Appliance for producing hot drinks

Abstract

An appliance for producing hot drinks comprising a water heating device; a heating 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 control device operatively associated with the heating source for adjusting the temperature of the water contained in the water heating device; and a compensating device to dynamically compensate for temperature drop undergone by the water flowing along the duct from the water heating device to the seat.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An appliance for producing hot drinks comprising:
 a water heating device comprising a heating source;   a first temperature sensor within the water heating device;   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 second temperature sensor associated with the duct;   a control device operatively associated with the heating source for adjusting the temperature of the water contained in the water heating device;   the control device being operatively connected to each of said first and second temperature sensors and said control device performing an adjustment varying with time of the temperature of the water contained in the water heating device by switching on/switching off the heating source, on the basis of both the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor associated with the duct.   
     
     
         32 . The appliance according to  claim 31 , wherein the control device, based on the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor, determines an optimum temperature value at which bringing the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor in the water heating device and switches off/switches on the heating source so that the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor approaches the optimum temperature, as determined on the basis of the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The appliance ( 1 ) according to  claim 31 , further comprising at least one third temperature sensor associated with the duct. 
     
     
         34 . The appliance according to  claim 33 , wherein the control device adjusts the temperature of the water in the water heating device, as detected by the first temperature sensor, based on the temperatures detected by both the second and third temperature sensors. 
     
     
         35 . The appliance according to  claim 31 , further comprising a valve blocking/allowing water flow towards the seat, wherein the second temperature sensor is positioned at one of a position at the valve or a position downstream of the valve. 
     
     
         36 . A method for adjusting the water temperature in an appliance for producing hot drinks, the appliance comprising a water heating device with a heating source, a first temperature sensor within the water heating device, a seat for containing a product for preparing the hot drink, a duct for feeding the water from the water heating device to the seat, and a second temperature sensor associated with the duct, the method comprising:
 switching the heating source on for heating the water contained into the water heating device;   detecting a temperature of the water contained into the water heating device with the first temperature sensor;   detecting a temperature associated with at least one point of the water feeding duct with the second temperature sensor;   performing a compensation, varying with time, for temperature drop undergone by the water flowing along the duct from the water heating device to the seat by adjusting the temperature of the water contained in the water heating device, as detected by the first temperature sensor, by switching on/switching off the heating source on the basis of both the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the temperature detected by second temperature sensor associated with the duct.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of performing a compensation comprises:
 determining an optimum temperature value at which the temperature of the water detected by the first temperature sensor must be brought, based on the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor, and   
       switching off/switching on the heating source so that the temperature detected by the first sensor approaches the optimum temperature, as determined on the basis of the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising;
 performing the compensation step, by adjusting the temperature of the water contained in the water heating device, as detected by the first temperature sensor, on the basis of the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and both of the temperatures detected by the second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor associated with the duct.