JP6655836B2 - Beverage supply device - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a beverage supply device for extracting coffee liquid by supplying hot water to coffee raw material powder under pressure.

  In recent years, drip coffee or pressurized extraction coffee (espresso) has been generally provided in restaurants and cafes. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an extraction unit that can make both an American coffee beverage and an espresso coffee beverage.

JP 2012-179364 A

  A conventional beverage supply device including Patent Literature 1 generally includes an extraction chamber for accommodating, for example, ground coffee beans, and a lid for sealing the extraction chamber. Then, the extraction chamber or the lid is driven by a driving device such as a motor so that the inside of the extraction chamber can be pressurized. The extraction chamber is connected to a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water to the extraction chamber, an extraction pipe for providing extracted coffee liquid to a user, and a drain pipe for draining waste liquid after extraction. Further, each pipe connected to the extraction chamber is provided with a valve.

  When coffee is extracted in such a beverage supply device, ground coffee beans are accommodated in the extraction chamber and sealed by the lid. Then, hot water is introduced from a hot water supply pipe. At this point, the drain pipe valve is closed, and the coffee liquid extracted in the extraction chamber is provided to the beverage container outside the extraction pipe.

  Here, if the extraction pipe is clogged at the time of extraction, the liquid cannot pass through the extraction pipe and the drain pipe even though hot water is continuously supplied from the hot water supply pipe as described above, so that the pressure in the extraction chamber increases. As a result, a situation occurs in which the liquid leaks out of the extraction chamber or flows backward in the hot water supply pipe. In order to prevent such a situation, generally, the beverage supply device is provided with a flow rate sensor in the hot water supply pipe, and is configured so that hot water supply can be stopped when there is an abnormality in the flow rate.

  However, when the extraction tube is clogged during extraction and the pressure in the extraction chamber rises, the pressure in the extraction chamber may cause the motor to rotate in the reverse direction, causing the extraction chamber or the lid to move in a direction to increase the volume of the extraction chamber. In such a case, the beverage supply device becomes uncontrollable and the driving device is overloaded.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply device capable of coping with an uncontrollable condition even when an extraction tube is clogged during extraction.

The beverage supply device according to the present invention includes a cylinder containing coffee bean powder, a hot water pump that pressurizes hot water into the cylinder, a coffee liquid pipe that sends out coffee liquid extracted by the cylinder, and the cylinder. A drain valve for discharging the residual liquid in the tank, and when detecting the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe at the time of extracting the coffee liquid, stopping the pressurized supply of the hot water by the hot water pump and opening the drain valve. A control unit, a cap that closes the opening of the cylinder, and a motor that moves the cylinder so that the cap closes the opening, the control unit, when extracting the coffee liquid, The clogging of the coffee liquid pipe is detected based on a signal indicating the rotation of the motor .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if an extraction tube becomes clogged at the time of extraction, it can cope before control becomes impossible.

The perspective view of the external structure of the beverage supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view of a beverage supply mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. Side view of a beverage supply mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention The figure which showed the flow of the hot water in the beverage supply mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the coffee extraction part concerning embodiment of this invention. Functional block diagram showing each functional unit of the beverage supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the coffee supply operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the coffee supply operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the coffee supply operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the coffee supply operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the coffee supply operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows operation | movement of the principal part regarding the coffee extraction of the beverage supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the main part when clogging occurs in the coffee liquid supply path in the coffee liquid extraction operation | movement of the beverage supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a beverage supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[External structure of beverage supply device 100]
First, the external structure of the beverage supply device 100 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage supply device 100 includes a housing 1, a front door 2, a touch panel 3, a coffee nozzle 4, a milk nozzle 5, a hot water nozzle 6, and a beverage container support 7.

  The housing 1 holds a beverage supply mechanism 10 described later therein, and has a front door 2, a touch panel 3, a coffee nozzle 4, a milk nozzle 5, a hot water nozzle 6, and a beverage container support 7 attached to the front surface. Case member.

  The front door 2 is attached to the front of the housing 1 so as to be openable and closable, is normally closed, and is locked so that the user cannot open or close it. The front door 2 is opened, for example, during maintenance, so that an administrator of the beverage supply device 100 can access the beverage supply mechanism 10 housed inside the beverage supply device 100 from the front portion of the housing 1.

  The touch panel 3 is an operation receiving unit that displays a selection of a beverage, a message, and the like to a user of the beverage supply device 100, and that receives a user's selection operation or a discharge instruction operation.

