JP2002306342A - Coffee maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coffee maker which can reduce water remained in the hot water tank by surface tension of the inner face of the hot water storage tank. SOLUTION: Hydrophilic treatment is applied on the inner face of a peripheral part (hot water storage tank 7) above a coffee extracting chamber 13 around the outlet of a hot water supply pipe 31 for supplying hot water supplied from a hot water generator 6. Thus this coffee maker is enabled to reduce water remained in the hot water storage tank 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coffee boiler for extracting coffee liquid by supplying hot water from a hot water generator to coffee grounds.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to extract delicious coffee, a hot water storage tank is provided above a coffee extraction chamber so as to cover a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water from a hot water generator to the coffee extraction chamber, and intermittent due to a siphon phenomenon. By supplying hot water to the coffee extraction chamber, the whole coffee powder is once expanded with hot water, steaming the coffee powder to make it easy to extract high-quality components of coffee, and then intermittently supplying a moderate amount of hot water to make the coffee liquid. Had a configuration to extract.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional construction, the steam of the hot water supplied to the hot water storage tank or the steam generated after coffee extraction causes dew condensation on the top surface of the hot water storage tank. There was a problem that the residual water in the hot water storage tank after the completion of extraction was increased.

[0004] In addition, when the top surface is formed of a transparent member in order to visually observe the siphon phenomenon in the hot water storage tank, there is a problem that the inside becomes invisible due to the dew condensation.

[0005] Regarding this problem of residual water,
It has been devised to install a valve device that can be opened after the completion of coffee extraction at the bottom of the hot water storage tank as known in the U.S. Pat. No. 73,232, but the configuration of the components is complicated, and it is difficult to attach and detach the coffee extraction unit. There was a problem such as becoming.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, in order to intermittently extract coffee by a stable siphon phenomenon, it is necessary to provide an opening above the hot water storage tank to prevent the internal pressure in the hot water storage tank from rising. As the supply of hot water to the hot water storage tank nears its end, there has been a problem that steam spouts vigorously from the opening, or in some cases, hot water blows out of the hot water storage tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to remove residual water in a hot water storage tank after extraction with an inexpensive and simple configuration, and to intermittently switch to a stable coffee extraction chamber. The purpose is to supply hot water and extract delicious coffee.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a coffee boiler according to the present invention is to perform a flooding treatment on a surface (inner surface of a hot water storage tank) through which steam from a hot water supply pipe is exposed.

Thus, it is possible to reduce the residual water in the hot water storage tank by preventing the dew of the steam and remaining water due to the surface tension of the inner surface of the hot water storage tank.

[0010] Further, in the coffee brewing machine of the present invention, a wall is provided between an opening for preventing an internal pressure in the hot water storage tank from rising and a hot water supply pipe.

Thus, it is possible to prevent steam or hot water from spouting from the opening, and to stably perform intermittent hot water supply by the siphon phenomenon during coffee extraction.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 is a hot water generating apparatus for heating a liquid, a hot water storage tank for temporarily storing the liquid heated by the hot water generating apparatus, and a water storage tank for storing the water in the hot water storage tank. Intermittent hot water supply means for intermittently supplying hot water to the coffee extraction chamber, by performing hydrophilic treatment on the inner surface of a part around the outlet of the hot water supply pipe which is a path for supplying liquid from the hot water generator to the hot water storage tank, Even if steam is discharged from the hot water supply pipe and dew forms on the surrounding wall, water is familiar to the surface because it is hydrophilic, and it flows down to the bottom, so it is possible to reduce residual water on the wall due to surface tension .

The invention described in claim 2 is particularly advantageous in claim 1.
Parts (hot water storage tank) around the hot water supply pipe outlet described in
A hydrophilic effect can be obtained by subjecting the inner surface to a fine unevenness process. Water can be easily applied to the inner surface and can be easily spread, and can be manufactured at low cost by resin molding.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the main body, a tank for containing water, a check valve, a hot water generator, a coffee extraction chamber, and hot water heated by the hot water generator are supplied from a hot water supply pipe. A hot water storage tank for temporarily storing hot water, and an intermittent hot water supply means for intermittently supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank to the coffee extraction chamber, wherein a ventilation port is provided above the height of the amount of hot water that can be stored in the hot water storage tank. With the trachea protruding from the bottom of the hot water storage tank and providing a wall between the hot water supply pipe and the ventilation pipe, steam or hot water discharged vigorously from the hot water supply pipe directly hits the ventilation port, Since blocking can be prevented, it is possible to prevent steam or hot water from being blown out from the ventilation port, and to ensure intermittent operation with a stable siphon function or the like while ensuring air permeability.

