Apparatus for the proportioned feed of coffee beans

1. An apparatus for the proportioned feed of coffee beans, comprising:

a separator proportioner unit configured to measure out the coffee beans in individual measures;

an incremental weighing unit configured to weigh a quantity of coffee beans proportioned by the separator proportioner unit;

a control card configured to receive a weight signal from the incremental weighing unit and to calculate the weight of the proportioned coffee beans.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said separator proportioner unit comprises a feed device configured to feed coffee beans loosely.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said separator proportioner unit comprises a separator transfer member configured to guide the coffee beans received from the feed device in single file.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said separator proportioner unit comprises a vibrator unit configured to make the separator transfer member vibrate in order to determine the feed of the coffee beans in single file.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the feed device comprises a feed hopper.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said feed hopper comprises a receptacle connected to the separator transfer member and provided with a lateral aperture for the outflow of the coffee beans.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said separator transfer member comprises a bar provided with a longitudinal guide channel with a transverse through hole for the passage of the separated coffee beans toward the incremental weighing unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said guide channel has a U-shaped cross section.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said incremental weighing unit comprises a container to receive the coffee beans transferred by the separator proportioner unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said incremental weighing unit comprises a sensor unit configured to detect the weight force acting on the container.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor unit comprises a load cell.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a user/operator interface and a communication module.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is associated with a coffee grinding device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of separator proportioner units.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said plurality of separator proportioner units are associated with a single incremental weighing unit and said apparatus comprises a movement device configured to move the incremental weighing unit between the various separator proportioner units.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein each of said separator proportioner units is associated with its own respective incremental weighing unit.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , and further comprising a computer program storable in a medium readable by a computer that contains instructions that, once executed by a processor,

proportions coffee beans individually;

weighs a quantity of proportioned coffee beans;

receives a weight signal and calculating the weight of the proportioned coffee beans;

grinds the proportioned coffee beans to obtain coffee powder;

compresses the coffee powder thus obtained; and

percolates with boiling water under pressure through the coffee powder to prepare the coffee drink.

18. A coffee preparing station, comprising:

an apparatus for the proportioned feed of coffee beans, the apparatus comprising a separator proportioner unit configured to measure out the coffee beans in individual measures, an incremental weighing unit configured to weigh a quantity of coffee beans proportioned by the separator proportioner unit, and a control card configured to receive a weight signal from the incremental weighing unit and to calculate the weight of the proportioned coffee beans; and

wherein the coffee preparing station further comprises a coffee grinding device and a coffee machine arranged to produce a coffee drink.