  The coffee nozzle 4 is a nozzle for providing coffee manufactured by the beverage supply mechanism 10 to a beverage container placed on a beverage container support 7 described below. The milk nozzle 5 is a nozzle for providing formed milk or steamed milk to a beverage container. The coffee nozzle 4 and the milk nozzle 5 are arranged close to each other, and are configured so that coffee and milk can be mixed in a beverage container to supply a mixed milk and coffee beverage such as caffe latte or cappuccino. Have been. The hot water nozzle 6 is a nozzle for providing only hot water to a beverage container for a user who uses a tea bag or the like.

  The beverage container support table 7 is a table for placing a beverage container that receives the beverage (or hot water) discharged from each of the nozzles.

[Beverage supply mechanism 10]
Next, the beverage supply mechanism 10 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage supply mechanism 10, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the beverage supply mechanism 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the beverage supply mechanism 10 includes a hot water tank 11, a hot water pump 12, a canister 13, a mill 14, a coffee residue receiving unit 15, and a coffee extracting unit 30.

  The hot water tank 11 is a tank capable of storing several liters of hot water, and is provided with a heater (not shown) for heating and keeping the stored drinking water at 97 ° C., for example. The hot water pump 12 provided near the bottom of the hot water tank 11 is a pump that pressurizes and discharges the hot water in the hot water tank 11.

  The canister 13 is a container for storing roasted coffee beans used for coffee production. A coffee bean obtaining port (not shown) is opened at a lower portion of the canister 13, and coffee beans are supplied from the obtaining port in accordance with the operation of the mill 14.

  The mill 14 grinds the coffee beans supplied from the canister 13 to a suitable particle size. By being crushed by the mill 14, hot water easily penetrates into the coffee beans, and suitable coffee extraction is performed.

  The coffee beans (ground beans) pulverized by the mill 14 are supplied to a coffee extraction unit 30 described later. The details of the coffee extracting operation by the coffee extracting unit 30 will be described later.

  The coffee residue receiving unit 15 stores the residue of the ground beans used for extracting the coffee liquid by the coffee extracting unit 30. The coffee grounds receiving portion 15 is configured to be able to be pulled out forward with the front door 2 opened, so that the stored coffee grounds can be removed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of hot water in the beverage supply mechanism 10. As shown in FIG. 4, one end of a hot water supply pipe 24 in which a hot water filter 21, a flow rate sensor 22, and a hot water supply valve 23 are sequentially arranged is connected to an outlet of the hot water pump 12. The other end of the hot water supply pipe 24 is connected to a hot water supply port 313 provided in a cylinder unit 31 of the coffee extraction unit 30 described later. In the present embodiment, connector 24 </ b> A is provided at the other end of hot water supply pipe 24, and is connected to hot water supply port 313.

  The hot water supply pipe 24 is connected to a drain pipe 25 located between the hot water supply valve 23 and the coffee extraction unit 30 and branched from the hot water supply pipe 24 via a flow divider 29. The drain pipe 25 is provided with a drain valve 26. Further, a coffee liquid pipe 27 is connected to a coffee liquid extracting section 37B provided on a cap 37 of the coffee extracting section 30 described later. An extraction valve 28 is provided in the coffee liquid pipe 27.

  The flow divider 29 is provided with a pressure sensor 291 for monitoring the pressure in a cylinder 311 (see FIG. 5 and the like described later) to which the hot water supply pipe is connected. The pressure sensor 291 may be arranged at any position as long as the pressure in the cylinder 311 can be monitored. For example, the pressure sensor 291 may be provided in the hot water supply pipe 24 from the hot water supply valve 23 to the hot water supply port 313 of the cylinder unit 31 via the flow divider 29. It may be arranged at a predetermined position, a predetermined position in the cylinder 311 or the like.

  Hot water filter 21 is a filter that removes impurities and the like of hot water supplied from hot water tank 11 to coffee extraction unit 30 via hot water pump 12. The flow sensor 22 measures the amount of hot water supplied from the hot water tank 11 to the coffee extracting unit 30. Hot water supply valve 23 is an electromagnetic valve that is opened and closed under the control of control unit 50 of beverage supply device 100 described below. The operation of the hot water supply valve 23 will be described later in detail. Hot water supply pipe 24 is a pipe section that forms a flow path of hot water from hot water tank 11 to coffee extraction unit 30.

