JP2002345407A - Apparatus for producing coffee beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for producing coffee beverage with which the amount of ground coffee beans compressed can be precisely measured without complicating the structure of an apparatus. SOLUTION: This apparatus for producing coffee beverage detects load fluctuation of compression movement referring to the amount of ground coffee beans corresponding to the concentration of a coffee liquid by supplying ground coffee beans to a cylinder 32 where a sleeve 32B formed of a fluororesin is internally pressed and compressing the ground coffee beans based on the rising movement of a piston 39. This mechanism of the apparatus prevents detection error in the compression amount caused by sliding friction between the sleeve 32B and the piston 39 from being included in a measured value, and enables a detector such as a sensor not to be needed so that the amount of ground coffee beans compressed is precisely measured without complicating the structure of the apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing coffee beverages, and more particularly, to an apparatus for producing coffee beverages in which ground coffee beans are compressed and passed through high-temperature hot water to extract a coffee liquid having a predetermined concentration. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional coffee beverage production apparatus,
A method in which ground coffee beans ground to a predetermined particle size are supplied to an extractor, and the coffee liquid is extracted at a high pressure by passing the coffee beans through a predetermined high-temperature hot water in a compressed state in the extractor. There is.

[0003] As an apparatus for producing a coffee beverage, a high-pressure hot water is supplied to ground beans compressed by an extractor to extract a coffee liquid, for example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-9460. . This coffee beverage production device
A coffee liquid is extracted by inserting a piston into a cylinder containing powdered coffee beans (ground beans) to compress the ground beans and passing hot water through the compressed ground beans.

[0004]

However, according to the conventional apparatus for producing coffee beverages, when the compression amount of the ground beans changes, the hot water permeability changes, so that the concentration of the extracted coffee liquid changes. There is a problem of doing. It is necessary to control the compression amount of ground beans in a certain range in order to always extract coffee liquid of constant quality, but it is thermally and structurally difficult to provide a sensor or the like in a space through which hot water passes. Therefore, the compression amount cannot be measured with high accuracy.

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coffee beverage manufacturing apparatus capable of accurately measuring the compression amount of ground beans without complicating the structure.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bean crushing unit for crushing coffee beans to form ground beans, and a bean crushing unit provided in a cylinder having an inner surface formed of a low friction member. Receiving the ground beans supplied from the cylinder, compressing the ground beans into a compression amount corresponding to the concentration of the coffee liquid extracted by a piston provided to be able to move up and down in the cylinder, and passing hot water through the compressed ground beans. A coffee extractor that extracts the coffee liquid and a compression amount detection unit that detects the compression amount based on a load change during compression of the ground beans.

According to the above-described apparatus for producing a coffee beverage, ground beans are supplied to a cylinder having an inner surface formed of a low-friction member, and the ground beans are compressed by a piston to reduce the amount of compression according to the concentration of coffee liquid. By detecting the load fluctuation of the compression operation, the detection error of the compression amount due to the sliding friction with the piston can be reduced to a negligible value relative to the measured value,
Changes in coffee extractability due to aging of the apparatus and frequency of component replacement can be reduced. Further, the compression amount of the ground bean can be accurately detected without providing a detector such as a sensor.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an apparatus for producing a coffee beverage according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cup-type vending machine as an apparatus for producing a coffee beverage according to an embodiment of the present invention. A cistern 2 connected to a water intake pipe 1 and a beverage provided in the cistern 2 and stored therein. Detect changes in water level,
A float switch 2A that outputs a water level lowering signal when the water level falls below a predetermined level, a water intake valve 1A provided in the water intake pipe 1, and drinking water supplied from the cistern 2 via a pipe 3A to heat the water to a predetermined level. A hot water tank 10 for storing hot water, a solenoid valve 20 provided in the pipe 3A, a pump 60 fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the hot water tank 10 to supply hot water by pressurization, and connected to the pump 60 and the hot water tank 10. A bypass pipe 60A, a valve 60B for returning hot water in the pump 60 to the hot water tank 10 by opening the bypass pipe 60A,
A ground bean supply unit 7 that grinds coffee beans to a predetermined particle size to form ground beans, a measuring device 5 that receives and measures the ground beans falling from the ground bean supply unit 7, and is supplied from the measuring device 5. An extractor 30 that extracts coffee beans by extracting ground beans of a predetermined particle size with hot water to supply the cup 9 via a beverage supply pipe 30A, and a pipe 6A that supplies hot water from the pump 60 to the extractor 30; A pressure sensor 25 provided in the pipe 6A to output a pressure signal according to the pressure in the pipe, and a flow meter 19 provided in the pipe 6A to output a flow signal according to the flow rate of the hot water
A resistance valve 21 provided in the pipe 6A for preventing hot water from flowing out to the extractor side at a pressure equal to or lower than a set pressure, and a resistance valve 2
A pipe 6B branched from the pipe 6A and connected to the hot water tank 10 on the upstream side of the pipe 1;
, A sack bucket 17 for receiving the extracted slag of coffee beans generated by the extractor 30, a drainage bucket 18 disposed below the cup 9, a sugar container 11 for storing sugar, and a cream container for storing cream ingredients 12A, a cream container 12B for accommodating cream ingredients for cappuccino, a mixing bowl 14 for receiving sugar and cream via a chute 13, dissolving with a predetermined amount of hot water, and supplying to a cup 9 via a supply pipe 14A. And a pipe 15A for supplying hot water from the hot water tank 10 to the mixing bowl 14 arranged at the lower part of the cream container, and a hot water valve 23A provided on the pipe 15A.
And a pipe 15B for supplying hot water from the hot water tank 10 to the mixing bowl 14 disposed at the lower part of the sugar container 11, a hot water valve 23B provided for the pipe 15B, and a pipe 6A downstream of the resistance valve 21 for branching. There is a pipe 6C for discharging waste liquid to the drain bucket 18 via the hot water valve 24.

