Apparatus to make coffee cream by means of centrifugation

Claim 2

A centrifuging apparatus into which coffee powder and water are introduced for making coffee cream, that is, liquid coffee separated from coffee deposits, comprising a first rotatably mounted wall means, and a second rotatably mounted wall means cooperatively engaged with said first wall means for rotation therewith, said first and second wall means cooperating to form a centrifuging chamber arranged to receive the coffee powder and water, and said second wall means forming a separate collection chamber which rotates with said centrifuging chamber and is arranged in communication with said centrifuging chamber for receiving coffee cream therefrom separated from the coffee deposits retained within said centrifuging chamber.

Claim 3

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first wall means comprising an upright outer sleeve and a frustoconically shaped flange secured to and extending outwardly from the lower end of said sleeve, said second wall means comprising an upright inner sleeve positioned within said outer sleeve, a disc flange positioned at and extending radially outwardly from the lower end of said second sleeve and being located below said frustoconically shaped flange, and a wall member secured to and extending downwardly from said disc flange, said frustoconically shaped flange and said disc flange cooperating to form the centrifuging chamber, and said disc flange and said wall member cooperating to form the collection chamber.

Claim 4

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a bushing being located radially outwardly from said outer sleeve, first bearing means located within said bushing for rotatably supporting said outer sleeve, a locking flange secured to and extending outwardly from the upper end of said inner sleeve and being located above the upper end of said inner sleeve, and a second bearing means mounted within said locking flange and spaced upwardly from said first bearing means for rotatably supporting said inner sleeve.

Claim 5

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein a retention spring encircles said inner sleeve and extends between and in contact with the upper end of said outer sleeve and the lower end of the said bearing means within said locking flange.

Claim 6

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein a tube located within and extending upwardly through said inner sleeve being arranged to deliver coffee powder and water into the said inner sleeve, said inner sleeve having a plurality of openings in its lower end for admitting the coffee powder and water from its lower end into said centrifuging chamber.

Claim 7

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve being interengaged for affording relative axial movement therebetween, and means associated with said locking flange for displacing said inner sleeve downwardly and for separating said disc flange downwardly from said frustoconically shaped flange for discharging used coffee deposit from the outer periphery of said centrifuging chamber.

Claim 8

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the radially outer and upper surface of said disc flange being in sealed contact with the radially outer and lower surface of said frustoconically shaped flange, whereby in exerting a downward force on said inner sleeve the sealed contact between said disc flange and said frustoconically shaped flange is discontinued.

Claim 9

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein third wall means laterally enclosing said frustoconically shaped flange and said disc flange and forming an annular collection space located radially outwardly from the outer periphery of said centrifuging chamber for receiving used coffee deposits from said centrifuging chamber, and an outer opening from said collection space for discharging the used coffee deposits therefrom.

Claim 10

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a plurality of fins bEing affixed to the outer periphery of said frustoconically shaped flange and being located within said collection space whereby during rotation of said flange a vortex action is established for discharging coffee deposit from said collection space through said outlet therefrom.

Claim 11

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said third wall means comprises a funnel shaped section extending downwardly below said collection space and being located below said collection chamber.

Claim 12

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a fixed support structure being located adjacent said inner and outer sleeves, said inner and outer sleeves being secured to said support structure, said third wall means being secured to said support structure, for supporting the centrifuging apparatus during the centrifuging movement thereof.

Claim 13

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein an annular shaped gasket member being fitted into a recess in the lower face of said frustoconically shaped flange at a position spaced outwardly from the outer periphery of said centrifuging chamber, and an annular protuberance extending upwardly from the upper face of said disc flange aligned below said gasket and being arranged to cooperate with said gasket for forming a seal between the mating surfaces of said frustoconically shaped flange and disc flange.

Claim 14

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, wherein a shallow annular recess located in the upper surface of said disc flange at the outer periphery of and opens to said centrifuging chamber, an annular groove of greater depth than said recess being positioned in the upper surface of the said disc flange contiguous with said recess and located outwardly from said centrifuging chamber, and a plurality of openings extending through said disc flange from said groove to said collection chamber, said openings extending outwardly and downwardly through said disc flange, whereby the coffee cream from said centrifuging chamber flows outwardly through said recess, said groove, and said openings into said collection chamber.

Claim 15

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality of fins, being secured to the inner surface of said wall member and extending perpendicularly therefrom inwardly into said collection chamber for discontinuing the rotational movement of the coffee cream within said collection chamber received from said centrifuging chamber.

Claim 16

A centrifuging apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said collection chamber for the coffee cream being located radially outwardly from the centrifuging chamber.