Collection tray for discharged liquid/steam of a coffee machine that incorporates said collection tray

1. A coffee machine ( 2 ) comprising:

an enclosure;

a collection tray ( 1 ) for discharged liquid/steam of the coffee machine ( 2 ), the collection tray ( 1 ) comprising:

a primary collection compartment ( 10 );

a secondary collection compartment ( 11 );

an overflow ( 12 ) of said primary collection compartment ( 10 ) for discharging the liquid into the secondary collection compartment ( 11 );

at least two electrical conductors ( 13 ) positioned in said secondary collection compartment ( 11 ) and assembled on an oscillating support ( 14 ) and configured for connection with two electrical contacts ( 15 ) of an electric circuit ( 16 ) of the coffee machine ( 2 ) for detecting a level of liquid contained in said secondary collection compartment ( 11 ); and

a hydraulic connector ( 8 ) configured for sealed connection with an external water/steam discharge conduit ( 40 ) of the coffee machine ( 2 );

wherein the oscillating support ( 14 ) is configured for vertical oscillation to enable a position of the two electrical conductors ( 13 ) to be movable relative to a position of the hydraulic connector ( 8 ); and

a dispenser ( 3 ) that extends from a wall of the enclosure, above the collection tray ( 1 ).

2. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said electrical conductors ( 13 ) are positioned at a same height in said secondary collection compartment ( 11 ).

3. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing ( 17 ) for said electrical conductors ( 13 ) where said electrical contacts ( 15 ) are present.

4. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said electrical conductors ( 13 ) are positioned at a predetermined height in said secondary collection compartment ( 11 ) due to said oscillating support ( 14 ) being subjected to an elastic strain towards a stroke end ( 18 ).

5. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 4 , wherein said electrical contacts ( 15 ) are provided on elastically yielding metal elements ( 19 ) that strain said oscillating support ( 14 ) towards said stroke end ( 18 ).

6. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 5 , wherein said stroke end ( 18 ) is a wall of a housing ( 17 ) for said electrical conductors ( 13 ) where said electrical contacts ( 15 ) are present.

7. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 6 , wherein said electrical conductors ( 13 ) are shaped sheets comprising one end ( 13 a ) that extends into said secondary collection compartment ( 11 ) and one end ( 13 b ) that extends into said housing ( 17 ).

8. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said oscillating support ( 14 ) is guided in a vertical oscillation direction.

9. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said oscillating support ( 14 ) is assembled on a structurally independent frame ( 20 ) of the collection tray ( 1 ), where the structurally independent frame ( 20 ) is structurally independent of a main body of the collection tray ( 1 ).

10. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 9 , wherein said frame ( 20 ) has wave breaker walls ( 23 ) that extend into said primary collection compartment ( 10 ).

11. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 9 , wherein said hydraulic connector ( 8 ) is configured for sealed connection of said primary collection compartment ( 10 ) to said water/steam discharge conduit ( 40 ) of said coffee machine ( 2 ).

12. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 11 , wherein said hydraulic connector ( 8 ) is integrated into said frame ( 20 ).

13. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said collection tray ( 1 ) comprises a structurally independent cup resting plane ( 4 ), where the structurally independent cup resting frame ( 4 ) is structurally independent of a main body of the collection tray ( 1 ).

14. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the primary collection compartment ( 10 ), the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ), and the overflow ( 12 ) are configured so that:

upon liquid reaching a predetermined level in the primary collection compartment ( 10 ), the liquid starts to overflow from the overflow ( 12 ) into the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ); and

upon liquid reaching a predetermined level in the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ), the two electrical conductors ( 13 ) are contacted by the liquid, which closes the electric circuit ( 16 ).

15. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ) is smaller in volume than the primary collection compartment ( 10 ), and all liquid drainage and drippings of the coffee machine ( 2 ) first enter the primary collection compartment ( 10 ).

16. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the collection tray ( 1 ) is configured so that, when the collection tray ( 1 ) is introduced for electrical and hydraulic connection to the coffee machine ( 2 ), and the hydraulic connector ( 8 ) is connected to the water/steam discharge conduit ( 40 ), the electrical conductors ( 13 ) find positional alignment for connection with said electrical contacts ( 15 ) of said electric circuit ( 16 ) through positioning of the oscillating support ( 14 ).

17. The coffee machine ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic connector ( 8 ) is integrated directly into a frame ( 20 ) of the collection tray ( 1 ).

18. A coffee machine ( 2 ) comprising a collection tray ( 1 ) for discharged liquid/steam of the coffee machine ( 2 ), the collection tray ( 1 ) comprising:

a primary collection compartment ( 10 ),

a secondary collection compartment ( 11 ), smaller in volume than the primary collection compartment ( 10 ), where all liquid drainage and drippings of the coffee machine ( 2 ) first enter the primary collection compartment ( 10 ),

an overflow ( 12 ) of said primary collection compartment ( 10 ) for discharging the liquid into the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ),

a hydraulic connector ( 8 ) configured for sealed connection with a water/steam discharge conduit ( 40 ) of the coffee machine ( 2 ), and

at least two electrical conductors ( 13 ) positioned in said secondary collection compartment ( 11 ) and assembled on an oscillating support ( 14 ) for connection with two electrical contacts ( 15 ) of an external electric circuit ( 16 ) for detecting a level of liquid contained in said secondary collection compartment ( 11 );

wherein the oscillating support ( 14 ) is configured for vertical oscillation to enable a position of the two electrical conductors ( 13 ) to be movable relative to a position of the hydraulic connector ( 8 );

wherein the primary collection compartment ( 10 ), the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ), and the overflow ( 12 ) are configured so that:

upon liquid reaching a predetermined level in the primary collection compartment ( 10 ), the liquid starts to overflow from the overflow ( 12 ) into the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ); and

upon liquid reaching a predetermined level in the secondary collection compartment ( 11 ), the two electrical conductors ( 13 ) are contacted by the liquid, which closes the electric circuit ( 16 ); and

wherein the collection tray ( 1 ) is configured so that, when the collection tray ( 1 ) is introduced for electrical and hydraulic connection to the coffee machine ( 2 ), and the hydraulic connector ( 8 ) is connected to the water/steam discharge conduit ( 40 ), the electrical conductors ( 13 ) find positional alignment for connection with said electrical contacts ( 15 ) of said electric circuit ( 16 ) through positioning of the oscillating support ( 14 ).