  The drain pipe 25 is a pipe section for controlling the discharge of the remaining liquid and the like in the coffee extraction section 30 and a coffee liquid pipe 27 described later to the outside. The drain valve 26 is an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes under the control of the control unit 50, similarly to the hot water supply valve 23 described above. The operation of the drain valve 26 will be described later in detail.

  The coffee liquid pipe 27 is a pipe section for guiding the coffee liquid extracted by the coffee extracting section 30 to the above-described coffee nozzle 4. The extraction valve 28 is an electromagnetic valve that is opened and closed under the control of the control unit 50, like the hot water supply valve 23 and the drain valve 26 described above. The operation of the extraction valve 28 will be described later in detail.

[Coffee extractor 30]
Next, the coffee extracting unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the coffee extracting unit 30. The coffee extracting unit 30 extracts coffee liquid by passing hot water through the ground beans supplied from the mill 14.

  The coffee extraction unit 30 includes a cylinder unit 31, a lifting unit 32, a lifting shaft 33, a motor 34, a pulley 35, a frame unit 36, a cap 37, and a wiper 38.

  The cylinder unit 31 includes a cylinder 311 having an open upper surface, and a water-permeable piston 312 that can move up and down in the cylinder 311. The above-described hot water supply port 313 is provided on the bottom side surface of the cylinder 311, and the connector 24 </ b> A of the hot water supply pipe 24 is detachably connected to the hot water supply port 313.

  The piston 312 is composed of a disk-shaped member and a rod-shaped member substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cylinder 311, and the rod-shaped member is fitted into a hole formed in the center of the lower surface of the cylinder 311 and extends downward from the cylinder 311. . On the upper surface of the piston 312, for example, a mesh filter for filtering coffee liquid is provided.

  The elevating unit 32 holds the above-described cylinder unit 31 and moves up and down together with the cylinder unit 31 in the vertical direction.

  The elevating shaft 33 is a shaft portion that supports the elevating unit 32, and the elevating unit 32 moves up and down along the elevating shaft 33.

  The motor 34 is a driving unit that rotationally drives the elevating shaft 33, and in the present embodiment, is a motor with an electromagnetic brake, for example. Further, it is preferable to use a brushless motor as motor 34 in the present embodiment. The motor 34, which is a brushless motor, has a rotor position detection sensor (Hall element) 341 (see FIG. 6 described later) that detects the position of a rotor (rotor), and the rotation of the motor generated by the rotor position detection sensor 341. A pulse signal (FG (Frequency Generator) signal: an example of an operation signal of the present invention) having a frequency proportional to the number is output.

  The pulley 35 is connected to the upper end of the elevating shaft 33 and transmits the rotation of the motor 34 to the elevating shaft 33. The above-described elevating shaft 33, motor 34, and pulley 35 are held by frame portions 36, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the frame portion 36 includes an upper surface portion 36A and a lower surface portion 36B, and at least one pillar portion 36C connecting these. Both ends of the elevating shaft 33 are connected to the upper surface portion 36A and the lower surface portion 36B, respectively. The pulley 35 is connected to the upper surface portion 36A of the elevating shaft 33, and a motor 34 is disposed near the pulley 35.

  With such a configuration, when the motor 34 rotates in the forward direction, the elevating shaft 33 rotates, the elevating unit 32 moves up, and the cylinder unit 31 held by the elevating unit 32 also moves up. Conversely, when the motor 34 rotates in the reverse direction, the lifting unit 32 and the cylinder unit 31 move down.

  The cap 37 is a columnar member provided above the cylinder unit 31 on the upper surface 36 </ b> A of the frame 36. The lower end of the cap 37 has substantially the same diameter as the upper surface opening of the cylinder 311, and the lower end of the cap 37 is fitted into the cylinder 311 by raising the cylinder unit 31. That is, the opening of the cylinder 311 is closed by the cap 37 when the cylinder unit 31 moves up together with the lifting unit 32. Therefore, the cylinder 311 can be hermetically closed by raising the cylinder unit 31. Here, coffee beans ground by the above-described mill 14 are sealed in the cylinder 311 with the cap 37, and hot water is introduced from the hot water supply port 313, whereby coffee liquid can be extracted.

