KR20230049215A - Hot water supply device for drip coffee machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine which shortens the extraction time for drip coffee to promote user convenience, and allows for easy cleaning of a water tank. A device comprises: an external water tank located on the outside of the main body that is detachable and stores room temperature water; a hot water tank located inside the main body and storing hot water heated to room temperature from the external water tank; a room temperature water flow meter located between the external water tank and the hot water tank and detecting the flow rate of room temperature water; and an instantaneous heater located between the room temperature water flow meter and the hot water tank that instantly heats room temperature water that has passed through the room temperature water flow meter and converts room temperature water into hot water.

Description

Hot water supply device for drip coffee machine {Hot water supply device for drip coffee machine}

The present invention relates to a coffee hot water supply device, and more particularly, to a hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine having a detachable water container and efficiently producing drip coffee.

As the taste and aroma of coffee become more sophisticated, interest in drip coffee is increasing. Drip coffee is one of the coffee extraction methods. When coffee bean powder is put into a dripper and hot water is slowly poured into the powder, the hot water passes through the dripper and coffee is extracted drop by drop. Recently, a drip coffee machine that automatically provides hot water has been developed in order to quickly extract a large amount of drip coffee. The hot water is supplied by a hot water supply device installed in the drip coffee machine. Domestic Patent No. 10-1839673 and Japanese Patent No. 6,694,334 suggest hot water supply devices. Conventional hot water supply devices use hot water that has been boiled to a predetermined temperature by simultaneously heating room temperature water filled in one water tank. Specifically, approximately 1,000 ml of room temperature water is boiled at once, and then hot water (for example, about 1 to 2 cups) as needed is supplied to the dripper.

However, it takes a lot of heating time to boil room temperature water filled in one water tank at once, and the drip coffee extraction time also increases. Taking a currently used drip coffee machine as an example, an extraction time of boiling about 1,000 ml of room temperature water takes about 8 to 10 minutes, and the user has to wait for the extraction time. The extraction time can be shortened by filling one water tank with an appropriate amount of room temperature water and boiling. In addition, since the conventional water tank is fixed to the hot water supply device, it is difficult to clean the water tank.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine, which shortens the extraction time for drip coffee, promotes user convenience, and can easily clean the water tank.

One example of a hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine to solve the problems of the present invention is an external water tank located outside the main body and detachable and storing room temperature water, located inside the main body and heating the room temperature water in the external water tank. A hot water tank for storing hot water, a room temperature water flowmeter located between the external water tank and the hot water tank and detecting the flow rate of the room temperature water, and a room temperature water flowmeter located between the room temperature water flowmeter and the hot water tank and instantaneously supplying room temperature water that has passed through the room temperature water flowmeter It includes an instantaneous heater that heats and converts it into hot water.

In one example of the present invention, the hot water tank may include a water tank heating element for heating the hot water converted by the instantaneous heater to a discharge temperature. A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank may be included on a lower surface of the hot water tank. Hot water from the hot water tank is discharged through a discharge unit, and a hot water flow meter for detecting a flow rate of the hot water is included between the hot water tank and the discharge unit. The hot water discharged through the discharge unit is part of room temperature water stored in the external water tank. The external water tank may be coupled to the main body using a connection part, and a sealing means for blocking leakage of room temperature water may be included on an inner surface of the connection part.

Another example of a hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine to solve the problems of the present invention is an external water tank located outside the main body and detachable and storing room temperature water, and a water tank located inside the main body and heating the room temperature water in the external water tank A hot water tank for storing hot water, a room temperature water flow meter located between the external water tank and the hot water tank and detecting the flow rate of the room temperature water, a tank heating element installed in the hot water tank and heating the hot water in the hot water tank to a discharge temperature, and the hot water tank It is attached to the bottom and includes a hot water flow meter (load cell) that detects the flow rate of hot water discharged to the discharge unit.

By applying the two water tanks of the external water tank and the hot water tank of the present invention, the extraction time for extracting drip coffee is shortened so that the user does not wait for a long time, and the external water tank can be separated and cleaned easily.

1 is a perspective view for explaining a first hot water supply device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 .
3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a second hot water supply device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, it is exaggeratedly expressed for convenience of explanation. On the other hand, terms indicating positions such as top, bottom, front, etc. are only related to those shown in the drawings. In practice, the hot water heater can be used in any selective orientation, and in actual use, the spatial orientation changes depending on the orientation and rotation of the hot water heater.

