at least one housing (21) of hollow, circular cross- section. One end of the housing (21) is open, and the housing has a circular cross- section. In other words, one end of the housing (21) is open and the other is closed. The circular cross-section of the housing (21) might be of a constant radius throughout the housing (21), or it might vary throughout the housing (21). In other words (21) the housing (21) might have a cylindrical or conical form.

The materials to be used are taken inside the housing (21) via the at least one inlet opening (22). The materials inside the housing (21) are discharged via the at least one outlet opening (23). The inlet opening (22) and the outlet opening (23) extend from the lateral surface of the housing (21) to the end of the external body (2). In other words, the inlet opening (22) and the outlet opening (23) extend from the outer part of the external body (2) to the housing (21). The inlet opening (22) and the outlet opening (23) are preferably located in opposite parts of the external body (2). To exemplify, if the inlet opening (22) is on the upper part of the external body (2), then the outlet opening (23) is on the lower part of the external body (2).

The external body (2) comprises at least one shaft hole (24) on the closed part of the housing (21), which is suitable for a shaft to pass through. In an embodiment of the invention, the shaft hole (24) comprises teeth on its inner part.

The inventive dosing means (1) comprises at least one internal body (3) having a hollow, circular cross-section, one end of which is open, and which is suitable to enter the housing (21) and rotate therein. The internal body (3) comprises at least one gap (31) suitable for receiving the materials therein, and at least one opening (32) for allowing access to the said gap (31). The opening (32) of the internal body (3) reciprocates the inlet opening (22) in one position of the internal body (3) inside the housing (21). By this, the required materials might be taken into the gap (31) inside the internal body (3) from the outside of the external body (2). The opening (32) of the internal body (3) reciprocates the outlet opening (23) in another position of the internal body (3) inside the housing (21). By this, the materials inside the gap (31) inside the internal body (3) might be discharged to the outside of the external body (3). The circular cross-section of the internal body (3) might be of a constant radius throughout the internal body (3), or it might vary throughout the internal body (3). In other words (21) the housing (21) might have a cylindrical or conical form.

The inventive dosing means (1) comprises at least one limiter (4) having at least one head (41) which is suitable to enter the said gap (31) and move, therein, towards the closed end of the internal body (3). On one side of the limiter (4), at least one shaft (42) suitable for passing through the shaft hole (24) is present. The diameter of the head (41) might be smaller than, bigger than or equal to the diameter of the shaft (42).

In an embodiment of the invention, the said shaft (42) at least partially comprises teeth on its outer part, reciprocating the teeth of the shaft hole (24). By this, when the limiter (4) is rotated, it might move inwards or outwards inside the external body (2), and thus the internal body (3), according to its direction of rotation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the inventive dosing means (1) is used as follows:

The limiter (4) is placed inside the external body (2) such that the shaft (42) enters the shaft hole (24). Afterwards, the limiter (4) is rotated as much as it can be, such that the head (41) of the limiter (4) gets closer to the shaft hole (24) (Figure 1). By this, the limiter (4) is mounted to the external body (2). Afterwards, the internal body (3) is positioned such that its opening (32) faces the open end of the external body (2) (Figure 2), and then the internal body (3) is entered into the external body (2) (Figure 3). In this position, the head (41= of the limiter (4) might be moved inside the internal body (3), thereby changing the volume of the gap (31) which is able to receive material, and thus, the amount of material that can enter into the said gap (31). In an embodiment of the invention, the number and the pitch of the threads (teeth) on the shaft (42) and the shaft hole (24) are determined according to the desired amount of distance that the limiter (4) should move for one revolution of the shaft (42). When the pitch is greater, the limiter (4) moves a greater distance per revolution of the shaft (42), compared to a smaller pitch. By this, the adjustment sensitivity of the amount of materials to be taken may be changed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the external body (2) comprises at least one switch hole (25) on its face having the shaft hole (24). Said switch hole (25) is suitable for a switch to be placed therein. In this embodiment, the inventive dosing means (1) might comprise at least one switch (5) suitable for placing inside the said switch hole (25). The switch (5) is placed in a manner that when the limiter (4) is moved inside the external body (3) until the face comprising the said switch hole (25), the head (41) of the limiter (4) changes the state of the switch (5). By this, this position of the limiter (4) may be detected, and thus the amount of materials that could be taken inside the inner body (3) is calibrated. This position is the position where the maximum amount of materials could be stored inside the internal body

(3). Since how much the limiter (4) might move per one revolution of the shaft (42) is known, the amount of change of the materials that can be taken inside the internal body (3) is also known.