  Further, an extraction port 37A (see FIG. 7 and the like) for leading out the coffee liquid extracted in the cylinder 311 to the outside is formed on the lower surface of the cap 37, that is, the surface fitted into the cylinder 311. The extraction port 37A is formed so as to communicate with an extraction path (not shown) formed vertically through the inside of the cap 37, and the other end of the extraction path is exposed to the upper surface of the cap 37 to extract the coffee liquid. 37B is formed. The coffee liquid pipe 27 described above is connected to the coffee liquid take-out section 37B.

  As described above, the cylinder unit 31 moves up and down together with the elevating unit 32, and a sensor for detecting the position of the cylinder unit 31 is appropriately disposed on the frame unit 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the position detection sensors include, in order from the top, an upper limit position detection sensor 41, a hot water supply position detection sensor 42, a coffee bean supply position detection sensor 43, and a lower limit position detection sensor 44. Each position detection sensor is, for example, an optical sensor (not shown) including a pair of light-emitting elements and a light-receiving element, and performs position detection by blocking light emitted from the light-emitting elements in accordance with elevation of the elevating unit 32.

  The upper limit position detection sensor 41 is a sensor that detects the upper limit position of the cylinder unit 31. The hot water pouring position detection sensor 42 is a sensor for detecting the position of the cylinder unit 31 for pouring hot water into the cylinder 311. The coffee bean input position detection sensor 43 is a sensor for detecting a position of the cylinder unit 31 for inputting ground coffee beans to the cylinder 311. The lower limit position detection sensor 44 is a sensor that detects the lower limit position of the cylinder unit 31.

  The wiper 38 is fixed at a position slightly above the upper end of the cylinder 311, and moves up and down together with the cylinder unit 31 and the elevating unit 32. When the cylinder unit 31 reaches a predetermined height, the wiper 38 performs a wiping operation of bouncing off the coffee residue after extracting the coffee liquid with the fixed position as a fulcrum. The splashed coffee residue is stored in the coffee residue receiving unit 15 as described above.

[Control unit 50]
Next, the control unit 50 of the beverage supply device 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing each functional unit of the beverage supply device 100. The control unit 50 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose microcontroller.

  On the input side of the control unit 50, the touch panel 3, the flow sensor 22, the pressure sensor 291, the rotor position detecting sensor 341, the upper limit position detecting sensor 41, the hot water pouring position detecting sensor 42, the coffee bean pouring position detecting sensor 43, the lower limit position detecting The sensor 44 and the like are connected. The hot water pump 12, mill 14, hot water supply valve 23, drain valve 26, extraction valve 28, motor 34 and the like are connected to the output side.

  The control unit 50 performs coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100 by controlling the output side based on the information input from the input side. Hereinafter, the coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100 will be described in detail.

[Coffee supply operation of beverage supply device 100]
7 to 11 are explanatory diagrams of the coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of the beverage supply device 100 relating to coffee extraction. Hereinafter, the coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100 will be described with reference to these drawings.

  First, before starting a series of coffee supply operations, the cylinder unit 31 (and the elevating unit 32) is at the standby position. The standby position is a position of the cylinder unit 31 after a piston position return operation described later in the previous coffee supply operation is completed. At the standby position, as shown in “standby” in FIG. 12, the cap 37 is completely fitted in the cylinder 311. The state where the cylinder unit 31 is at the standby position is hereinafter referred to as a standby state. In the standby state, the piston 312 of the cylinder unit 31 is located at the inner bottom of the cylinder 311. The control unit 50 stops the hot water pump 12, closes the hot water supply valve 23, the drain valve 26, and the extraction valve 28, and waits for a coffee extraction request operation via the touch panel 3.

(A) Coffee Bean Injection Operation When the user performs a coffee extraction request operation via the touch panel 3 in the standby state, the control unit 50 controls the motor as shown from “Descent” to “Powder tray” in FIG. 34 is controlled to lower the elevating unit 32 to a powder receiving state. As shown in the “powder tray” of FIGS. 7 and 12, in the powder tray state, the cap 37 is completely separated from the upper surface of the cylinder 311, the upper part of the cylinder 311 is opened, and ground beans (powder) can be charged. It has become.

  On the other hand, the control unit 50 drives the blade (not shown) of the mill 14 to grind the coffee beans contained in the canister 13 into ground beans in response to the coffee extraction request operation. The coffee beans ground in the mill 14 are put into a cylinder 311 having an open top.