The weighing device 5 has a piston slidably housed in a cylindrical main body, and a weighing motor for pushing and discharging the ground beans from the main body by reciprocating the piston in the main body. The weighing motor is provided with a weighing encoder that detects the amount of rotation on the rotating shaft. When the output pulse of the weighing encoder reaches a count value corresponding to the amount of the ground beans, the power to the weighing motor is stopped and the amount of the ground beans is reduced. Stop the piston at the position corresponding to.

The ground bean supply unit 7 includes a bean storage container 7A for storing coffee beans, a coffee mill 7B for grinding coffee beans with a grinding blade (not shown) rotating at high speed, and a grinding blade for the coffee mill 7B. It has a mill motor 7C to be rotated, and a chute 7D that is supplied from the weighing machine 5 and leads the coffee extractor 30 to the ground beans crushed by the coffee mill 7B and weighed based on the volume. Hot water tank 10 has a power supply unit 10A for supplying current to heater H1 for drinking water heating, and a float switch for detecting a change in the water level of hot water in the tank and outputting a water level decrease signal when the water level falls below a predetermined water level. 10B
And a hot water temperature sensor 10D that outputs a temperature detection signal according to the hot water temperature in the tank. The amount of water stored in the hot water tank 10 is 5 liters, the output of the heater H1 is 1 kW, and the hot water tank 1
The hot water temperature of 0 is kept at about 97 ° C. The resistance valve 21 is formed by housing a ball formed of a metal material and a spring for urging the ball in a predetermined direction in a housing. In the present embodiment, the flow direction of the hot water from the hot water tank 10 to the extractor 30 is the forward direction, and the ball is urged in the upstream direction by a spring.

The extractor 30 includes a cylinder 32 to which ground beans are supplied via a chute 7D, a piston drive motor 33 for raising and lowering a piston 39 in the cylinder 32, and a torque for transmitting the drive torque of the piston drive motor 33 to the piston 39. A transmission unit 34, a cylinder unit D provided above the cylinder 32 and integrally formed with a slide guide (described later) that engages with a guide rail (not shown) formed on the extractor main body, and a cap that engages with the cylinder 32 37
And a gear 36 for transmitting the driving torque of the cap motor 35 to incline the cylinder unit D about the shaft 34A and to engage the cap 37 with the cylinder 32.

In the cup-type vending machine having the above-described structure, for the sake of simplicity, the cup supply section for supplying the cup 9, the power supply section for supplying the current to the pump 60, and the power supply for supplying the current to the mill motor 7C. The components such as a stirrer, a stirrer for stirring the beverage in the cup 9, a pipe for the cold beverage, and a raw material storage unit are not shown.

FIG. 2 shows the cylinder unit D from the front side, in which a sleeve 32B made of fluororesin is press-fitted inside a cylinder 32 made of polysulfone, and a piston 39 is housed inside the sleeve 32B. . The cap 37 has a sealing member 37A made of fluoro rubber that seals a gap when inserted into the cylinder 32, and is coupled to the gear 36 via the rod 38 together with the guide plate 31. The rod 38 is connected to a guide plate 31 having a guide groove g formed in a predetermined guide pattern and a cap 37, and in the figure, the guide groove g and the engagement protrusion 3 formed on the outer side wall of the cylinder 32 are shown.
2A is engaged. The lower part of the piston 39 is connected to a beverage supply pipe 30A for delivering the extracted coffee liquid. The chute 7D is provided on its lower side wall with a wiper W that separates the extraction residue (not shown) pushed up by the piston 39 from the piston 39, and tilts the extraction guide separated by the wiper W by the slide guide 40. Drop along part S. This cylinder unit D
Is configured to incline counterclockwise from the state shown in the figure around the shaft 34A by driving the cap motor 35.