An embodiment of the present invention proposes a hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine capable of shortening the extraction time for extracting drip coffee and easily cleaning the external water tank by applying two water tanks, an external water tank and a hot water tank. To this end, a hot water supply device equipped with an external water tank and a hot water tank will be studied in detail, and a process in which hot water is supplied using the two water tanks will be described in detail. The hot water supply device of the present invention is for drip coffee, in which, when coffee bean powder is put into a dripper and then hot water is slowly poured into the powder, the hot water passes through the dripper and the coffee drops drop by drop, thereby extracting a large amount of drip coffee. It is applied to a drip coffee machine that automatically provides hot water for quick extraction.

1 is a perspective view for explaining a first hot water supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, it is not a drawing in a strict sense, and there may be components not shown in the drawing for convenience of description.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the first hot water supply device 100 includes a main body 10, a pedestal 11, a water tank holder 12, a controller 13, and an external water tank 20. At this time, the external water tank 20 is inserted into and fixed to the water tank holder 12, and can be separated for cleaning. That is, the external water tank 20 is located outside the main body 10 and is detachable. The controller 13 displays various functions for operating the first hot water supply device 100, and is preferably manufactured in the form of a touch panel. The pedestal 11 is mounted with a dripper (DP, Dripper) on which a sheet filter (SF) is seated, and a storage container (RS) for storing drip coffee extracted from the dripper (DP). A sheet filter (SF) filters the drip coffee to be extracted. The sheet filter SF may be variously applied to a sheet having a constant thickness, such as disposable paper or reusable nonwoven fabric. The seat filter SF may also use a filter made of a metal material in the form of a mesh, and the seat filter SF may be variously modified and adopted within the scope of the present invention.

The dripper (DP) has a wide upper end and a narrow lower end, and allows the coffee extract to flow down. A protrusion may protrude from the inside of the dripper DP to facilitate extraction and dripping of drip coffee. The protrusion allows the sheet filter (SF) to float on the inner surface of the dripper (DP) without being in close contact with it, so that the drip coffee easily flows into the space between the sheet filter (SF) and the dripper (DP). The storage container SF is a container for receiving the filtered drip coffee, and is generally made of a material such as glass or porcelain that is resistant to heat. Although not shown, a heating unit may be installed on the pedestal 11 to heat the storage container SF so that the drip coffee does not cool down.

The control unit 13 may be electrically connected to a control board (not shown), and since the control board is well known, it will not be described in detail here. The control unit 13 controls the operation of the first hot water supply device 100, such as room temperature water flow rate, hot water flow rate, hot water discharge temperature, and idle time. It is desirable to control the temperature more precisely.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 . At this time, the first hot water supply device 100 will be referred to FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the first hot water supply device 100 includes a detachable external water tank 20 located outside the main body 10 and a hot water tank 40 installed inside the main body 10 . The external water tank 20 is coupled to the water tank holder 12 and can be separated for cleaning. The feature that the external water tank 20 is separated makes it easy to clean the external water tank 20 . In contrast, since the conventional water tank is fixed to the hot water supply device, it is difficult to clean the water tank. The maximum flow rate of room temperature water filled in the external water tank 20 is determined by the size and structure of the first hot water heater 100, and may be approximately 1,000 ml, for example. Although not shown in the drawings, the water level of room temperature water may be displayed in the external water tank 20 .

The room temperature water stored in the external water tank 20 is supplied through the first supply pipe 22, the room temperature water flow meter 23, the second supply pipe 24, the solenoid valve 25, and the supply pump 26 according to the command of the controller 13. ), flows toward the hot water tank 40 via the third supply pipe 27, the instantaneous heater 30, and the fourth supply pipe 28. For example, when the controller 13 requests 150 ml, at least 150 ml of room temperature water is supplied. The connection part 21 protrudes from the external water tank 20, and the first supply pipe 22 is inserted therein. Although not shown, a sealing means such as an O-ring is installed on the inner surface of the connection part 21 to prevent water at room temperature in the external water tank 20 from leaking. In the drawings, a state in which the connecting portion 21 protrudes is expressed, but various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the connecting portion 21 may have a shape in which the first supply pipe 22 is inserted into the lower surface of the external water tank 20 without protruding.

The room temperature water flow meter 23 detects the flow rate of room temperature water passing through the first supply pipe 22 . The room temperature water flow meter 23 may be applied in various ways such as a flow sensor or a load cell that performs a function of detecting the room temperature water flow rate. When the solenoid valve 25 satisfies the flow rate requested by the control unit 13 of the room temperature water in the second supply pipe 24 passing through the room temperature water flow meter 23, the solenoid valve 25 operates through the second supply pipe 24 close the The supply pump 26 introduces room temperature water that has passed through the second supply pipe 24 into the instantaneous heater 30 through the third supply pipe 27 . The instantaneous heater 30 heats room temperature water passing through the third supply pipe 27 by installing a heating element outside the third supply pipe 27 made of an insulating material such as ceramic, or the third supply pipe made of metal ( Hot water is produced by placing a heating element inside 27) to heat room temperature water passing through the outside of the third supply pipe 27.