(B) Coffee liquid extraction operation When such a coffee bean charging operation is completed, the control unit 50 executes a coffee liquid extraction operation next. In the coffee liquid extracting operation, first, as shown in “tamping (compression)” in FIGS. 8 and 12, the control unit 50 rotates the motor 34 forward to raise the cylinder unit 31 (the cylinder 311 and the piston 312). Thereby, the lower end of the cap 37 is pushed into the opening on the upper surface of the cylinder 311. The ground beans put into the cylinder 311 are sandwiched and compressed by the cap 3 and the piston 312 located at the inner bottom. This compression of the ground beans is called tamping. In the tamping operation, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23 and the extraction valve 28 and opens the drain valve 26 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the cylinder 311 and the piston 312 are fitted in the tamping operation, the hot water supply position detection sensor 42 detects that the cylinder unit 31 has reached a position where the hot water can be supplied. When the tamping operation is completed, the control unit 50 operates the hot water pump 12 to pressurize the hot water, closes the drain valve 26, opens the hot water supply valve 23, and turns on the hot water, as shown in “Extraction” in FIGS. The pressurized hot water is supplied from the tank 11 into the cylinder 311. Here, the control unit 50 detects the amount of hot water supplied by the flow rate sensor 22, and first supplies a small amount of hot water into the cylinder 311 to steam the ground beans. When the steaming is completed, the control unit 50 supplies a predetermined amount, for example, one cup of coffee, to the cylinder 311 again. When the supply is completed, the hot water pump 12 is stopped and the hot water supply valve 23 is closed.

  By the above operation, the pressurized hot water is introduced into the cylinder 311 sealed by the cap 37, so that the pressure in the cylinder 311 increases and the hot water permeates into the ground bean tissue. As a result, a strong coffee liquid, ie, espresso, is obtained. The control unit 50 opens the extraction valve 28 at the start of the extraction. The extracted coffee liquid passes through the inside of the cap 37 from an extraction port 37A formed on the lower surface of the cap 37, and is discharged from the coffee nozzle 4 via the coffee liquid pipe 27 connected to the coffee liquid outlet 37B. You. Thus, the coffee liquid is supplied to the beverage container placed below the coffee nozzle 4 on the beverage container support 7. At this time, a milk supply unit (not shown) may supply the mixed milk / coffee beverage by supplying the milk milk 5 and the formed milk or the steamed milk simultaneously with the coffee liquid.

(C) Coffee Slag Discarding Operation When the coffee liquid extracting operation is completed, the beverage supply device 100 executes a coffee residue discarding operation. First, as shown in “residual pressure purge” in FIG. 12, the control unit 50 keeps the hot water supply valve 23 closed, opens the drain valve 26 and closes the extraction valve 28. Then, the pressurized pressure in the cylinder 311 is released. When the pressure in the cylinder 311 becomes a normal pressure, the control unit 50 reverses the motor 34 to lower the cylinder unit 31 (the cylinder 311 and the piston 312), as shown in “suction” in FIGS. At this time, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23 and the drain valve 26 and opens the extraction valve 28. Then, since the volume of the space in the cylinder 311 increases with the lowering of the cylinder unit 31, the inside of the cylinder 311 becomes a negative pressure, and the inside of the pipe from the extraction port 37 </ b> A to the coffee liquid outlet 37 </ b> B and the inside of the coffee liquid pipe 27. The remaining coffee liquid can be sucked into the cylinder 311.

  When the control unit 50 further lowers the cylinder unit 31 (the cylinder 311 and the piston 312), the lower end of the piston 312 located at the lowermost end of the cylinder unit 31 is moved to the lower surface 36B of the frame 36 as shown in FIG. Abut When the control unit 50 continues the lowering operation, the lower end of the piston 312 is pressed against the lower surface 36B, and the piston 312 moves up in the cylinder 311.

  As a result, the coffee residue remaining in the cylinder 311 rises while being collected by the upper surface of the piston 312. When the cylinder unit 31 further descends and descends to the lower limit position, the lower limit position detection sensor 44 detects the position. In response to the detection by the lower limit position detection sensor 44, the control unit 50 stops driving the motor 34 and stops the lowering unit 32 from lowering. In this state, as shown in “Separation” in FIG. 12, the coffee residue collected on the upper surface of the piston 312 is pushed up to the outside of the cylinder 311 so as to be located above the edge of the upper surface opening of the cylinder 311. Become.