[0015] Figure 3 is a cylinder unit D shown from the rear side, the cap motor 35 via the gear 35A to drive the gear 36 to r ₁ direction. Rotating 180 ° r ₁ direction from the state illustrated the gear 36, the cylinder unit D cap 37 to the cylinder 32 while tilting about an axis 34A is inserted. Furthermore, when rotated 180 degrees gear 36 r ₁ direction, the cylinder unit D is shaft 34
The cap 37 is separated from the cylinder 32 while returning to the upright state from the inclined state around the center A.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cylinder unit D is inclined, and a cap 37 is inserted into the cylinder 32. The cylinder 32 contains a predetermined amount of ground beans pre-measured via the chute 7D before the cylinder unit D is tilted, but is not shown in the figure.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway view of the torque transmitting section 34. The driving torque of the piston drive motor 33 is controlled by a gear 341 attached to the rotation shaft of the piston drive motor 33.
From the gear 342A, transmitted to the gear 342B provided coaxially with the gear 342A, and transmitted from the gear 342B to the gear 344A provided on the shaft 343. Axis 3
A worm gear 344B is provided below 43, and the driving torque transmitted from the gear 344A is transmitted from the worm gear 344B to a gear 345A attached to a shaft 345 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the shaft 343, and to the gear 345A. The power is transmitted to a gear 345B provided coaxially. The driving torque transmitted from the gear 345B is
6 is transmitted to the gear 346A attached to the
The power is transmitted to a gear 346B provided coaxially with the gear 6A, transmitted to a gear 347A meshing with the gear 346A, and transmitted to a gear 347B provided coaxially with the gear 347A. A rack 348 is attached to a lower portion of the piston 39, and gears 3 are provided on both surfaces of the rack 348.
46B and 347B are in mesh. This gear 346
When the drive torque corresponding to the rotation direction of the piston drive motor 33 is transmitted to the rack 348B and 347B,
The piston 39 is moved up and down in the cylinder 32 by rotating in the opposite directions while holding the cylinder.

Worm gear 344 provided on shaft 343
B prevents the piston 39 from descending when pressure is applied from the piston 39 side in the process of extracting the coffee liquid.

The piston 39 includes a piston head 39A having a predetermined pressure resistance, a beverage supply pipe 30A attached to the piston head 39A for delivering extracted coffee liquid, and an O attached to the outer periphery of the piston head 39A. A ring 39E and a filter 39 formed of a thin metal plate having corrosion resistance and mounted on an upper portion of the piston head 39A.
F, and the coffee liquid extracted in the cylinder 32 is filtered by the filter 39F and sent out through the beverage supply pipe 30A.

As the fluororesin forming the sleeve 32B, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTF)
E) and a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinyl ether copolymer (PFA) can be used. When using PTFE, an extruded material is formed,
By cutting this, a sleeve 32B having desired inner and outer diameters is formed. The sleeve 32B thus formed is integrated into a cylinder 32 formed by injection molding of polysulfone. PFA
Is used, PFA is injection-molded at the time of injection molding of the cylinder 32 so that the cylinder 32 and the sleeve 32 are formed.
B can be formed integrally.

The cylinder 32 may be formed of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and baking processing may be performed on the inner wall surface of the cylinder 32 using powdered PTFE, thereby forming the PTFE into a thick film. It is.

FIG. 6 shows a current detection circuit for detecting a current supplied to the piston drive motor 33, and a power supply line (DC
24V) 71 is connected to a motor drive circuit 70 for controlling the rotation of the piston drive motor 33, and has signal terminals A and B for inputting energization signals from a main control unit (described later). The piston drive motor 33 is fixed to the ground potential via a detection resistor 72 and is connected to a current detection circuit 74 via an A / D converter 73. When the energization signal input to the signal terminal A of the motor drive circuit 70 is H and the energization signal input to the signal terminal B is L, the piston drive motor 33 rotates in the forward direction, and the energization signal input to the signal terminal A is When the energizing signal input to the signal terminal B at L is H, the piston drive motor 33 rotates in the reverse direction, and when the energizing signal input to the signal terminals A and B is L, the piston drive motor 33 stops, When the energization signal input to the terminals A and B is H, the piston drive motor 33 is braked.