The hot water introduced into the hot water tank 40 passes through the first discharge pipe 43, the first hot water flow meter 44, the second discharge pipe 45, the solenoid valve 46, the discharge pump 47, and the third discharge pipe. It passes through (48) and is discharged to the discharge unit (50). The first hot water flow meter 44 detects the flow rate of hot water passing through the first discharge pipe 43 . The first hot water flow meter 44 may be applied in various ways such as a flow sensor or a load cell that performs a function of detecting the flow rate of hot water. When the solenoid valve 46 satisfies the hot water flow rate requested by the control unit 13 for the hot water in the second discharge pipe 45 passing through the first hot water flow meter 44, the solenoid valve 46 is directed to the second discharge pipe. (45) is closed.

The flow rate of room temperature water supplied to the hot water tank 40 via the first supply pipe 22 and the flow rate of hot water supplied to the discharge unit 50 via the first discharge pipe 43 may be different from each other. Specifically, the room temperature water flow rate may correspond to 2 to 3 cups of drip coffee, and the hot water flow rate corresponds to 1 cup of drip coffee. In addition, even if the room temperature water flow rate is for one cup of drip coffee, it may include an extra flow rate than the flow rate of hot water corresponding to one cup of drip coffee.

A water tank heating element 41 and a temperature sensor 42 may be mounted in the hot water tank 40 . Depending on circumstances, the hot water heated by the instantaneous heater 30 may not meet the discharge temperature required by the controller 13. The instantaneous heater 30 performs a role of preheating and can be heated to a temperature lower than the discharge temperature required by the control unit 13, so that when actually discharged, the water tank heating element 41 It can be raised to the discharge temperature. That is, the instantaneous heater 30 may serve to preheat, and the water tank heating element 41 may serve to heat up to the discharge temperature. In addition, even if heated to the discharge temperature by the instantaneous heater 30 and supplied to the hot water tank 40, the water temperature may be lowered due to a time delay until actual discharge, a pause time (discharge time interval), and a moving process, so that the water tank heating element (41) compensates for the lowered temperature.

The discharge temperature by the water tank heating element 41 is confirmed by the temperature sensor 42. Although the figure shows the water tank heating element 41 installed on the bottom of the hot water tank 40, the water tank heating element 41 may be installed anywhere in the hot water tank 40. For example, the water tank heating element 41 may be installed on the side of the hot water tank 40 . When the water tank heating element 41 is installed on the lower surface of the hot water tank 40, hot water, which is a part of the room temperature water, can be more easily heated.

In some cases, the discharge temperature may be implemented using the instantaneous heater 30 without the water tank heating element 41 and the temperature sensor 42 . Implementing the discharge temperature only with the instantaneous heater 30 can be applied in a situation where the above-described preheating and temperature compensation are not required. In this case, there is a possibility that the hot water temperature, which is changed according to the discharge time interval (stop time) and the flow rate of hot water, may not reach the discharge temperature required by the control unit 13. If the water tank heating element 41 and the temperature sensor 42 do not exist, the structure of the first hot water supply device 100 is simple, and the heating time can be minimized by instantaneously heating the required flow rate of hot water. Even if the discharge temperature is implemented only by the instantaneous heater 30, the hot water tank 40 plays a role for quantitative discharge.

The first hot water supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention reduces the extraction time for extracting drip coffee by applying the external water tank 20 and the hot water tank 40. Specifically, the actually discharged hot water is supplied from the hot water tank 40 rather than the external water tank 20 . The hot water tank 40 provides the hot water flow rate required by the control unit 13. Practically, if the room temperature water flow rate of the external water tank 20 is 1,000 ml and the hot water flow rate required by the control unit 13 is 300 ml, the instantaneous heater 30 or the combination of the instantaneous heater 30 and the water tank heating element 41 is 300 ml. Only ml is heated and discharged. In contrast, in the prior art, 1,000 ml of room temperature water was heated at once to convert it into hot water, and then 300 ml was discharged.

When 1,000 ml of room temperature water is heated at once as in the prior art, a longer heating time is required than in the present invention in which 300 ml is heated. When heated as in the prior art, the heating time takes about 8 to 10 minutes, but in the present invention, it takes about 2 to 3 minutes. When the heating time is shortened, the time to extract the drip coffee is also shortened. In addition, if the instantaneous heater 30 is used, the heating time can be significantly reduced, so that the hot water can be discharged within about 1 minute and 30 seconds when the control unit 13 commands to extract hot water.