  Here, since the hot water supply valve 23 and the drain valve 26 are closed as described above, when the piston 312 rises in the cylinder 311, a negative pressure is applied between the upper end of the piston 312 and the inner bottom of the cylinder 311. Become. Since the piston 312 has water permeability as described above, moisture contained in coffee grounds collected on the upper surface of the piston 312 is drawn into the cylinder 311 through the piston 312. In FIG. 12, the drawn water is shown as a residual liquid. Thereby, the moisture contained in the coffee scum can be reduced, and in the subsequent operation of removing the coffee scum, such a problem that the coffee scum containing the water adheres to the upper surface of the piston 312 and cannot be sufficiently removed is caused. It is possible to remove the coffee residue appropriately.

  When the cylinder unit 31 descends to the lower limit position, the control unit 50 then rotates the motor 34 forward and raises the cylinder unit 31 again, as shown in FIG. When the cylinder unit 31 reaches a predetermined height position, the wiper 38 operates in conjunction with the vertical movement of the cylinder unit 31. The wiper 38 is located slightly above the upper end of the cylinder 311 as described above, and when the wiper 38 performs a wiping operation, the coffee residue pushed up to the outside of the cylinder 311 by the piston 312 is stripped by the wiper 38. We are removed. Here, the removed coffee grounds is received in the coffee grounds receiving section 15 described above.

(D) Piston Position Returning Operation After the coffee residue is discarded, the control unit 50 continuously raises the elevating unit 32 to execute the piston position returning operation. In the piston position return operation, the control unit 50 causes the motor 34 to rotate forward until the upper limit position detection sensor 41 detects that the cylinder unit 31 is at the upper limit position, as shown in FIG. Detecting that the cylinder unit 31 is at the upper limit position means that the cap 37 has been fitted to the innermost part of the cylinder 311. At this time, the piston 312 pushed up to the uppermost part of the cylinder 311 in the above-described coffee waste disposal operation comes into contact with the lower surface of the cap 37, and is further pushed down to the inner bottom of the cylinder 311 as the cylinder unit 31 rises. .

  In this process, the control unit 50 opens the drain valve 26 as shown in “waste liquid” in FIG. Thus, the water sucked into the space between the inner bottom portion of the cylinder 311 and the piston 312 in the above-described coffee residue disposal operation is smoothly disposed outside from the drain pipe 25 via the drain valve 26.

  Then, when the position of the piston 312 is pushed down to the inner bottom of the cylinder 311, that is, in the standby state described above, the control unit 50 stops the rotation of the motor 34 and at the same time stops the hot water supply valve 23, the drain valve 26 and the extraction valve 28. Close all valves and wait for the next coffee brewing operation.

  The coffee supply operation of the beverage supply device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The above-described coffee supply operation is based on the assumption that each unit operates properly and without delay. However, in the above-described coffee liquid extraction operation, any one of the paths (hereinafter, referred to as a coffee liquid supply path) from the coffee liquid extraction portion 37B of the piston 312 to the coffee nozzle 4 via the coffee liquid pipe 27. May be clogged. The operation of the beverage supply device 100 in such a case will be described in detail below.

[Operation when the coffee liquid supply path is clogged]
As shown in “extraction” in FIG. 12, the drain valve 26 is closed during the coffee liquid extraction operation. For this reason, when the coffee liquid supply path is clogged, the coffee liquid cannot pass through the drain pipe 25 and the coffee liquid pipe 27 even though the hot water continues to be supplied from the hot water supply pipe 24, and the pressure in the cylinder 311 increases. This may cause a situation in which the coffee liquid leaks out of the seal portion between the cylinder 311 and the cap 37.

  In order to prevent such a situation, the control unit 50 monitors the flow rate of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 24 using the flow rate sensor 22. When the controller 50 detects an abnormality such as a stop of the flow of hot water with the hot water supply valve 23 opened or a state where the flow rate is lower than the flow rate during the normal coffee liquid extracting operation for a predetermined time or more, The hot water supply valve 23 is closed, and the hot water pump 12 is stopped.

  Further, the control unit 50 monitors the pressure sensor 291 during the coffee liquid extracting operation. When the pressure in the cylinder 311 detected by the pressure sensor 291 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value higher than the normal coffee liquid extracting operation, and the state continues for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23. Then, the hot water pump 12 is stopped.