[0015] The invention described in claim 4 is particularly advantageous in claim 3.
The wall between the hot water supply pipe and the ventilation pipe is vertically suspended at the top of the hot water storage tank, so there is no gap at the top of the hot water storage tank. Water can condense on the surface of the wall or the top of the hot water storage tank near the wall, allowing it to drip down the bottom of the hot water storage tank along the wall surface, reducing residual water in the hot water storage tank Can be done.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a coffee brewer for explaining Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 in the figure
Is provided with a tank 2 for charging water with the body of the coffee machine. The bottom of the tank 2 passes through a hot water generator 6 equipped with an electric heater 5 (not shown) which is turned on and off by a power switch 4 (not shown) via a check valve 3,
A water passage 8 for guiding water into the hot water storage tank 7 located above is connected. Below the hot water storage tank 7, a coffee extraction chamber 11 having a substantially similar shape to a paper filter 10 for extracting coffee is installed at an opening of a container 9 for storing the extracted liquid after coffee extraction.

The container 9 is located above the hot water generator 6 of the main body 1 and is provided with a heat insulating plate 1 via a heat insulating plate 12.
5 above. After the coffee is extracted, the warming stand 15 keeps the coffee liquid in the container 9 warm by controlling the energization of the electric heater 5 of the hot water generator 6 by the thermostat 14 as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. Reference numeral 13 denotes a coffee extraction chamber lid, and the hot water storage tank 7 installation portion 16
It is set to a size that covers more. At the center, a hole 18 is provided for supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank 7, passing through a water quality improvement filter 17 such as activated carbon, and supplying the coffee to the coffee extraction chamber 11. An inclined portion 19 is set from the outer periphery of the extraction chamber lid 15.

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the hot water storage tank of the coffee machine of the first embodiment. In the hot water storage tank 7, the elastic member 23 disposed between the hot water storage tank bottom 7a and the hot water storage tank lower part 7c is caught and installed by a flange part 20 provided in the hot water storage tank lower part 7c. Is inserted, an elastic member 23 is sandwiched between the wall 21 and the inner wall 22 of the lower part 7c of the hot water storage tank to perform the first sealing to maintain the airtightness. When the hot water storage tank cover 24 is further installed on the main body 1, the hot water storage tank bottom 7a is urged upward by the ribs 25 of the hot water storage tank cover 24, and the flange 20 side end face of the hot water storage tank lower part 7c and the flange 26 of the hot water storage tank bottom 7a. The hot water storage tank 7 is deformed by pressing the elastic member 23.
Of the second sealing.

The hot water storage tank 7 includes a hot water storage tank bottom 7
a, hot water tank upper part 7b, hot water tank lower part 7c
The upper part 7b of the hot water tank and the lower part 7c of the hot water tank are connected by welding. In addition, the components constituting the hot water storage tank 7 are subjected to surface processing (hereinafter referred to as grain processing) for giving fine irregularities to the inner surface,
Water is easily adapted to the surface (to improve the hydrophilicity), and the water repellency reduces water remaining on the surface.

