JPH0339115A - Coffee maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To throttle a flow control valve for preventing the dripping water from overflowing from a filter basket when the dripping water begins to pond in the filter basket, by a method wherein the water level of the dripping water ponding in the filter basket is detected, and the opening of the flow control valve is regulated corresponding to the detected information. CONSTITUTION:A water level detector 13 consisting of an electrode and others is located above a filter basket 7, and a flow control valve 4 is equipped with a driving device 14 such as stepping motor, etc. The information from the water level detector 13 is processed by a water level detecting circuit 15 and transmitted to a driving device control circuit 16 which controls the driving device 14. The driving device 14 is brought in operation by the processed signals to open or close the flow control valve 4. When the dripping rate is inadequately adjusted by the flow control valve 4, causing the flow rate to exceeds a flow rate at which the dripping water is able to pass through a ground coffee layer 6, the dripping water ponds on the ground coffee layer 6, and when the water level reaches the water level detector 13, this information is transmitted to the driving device 14 to close or throttle the flow control valve 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a cold coffee extractor for extracting coffee with cold water or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, this type of cold brew coffee extractor has generally been shown, for example, in FIG. 4, and its configuration is as follows.

That is, water is put into the water container 21, and the regulating valve 22 is adjusted to drip the water little by little into the coffee powder 24 housed in the filtration chamber 23. The dropped water passes through the coffee grounds 24 over a long period of time, extracts coffee components, and then becomes coffee liquid and drops into the coffee container 25.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, such a configuration has the following problems.

In other words, when setting the amount of water dripping with the adjustment valve 22, if you accidentally set the amount of dripping water to be greater than the amount that passes through the coffee grounds, the dripping water will overflow from the filtration chamber 23 and coffee will not be extracted. Not only that, but it also contaminated the aircraft, making it extremely inconvenient to use.

Therefore, the present invention solves these conventional problems.
When the amount of water dripping is too large and water stagnates in the filtration chamber, the dripping adjustment valve is throttled.

Means for Solving the Problems and In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a water container containing water, a flow control valve for controlling the dripping flow rate of water in the water container, and a filtration chamber containing coffee powder. , a water level detection means for detecting the level of dripping water accumulated in the filtration chamber, and a drive means for controlling the opening degree of the flow rate control valve in response to information from the detection means. .

action The effect of this technical means is as follows.

In other words, when the amount of water dripping is too large and water stagnates in the filtration chamber, the level of the stagnant water is detected and the dripping flow rate control valve is throttled, thereby eliminating the increase in water in the filtration chamber.
It is possible to prevent water from overflowing from the filtration chamber.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

In Fig. 1, water in a water container 2 provided above the extractor main body 1 is sent from a water supply passage 3 at the bottom to a flow rate control valve 4 that controls the dripping flow rate, and is throttled to a minute flow rate before being discharged. It drips from the outlet 5 and is sent to the filtration chamber 7 which accommodates the coffee powder 6.

The water dripped into the coffee powder 6 passes through the coffee powder over time, extracts coffee components, becomes coffee liquid, and drips from the outlet 8.
It is stored in the coffee container 9.

The flow control valve 4 has a shaft shape with a valve hole 10 formed therein. The valve hole 10 is arranged so as to intersect with the water supply passage 3, and the flow rate is large when the intersection angle α is small as shown in Fig. 2a, and conversely, as α becomes larger as shown in Fig. 2, the flow rate is lower. It becomes less.

Numeral 11 is a seal for watertightly fitting the flow rate control valve 4 and the water supply passage 3, and 12 is a knob provided on the flow rate control valve 4, which is used when manually controlling the dripping flow rate.

A water level detection means 13 such as an electrode is provided above the filtration chamber 7, and a driving means 14 such as a stepping motor is provided on the flow rate control valve 4. The displacement angle of this driving means 14 controls the flow rate. , the opening degree of the control valve 4 can be varied to adjust the water dripping speed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the water level detection means 13 and the drive means 14. Information from the water level detection means 13 is processed by a water level detection circuit 15, and a drive means control circuit that controls the drive means 14. Sent to 16th. Then, the drive means 14 is controlled by the signal processed by the drive means control circuit 16.
rotates to open and close the flow control valve 4.

In the above configuration, if the flow rate control valve 4 incorrectly adjusts the amount of dripping water and the amount of dripping water is greater than the amount that can pass through the coffee grounds 6, the dripping water will accumulate above the coffee grounds 6.

When the level of the accumulated water reaches the water level detection means 13, the information from the water level detection means 13 is transmitted to the drive means 1.
4 and acts to close or throttle the flow rate control valve 4.

When the amount of dripping water decreases or stops, the dripping water that has accumulated in the filtration chamber 7 gradually permeates into the coffee powder 6, and when the water level drops and exceeds the water level detection means 13, the driving means 14 rotates again to remove the water. begins to drip.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention throttles the dripping control valve when dripping water accumulates in the filtration chamber, thereby preventing dripping water from overflowing from the filtration chamber and contaminating the extractor body. It is extremely easy to use.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of essential parts of a coffee extractor showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the flow rate regulating valve of the coffee extractor, and Fig. 3 is a circuit block of the coffee extractor. Figure, 4th
The figure is a sectional view showing a conventional example. 2...Water container, 4...Flow rate control valve, 7
...filtration chamber, 13...water level detection means,
14... Drive means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a water container that contains water, a flow control valve that controls the dripping flow rate of water in the water container, and a filtration chamber that contains coffee powder;
A coffee extractor comprising a water level detecting means for detecting the level of dripping water accumulated in the filtration chamber, and a driving means for controlling the opening degree of the flow rate control valve in response to information from the water level detecting means.