  Further, the control unit 50 monitors the FG signal output from the rotor position detection sensor 341 of the motor 34. Since the FG signal is a signal output from the rotor position detection sensor 341 in accordance with the rotation of the motor 34, the FG signal should not be detected during the coffee extracting operation in which the motor 34 is stopped so as not to raise and lower the lifting unit 32. It is. That is, if the control unit 50 detects the FG signal during the coffee brewing operation, it means that the motor 34 has started to reverse due to the pressure in the cylinder 311. Therefore, when detecting the FG signal in a state where the motor 34 is stopped, the control unit 50 determines that an abnormality, that is, the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path has been detected, closes the hot water supply valve 23, and switches the hot water pump 12 on. stop.

  As described above, the controller 50 monitors the amount of hot water supplied by the flow rate sensor 22, monitors the pressure in the cylinder 311 by the pressure sensor 291, and outputs the FG signal output from the rotor position detection sensor 341 during the coffee liquid extraction operation. Monitoring. Thereby, beverage supply device 100 according to the present embodiment can appropriately detect the occurrence of clogging of the coffee liquid supply path during the coffee liquid extraction operation. In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the supply amount of hot water, the pressure in the cylinder 311 and the FG signal are simultaneously monitored. However, for example, the abnormality is detected by monitoring only one of them. You may.

[Operation after detection of clogging of coffee liquid supply path]
As described above, when the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path is detected, the beverage supply device 100 cannot supply the coffee liquid normally, so it is necessary to wait until maintenance such as, for example, an administrator is performed. For this reason, the beverage supply apparatus 100 notifies that the clogging has occurred by, for example, a notifying unit (not shown).

  However, since the operation of the coffee extraction unit 30 is stopped during the coffee liquid extraction operation, the inside of the cylinder 311 is filled with the coffee liquid being extracted, and the maintenance is difficult. For this reason, in order to make maintenance easy, the beverage supply apparatus 100 performs the following operations.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of the beverage supply apparatus 100 when the coffee liquid supply path is clogged in the coffee liquid extraction operation. As shown in “Draining” in FIG. 13, for example, when an FG signal is detected while the motor 34 is stopped at the time of “Extraction”, the beverage supply device 100 performs a draining operation.

(E) Drainage Operation When the coffee liquid supply path is clogged in the coffee liquid extraction operation, the inside of the cylinder 311 is filled with the coffee liquid being extracted and the pressure is high. Therefore, as shown in “Drainage” in FIG. 13, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23 and opens the drainage valve 26, discharges the coffee liquid in the cylinder 311 to the outside, and lowers the pressure in the cylinder 311.

(C ′) Coffee Slag Disposal Operation When the above-described drainage operation is completed, coffee residue containing water is left in the cylinder 311. For this reason, the beverage supply device 100 performs a coffee residue disposal operation. However, the pressure in the cylinder 311 has already been released by opening the drain valve 26 in the drain operation described above. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13, the beverage supply apparatus 100 performs the same operation as the coffee scum disposal operation from “suction” to “waste liquid” shown in FIG. Perform drainage.

  However, in the “suction” operation shown in FIG. 12 described above, the extraction valve 28 is in an open state, but in the “suction” operation in FIG. 13, the inside of the cylinder 311 is closed because the coffee liquid supply passage is clogged. As a result, a large force is required to lower the elevating unit 32. In such a case, for example, the drain valve 26 may be opened, and the inside of the cylinder 311 may be set to the same pressure as the outside.

  In the “separation” operation shown in FIG. 13, it is desirable that the lowering speed of the elevating unit 32 by the motor 34 be slower than the “separation” operation shown in FIG. Accordingly, the time for removing moisture from the coffee slag through the water-permeable piston 312 is increased, and more moisture can be removed from the coffee scum.

  As described above, according to the beverage supply apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder 311 for storing the coffee bean powder, the hot water pump 12 for supplying hot water into the cylinder 311 and the cylinder 311 A coffee liquid pipe 27 for sending out the extracted coffee liquid, a drain valve 26 disposed on a drain pipe 25 for discharging the residual liquid in the cylinder 311, and a clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 at the time of extracting the coffee liquid. And a control unit 50 for stopping the pressurized supply of hot water by the hot water pump 12 and for opening the drain valve 26 when detected.

  Further, according to the beverage supply apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the cap 37 for closing the opening of the cylinder 311 and the motor 34 for moving the cylinder 311 so that the cap 37 closes the opening are further provided. The control unit 50 detects the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 based on a signal indicating the rotation of the motor 34 at the time of extracting the coffee liquid. As a result, the pressure in the cylinder 311 becomes larger than the brake pressure of the motor 34, and the cylinder 311 moves in the direction of expanding the volume. As a result, the pressure in the cylinder 311 decreases, and the hot water supply is continued. Can be prevented.