FIG. 3 shows the graining range in the hot water storage tank in the first embodiment, that is, the hydrophilic treatment range. Instead of graining, this area may be coated with a water immersion material. Further, when the hot water storage tank 7 is formed of a resin molded product, it is needless to say that by applying a graining process to a molding die, a large amount of grained portions can be produced in the range shown in FIG. . Further, the hydrophilic treatment may be partially performed.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a hole for mounting the water quality improvement filter 17, which is provided at the lowermost part of the hot water storage tank cover 24 and is located inside the hole 18 of the coffee extraction chamber lid 15.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a pipe for supplying hot water to the coffee extraction chamber 11, which is provided on the hot water tank bottom 7a of the hot water tank 7 at a position substantially coincident with the center of the hot water tank upper part 7b of the hot water tank 7. An intermittent hot water supply means for intermittently supplying hot water to the coffee extraction chamber 11 by a siphon action is provided.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an upper end 2 serving as an opening of the tubular body 29.
Lower part 7c of hot water storage tank container that secures and covers gap X with 9a
And a rib 32 formed integrally with the hot water storage tank bottom 7a at the lower end 30a of the lid 30 to be equal to or larger than the gap X.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a hot water supply pipe connected to the water channel 8, and its opening 31 a is set higher than the upper end 29 a of the pipe 29. Reference numeral 33 denotes a vent pipe provided on the bottom 7a of the hot water storage tank, and a hole 34 for discharging steam to the outside is provided on the upper surface.
a and higher than the opening 31 a of the hot water supply pipe 31. That is, in the hot water storage tank 7, the pipe 29
The upper end portion 29a ≦ the opening portion 31a of the hot water supply pipe 31 ≦ the hole portion 34 of the ventilation pipe 33.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a scattering prevention wall integrally formed between the hot water supply pipe 31 and the ventilation pipe 33 from the upper part 7b of the hot water storage tank.

The operation of the coffee brewer configured as described above will be described below. A quantity of water corresponding to the number of people is poured into the tank 2, and a quantity of coffee powder corresponding to the quantity is stored in the coffee extraction chamber 11 in which the paper filter 10 is set, and set on the heat retaining stand 15. When the power switch 4 is turned on, the water in the tank 2 is introduced into the hot water generator 6 via the check valve 3 and heated to generate hot water. In addition, bubbles generated at this time cause the hot water in the hot water generating device 6 to rise in the water passage 8 by the check effect of the check valve 3 and be supplied to the hot water storage tank 7. At this time, the hot water supplied into hot water storage tank 7 is supplied from hot water supply pipe 31.

Then, the hot water flowing into the hot water storage tank 7 rises in water level while entering the space between the pipe 29 and the lid 30 as shown in FIG.

At this time, since the steam from the hot water also enters the hot water storage tank 7 at the same time, dew condensation due to the steam occurs on the inner surface of the upper part 7b of the hot water storage tank. The hot water flows into the lower part 7a of the hot water storage tank without remaining as water droplets on the inner surface of 7b.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the level of the hot water reaches the upper end 29a of the pipe (maximum hot water storage amount of the hot water tank 7), the hot water in the hot water storage tank 7 is filled with the pipe as indicated by an arrow A due to the siphon phenomenon. The water flows into the water quality improvement filter 17 through the inside of the container 29, passes through the hole 18 provided in the lid 15 of the coffee extraction chamber, and penetrates evenly into the entire coffee powder in the coffee extraction chamber 11.

At this time, if the hot water storage tank 7 is made of a transparent member, the height of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 7 by the graining of the inner surface can be clearly confirmed by the refraction of light. is there.

The siphon phenomenon that occurs when the hot water storage level of the hot water storage tank 7 exceeds the upper end portion 29a of the pipe 29 (the maximum hot water storage capacity of the hot water storage tank 7) is used to feed the coffee extraction chamber 11 to the coffee extraction chamber 11. The hot water supply is intermittently performed, so that the coffee powder in the coffee extraction chamber 11 can be sufficiently steamed when the hot water supply is stopped, so that the coffee extract can be easily extracted. By supplying the maximum amount of hot water, the coffee liquid is extracted in the coffee extraction chamber 11 while stirring the coffee powder, and the coffee liquid is stored in the container 9. At this time, since the hot water supply pipe 31 is disposed above the upper end portion 29a of the pipe body 29, backflow to the hot water generator 6 does not occur.

Further, since the hole 34 of the ventilation pipe 33 is provided above the hot water supply pipe 31, the hot water is prevented from directly flowing out of the hole 34 of the ventilation pipe 33 at the time of hot water supply, and the hot water storage tank 7 is securely inserted. Can be supplied with hot water.

Further, since the hole 34 of the ventilation pipe 33 is disposed above the upper end 29a of the pipe body 29, it goes without saying that the problem of reducing the maximum hot water storage amount of the hot water storage tank 7 does not occur. Absent.

As the extraction of coffee proceeds, the amount of water supplied to the tank 2 decreases, and the pressure at which water is supplied from the tank 2 to the hot water generator 6 gradually decreases.