3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a second hot water supply device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The second hot water supply device 200 is represented by cutting along the line II-II of FIG. do. Accordingly, detailed descriptions of the same reference numerals will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3 , in the second hot water supply device 200, room temperature water stored in the external water tank 20 flows through the first supply pipe 22, the room temperature water flow meter 23, and the second supply pipe according to the command of the controller 13. 24, the solenoid valve 25, the supply pump 26 and the fifth supply pipe 60 are supplied to the hot water tank 40. Unlike the first hot water supply device 100, the second hot water supply device 200 does not have an instantaneous heater 30. The room temperature water introduced into the hot water tank 40 is heated by the set temperature by the water tank heating element 41, and when the temperature sensor 42 recognizes this, the first discharge pipe 43, the solenoid valve 46, and the discharge pump 47 And it is discharged to the discharge unit 50 through the third discharge pipe 48. Unlike the first hot water supply device 100, in the second hot water supply device 200, the second hot water flow meter (load cell) 61 is attached to the bottom of the hot water tank 40 and is not disposed on a line through which hot water is discharged. to measure If the second hot water flow meter 61 is not disposed in the line through which hot water is discharged, the delay of the hot water discharge time by the second hot water flow meter 61 can be reduced.

The second hot water supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention shortens the extraction time for extracting drip coffee. Specifically, the actually discharged hot water is supplied from the hot water tank 40 rather than the external water tank 20 . The hot water tank 40 provides the hot water flow rate required by the control unit 13. In practice, if the room temperature water flow rate of the external water tank 20 is 1,000 ml and the hot water flow rate required by the controller 13 is 300 ml, the water tank heating element 41 heats and discharges only 300 ml. In contrast, in the prior art, 1,000 ml of room temperature water was heated at once to convert it into hot water, and then 300 ml was discharged. When 1,000 ml of room temperature water is heated at once as in the prior art, a longer heating time is required than in the present invention in which 300 ml is heated. When heated as in the prior art, the heating time takes about 8 to 10 minutes, but in the present invention, it takes about 2 to 3 minutes. When the heating time is shortened, the time to extract the drip coffee is also shortened.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. possible.

10; body 11; Pedestal
12; water tank holder 13; control unit
20; External water tank 21; connection
22, 24, 27, 28, 60; 1st to 5th supply pipes
23; room temperature water flow meter
25, 46; solenoid valve
26; supply pump 30; instantaneous heater
40; hot water tank 41; water tank heating element
42; temperature Senser
43, 45, 48; 1st to 3rd discharge pipe
44, 61; 1st and 2nd hot water flow meter
47; discharge pump 50; discharge part
100, 200; 1st and 2nd hot water supply device

Claims (9)

An external water tank located on the outside of the main body, detachable, and storing room temperature water;
a hot water tank located inside the main body and storing hot water obtained by heating room temperature water in the external water tank;
a room temperature water flow meter positioned between the external water tank and the hot water tank and sensing the flow rate of the room temperature water; and
A hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine including an instantaneous heater positioned between the room temperature water flowmeter and the hot water tank to instantaneously heat and convert room temperature water that has passed through the room temperature water flowmeter into hot water. The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the hot water tank includes a water tank heating element for heating the hot water converted by the instantaneous heater to a discharge temperature. The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor on the bottom of the hot water tank to measure the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank. The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein hot water from the hot water tank is discharged through a discharge unit, and a hot water flow meter for detecting the flow rate of the hot water is included between the hot water tank and the discharge unit. 5. The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein the hot water discharged through the discharge unit is part of room temperature water stored in the external water tank. The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the external water tank is coupled to the main body using a connection part, and a sealing means for blocking leakage of room temperature water is included on an inner surface of the connection part. An external water tank located on the outside of the main body, detachable, and storing room temperature water;
a hot water tank located inside the main body and storing hot water obtained by heating room temperature water in the external water tank;
a room temperature water flow meter positioned between the external water tank and the hot water tank and sensing the flow rate of the room temperature water;
a water tank heating element installed in the hot water tank and heating the hot water in the hot water tank to a discharge temperature; and
A hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine including a hot water flow meter (load cell) attached to the bottom of the hot water tank and detecting the flow rate of the hot water discharged to the discharge unit. 8. The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 7, wherein the hot water discharged through the discharge unit is part of room temperature water stored in the external water tank. [9] The hot water supply device for a drip coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein the external water tank is coupled to the main body by using a connection part, and a sealing means for blocking leakage of room temperature water is included on an inner surface of the connection part.

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