  According to the beverage supply apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensor 291 for detecting the internal pressure of the cylinder 311 is further provided, and the control unit 50 detects the internal pressure of the coffee liquid when the coffee liquid is extracted. Clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is detected based on Thereby, beverage supply device 100 can detect the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path based on the pressure abnormality in cylinder 311.

  In addition, according to the beverage supply apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the beverage supply apparatus 100 further includes the flow rate sensor 22 for detecting the flow rate of hot water supplied into the cylinder 311. The clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is detected on the basis of the flow rate detected by 22. Thereby, the beverage supply device 100 can detect the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path based on the abnormality of the supply amount of hot water.

  Further, according to the beverage supply apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit further includes a water-permeable piston 312 that moves inside the cylinder 311 and accumulates coffee scum after extraction of the coffee liquid in the upper part. 50, when the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is detected, makes the speed of moving the cylinder 311 relative to the piston 312 in which the coffee scum is accumulated on the upper side slower than when the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is not detected. Accordingly, even when a large amount of the coffee liquid remains in the cylinder 311, it is possible to sufficiently remove moisture from the coffee slag because the elevating unit 32 takes a long time to descend in the coffee scum disposal operation.

  The above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. In the above-described embodiment, the beverage supply device 100 produces a strong coffee liquid, that is, espresso, by compressing coffee beans and supplying hot water under pressure. However, the present invention can also be applied to a beverage supply device that supplies drip-flavored coffee by pressurizing hot water at a low pressure. The present invention can also be applied to a beverage supply device that can produce a plurality of types of coffee beverages such as drip-flavored coffee, American coffee, and high-pressure espresso by controlling the pressurization of hot water by a hot water pump.

  The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-008661, filed on Jan. 20, 2015, including the specification, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention is suitable for the drink supply apparatus which introduces hot water into the container which put the coffee bean powder, and extracts a coffee liquid.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Beverage supply device 1 Housing 2 Front door 3 Touch panel 4 Coffee nozzle 5 Milk nozzle 6 Hot water nozzle 7 Beverage container support base 10 Beverage supply mechanism 11 Hot water tank 12 Hot water pump 13 Canister 14 Mill 15 Coffee residue receiving part 21 Hot water Filter 22 Flow rate sensor 23 Hot water supply valve 24 Hot water supply pipe 24A connector 25 Drain pipe 26 Drain valve 27 Coffee liquid pipe 28 Extraction valve 29 Divider 291 Pressure sensor 30 Coffee extractor 31 Cylinder unit 311 Cylinder 312 Piston 313 Hot water supply port 32 Up / down section 33 Up / down movement Shaft 34 Motor 341 Rotor position detection sensor 35 Pulley 36 Frame portion 36A Upper surface portion 36B Lower surface portion 36C Column portion 37 Cap 37A Extraction opening 37B Coffee liquid extracting portion 38 Wiper 41 Upper limit position detection sensor 42 Hot water supply position Detection sensor 43 coffee beans on position detecting sensor 44 lower limit position detecting sensor 50 control unit

Claims (4)

A cylinder containing the coffee bean powder;
A hot water pump for pressurizing hot water into the cylinder,
Coffee liquid piping for sending out the coffee liquid extracted by the cylinder,
A drain valve for discharging residual liquid in the cylinder,
When detecting the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe at the time of extracting the coffee liquid, a control unit that stops the pressurized supply of the hot water by the hot water pump and opens the drain valve.
A cap for closing an opening of the cylinder,
A motor that moves the cylinder so that the cap closes the opening,
The control unit detects the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe based on a signal indicating the rotation of the motor when extracting the coffee liquid,
Beverage supply device. Further comprising a pressure sensor for detecting the internal pressure of the cylinder,
The control unit detects the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe based on the internal pressure detected by the pressure sensor when extracting the coffee liquid,
The beverage supply device according to claim 1 . A flow sensor for detecting a flow rate of the hot water supplied into the cylinder,
The control unit detects the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor when extracting the coffee liquid,
The beverage supply device according to claim 1 . Further comprising a water-permeable piston, which moves in the cylinder and accumulates coffee grounds after the extraction of the coffee liquid at an upper part,
The controller, when detecting the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe, does not detect the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe, and lowers the speed of moving the cylinder with respect to the piston that has accumulated the coffee residue on the upper part. Do
The beverage supply device according to claim 1 .

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