As a result, the amount of steam mixed and supplied to the hot water supplied from the hot water supply pipe 31 increases, and the scattering of the hot water increases. The scattered hot water flows into the hole 3 of the ventilation pipe 33.
When the hot water storage tank 4 is closed, the internal pressure of the hot water storage tank 7 increases, and before the hot water storage tank 7 reaches the maximum hot water storage amount, the coffee extraction chamber 1
Hot water supply to 1 continuously occurs.

However, in this embodiment, the scattering prevention wall 2
7 prevents hot water scattered in the hole 34 from adhering and blocking the hole portion 34, so that hot water supply to the coffee extraction chamber 11 by the siphon action can be performed stably.

As the extraction of coffee approaches completion, the pressure of water in the tank 2 further decreases, so that it becomes difficult to supply water to the hot water generator 6 and the amount of steam increases.

At this time, dew condensation due to steam is generated on the inner surface of the hot water storage tank 7, but water is easily applied to the surface due to the effect of the graining process inside the hot water storage tank 7, so that the water does not remain on the inner surface, but remains on the bottom of the hot water storage tank 7a. And is collected around the tube 29.

At this time, the scattering prevention wall 27 is also formed downward from the hot water tank upper part 7b, so that water adhering to the surface of the wall and the top surface of the hot water tank near the base of the wall flows out to the hot water tank bottom 7a. And the same tube 2
9 can be gathered around.

Until the thermostat 14 operates,
The hot water collected around the pipe body 29 due to the rise in the internal pressure of the hot water storage tank 7 due to the operation of the hot water generation device 6 is discharged from the pipe body 29 to the outside, flows into the water quality improvement filter 17, passes through the coffee extraction chamber 11, and enters the container 9. Collected.

When the thermostat 14 is activated, the energization of the electric heater 5 is temporarily stopped.
Automatically keeps the coffee liquid in the container 9 on the heat retaining base 15. The warming operation is continued until the power switch 4 is turned off.

In this embodiment, the hot water storage tank cover 24 is rotated counterclockwise to remove a small amount of residual water that has not been discharged to the outside due to the rise in the internal pressure of the hot water storage tank 7 when the coffee extraction is completed. The remaining water in the hot water storage tank 7 can be removed.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, residual water in the hot water storage tank can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the vent from being closed by the water and the inside of the hot water storage tank to be closed to prevent the ventilation from being performed. Intermittent operation can be performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the wall between the hot water supply pipe and the ventilation pipe is provided below the upper part of the hot water storage tank, so that the hot water adhering to the surface of the wall is actively removed. The remaining water in the hot water storage tank can be reduced by flushing the hot water to the bottom surface of the hot water storage tank.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coffee machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the hot water storage tank.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a fine unevenness processing area of the hot water storage tank.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which hot water in the hot water storage tank flows out.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Tank 3 Check valve 6 Hot water generator 7 Hot water storage tank 7a Hot water storage tank bottom 7b Hot water storage tank upper part 7c Hot water storage tank lower part 11 Coffee extraction room 13 Coffee extraction room lid 27 Shatterproof wall (wall) 28 Hole 29 Pipe (intermittent hot water supply means) 31 Hot water supply pipe 31a Opening 33 Vent pipe 34 Hole (vent)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Koji Kawai 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeru Yamaguchi 1006 Odakadoma Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Term (reference) 4B004 AA12 BA41 CA13

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A hot water generator for heating a liquid, a hot water storage tank for temporarily storing the liquid heated by the hot water generator, and an intermittent hot water supply for intermittently supplying water from the hot water storage tank to a coffee extraction chamber. Means for supplying a liquid from the hot water generator to the hot water storage tank, wherein the inner surface of a part around an outlet of a hot water supply pipe is subjected to hydrophilic treatment, and a coffee brewing machine is provided. 2. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the part around the outlet of the hot water supply pipe is subjected to fine unevenness processing. 3. A main body, a tank for storing water, a check valve, a hot water generator, a coffee extraction chamber, a hot water storage tank for supplying hot water heated by the hot water generator from a hot water supply pipe and temporarily storing the hot water, Intermittent hot water supply means for intermittently supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank to the coffee extraction chamber, and a vent pipe provided with a vent above the height of the hot water storage amount capable of storing hot water in the hot water storage tank; At the same time
A coffee brewer having a wall provided between the hot water supply pipe and the ventilation pipe. 4. The coffee brewing machine according to claim 3, wherein the wall is vertically suspended above the hot water storage tank.