In an embodiment of the invention, usable with the other embodiments, the limiter

(4) comprises at least one magnet. The said magnet is preferably located on the head (41). In this embodiment, a magnetic sensor, the state of which might be changed with the effect of the said magnet, is located on the outside of the external body (2). The said magnetic sensor may be a reed switch or a magnetic field sensor, although it is not limited to these examples. By this, the number of revolutions completed by the head (41) could be calculated. In an embodiment connected to this embodiment, at least two and preferably three magnetic sensors are located outside the external body (2). By this, the direction of rotation of head (41) could also be determined. In an embodiment of the invention, usable with the other embodiments, the shaft (42) might be driven via a knob. In this embodiment, the user might control the limiter (4) by hand. In this embodiment, the location where the head (41) presses on the switch (5) is considered to be the starting location. In this embodiment, the knob might comprise a mark showing the relative position of the knob with respect to a second mark (e.g. position marks labeled as 6g, 7g, and 8g). By this, the user might understand to which position he should turn the knob in order to achieve the desired adjustment. Alternatively, a control unit takes the location at which the head

(41) presses on the switch as the starting position and determines how much, and towards which direction the limiter (4) is rotated, according to the data it receives from the magnetic sensors. As the user rotates the knob, the control unit calculates, also using the pitch data, how much the limiter (4) is moved and thus, how much material the internal body (3) might receive. In this embodiment, a feedback relating to the amount of materials receivable might also be given to the user. Said feedback might be via a notification via a cell phone as well as visual and/or auditory feedback.

In an embodiment of the invention, usable with the other embodiments, the shaft

(42) might be driven via an electric motor. In this embodiment, the motor might be driven by a control unit either directly or via a driving circuit. In this embodiment, the location where the head (41) presses on the switch (5) is considered to be the starting location. The control unit, starting from the said starting location, might calculate how much the limiter is moved, using the driving time of the motor and the pitch data. Alternatively, a control unit takes the location at which the head (41) presses on the switch, again, as the starting position and determines how much, and towards which direction the limiter (4) is rotated, according to the data it receives from the magnetic sensors. The control unit then calculates, also using the pitch data, how much the limiter (4) is moved and thus, how much material the internal body (3) might receive. The embodiment where the magnetic sensors are used provides a more sensitive adjustment means, compared to the embodiments not utilizing magnetic sensors. In this embodiment, the user moves the motor by the commands he gives via an input means such as a push button or a potentiometer. Additionally, the user might indicate how much material he wishes to use via an interface. In this case, the control unit moves the limiter (4) such that the amount of materials required by the user might be stored inside the inner body (3). For example, let us assume that the internal body might store 8g of materials at the position where the head (41) contacts the switch (5). When the user indicates that he wishes to use 6 g of materials via the said interface, the control unit calculates how many turns towards which direction should the limiter (4) be rotated, in order to restrict the volume of the inner body (3) to 6g. Afterwards, the control unit rotates the limiter (4).

The internal body (3) might be rotated by driving at preferably its closed end. When the opening (32) of the internal body (3) is rotated such that it reciprocates the inlet opening (22), the materials might enter into the internal body (3). When the opening (32) of the internal body (3) is rotated such that it reciprocates the outlet opening (23), the materials inside the internal body (3) might be discharged. Said drive might be applied by hand or a driving means such as a motor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the movement of the head (41) towards the inside of the internal body (3) might be achieved by a force exerted on the shaft (42) which at least has a component on the shaft (42). In a related embodiment, at least one bulge (not shown) for letting the user to understand that the head (41) reached a predetermined location or locations, is present on the internal body (3). Said bulge is located so as to narrow the diameter of the internal body (3). When the head (41) reaches the said bulge, it stops. The force required to be exerted on the head (41) for the head (41) to be disengaged from the said bulge is greater than the minimum force required for moving the head (41). The said bulges might be placed in order to limit the volume of the internal body (3) to predefined values. For example, they might be placed such that they limit the volume of the internal body (3) such that it might receive 6g, 7g and 8g of material. In a related embodiment, the inventive dosing means (1) comprises at least one spring (not shown) in order to pull the head towards (41) the said bulge, or to push the head (41) away from the said bulge. Said spring is preferably located between the head (41) and the face of the external body (2) comprising the shaft hole (24). In an embodiment of the invention, the external body (2) and the internal body (3) each comprise at least one escape hole (not shown) for discharging the materials that might build up over time between the external body and the internal body (3) and/or the head (41). The escape hole of the external body (2) is located on the lateral wall of the external body (2), on the part of the said wall that is closer to the wall having the shaft hole (24). Similarly, the escape hole of the internal body (3) is preferably located on the lateral wall of the internal body (3), on the part of the said wall that is closer to the wall having the shaft hole (24) when the internal body (3) is placed inside the external body (2). The said escape holes are positioned such that at at least one position of the internal body (3) and the external body (2), relative to each other, the said escape holes at least partially align with each other. By this, the materials that might build up between the head (41) and the internal body (3) might be discharged to the outside of the dosing means (1).

The inventive dosing means (1) is suitable to be used with a grinder and/or a hot beverage preparing machine, especially a coffee machine, and more especially a Turkish coffee machine.