FIG. 7 shows a control block of the cup-type vending machine. The sales control unit 101, the flow meter 19, the pressure sensor 25, the float switch 2A of the cistern 2, the float switch 10B of the hot water tank 10, and the cap 37 An optical sensor 36B for detecting a dead center, an optical sensor 36C for detecting a bottom dead center, an optical sensor 36D for detecting a waste disposal position, an optical sensor 39G for detecting a top dead center of the piston 39, and an optical sensor for detecting a bottom dead center 39H, an optical sensor 5D for detecting the rotation of the front lid of the measuring instrument 5, a main control section 100 for controlling each section based on the measuring encoder 5B of the measuring instrument 5, and a compressed amount of the ground beans according to the coffee beverage to be sold. 102 for storing control data of each part of the cup-type vending machine such as data of
And a timer 103 that counts clocks generated by a reference clock generator (not shown) and measures time.

Optical sensors 36B, 36C, and 36D
Is a transmission-type optical sensor that is provided on a gear 36 driven by a cap motor 35 and has a pair of light-receiving units and a light-emitting unit that shields the optical path with a disk having a slit for light transmission. When the cap 37 is at the top dead center, the bottom dead center, and the waste disposal position, the light receiving (ON) state is provided.

The optical sensors 39G and 39H are, for example, transmission type optical sensors having a pair of light receiving portions and light emitting portions whose light path is blocked by a light blocking portion formed in the rack portion 348. Optical sensor 39 based on
The position of the piston 39 is detected based on the light / light-shielded output patterns of G and 39H. An operation signal for a sales button (not shown) is input to the sales control unit 101.

Hereinafter, the operation of the cup-type vending machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the buyer inserts a coin into the coin slot of the cup-type vending machine, the sales control unit 101 outputs an operation signal to the main control unit 100. The main control unit 100 opens the extraction hot water valve 22 based on the operation signal and
Drive 0. The pump 60 is driven at a low speed to
Send a small amount of hot water to A. The main control unit 100 includes a pipe 6A
The driving amount of the pump 60 is controlled such that the hot water is sent out at a pumping amount that does not push and open the resistance valve 21 provided in the pump. Thereby, the hot water staying in the pipe 6A is sent to the pipe 6B by pressure and returned to the hot water tank 10, and at the same time, the pipe 6A is heated with high-temperature hot water of about 90 to 95 ° C supplied from the hot water tank 10. The main control unit 100 sets the pump 6
0, the low-speed operation is stopped, and the extraction hot-water valve 22 is closed after a certain period of time has elapsed since the pump was stopped. The reason for delaying the timing of closing the extraction hot water valve 22 is that when the extraction hot water valve 22 is closed at the same time as the pump is stopped or before the pump 60 is stopped, the pressure in the pipe 6A increases, and the resistance valve 21 is pushed and opened. This is to prevent hot water from being supplied to the extractor 30 and being absorbed by the ground beans in the cylinder 32.

When the purchaser presses the selection button for a coffee beverage, an operation signal for the sales button is input to the sales control unit 101. The sales control unit 101 outputs a sales request signal to the main control unit 100 based on the operation signal. The main control unit 100
Based on the input of the sales request signal, the extraction hot water valve 22 is closed to execute the sales operation.

FIG. 8 shows the operation of the extractor 30. The main controller 100 supplies electric power to the weighing motor 5A of the weighing machine 5. The metering motor 5A rotates based on the supply of electric power, whereby the ground beans contained in the meter 5 are pushed out by the piston and supplied to the cylinder 32 of the extractor 30 via the chute 7D (FIG. 8A). Next, the main control unit 10
0 supplies power to the cap motor 35 (FIG. 8)
b). The cap motor 35 rotates the gear 36 in the direction of the arrow to tilt the cylinder unit D in the direction of the arrow about the shaft 34A. The cap 37 is inserted into the cylinder 32 in synchronization with the tilting operation (FIG. 8C). Next, the main control unit 1
00 drives the piston drive motor 33. The piston 39 rises in the cylinder 32 based on the drive of the piston drive motor 33 (FIG. 8D). The piston 39 cooperates with the cap 37 to compress (tamping) the ground beans contained in the cylinder 32. The aforementioned current detection circuit 74
Detects the current value of the piston drive motor 33 during the tamping of the ground beans. When detecting a predetermined current value corresponding to the compression amount (compression load) of the ground beans, the current detection circuit 74 outputs an energization stop signal to the main control unit 100. Main control unit 10
0 indicates that the piston drive motor 3
3 is braked, and then the energization is stopped. The piston drive motor 33 stops rotating based on the stop of energization. Next, the main controller 100 drives the pump 60 to supply hot water at a pressure of 6 to 8 atm to the cylinder 32 via the pipe 6A. The hot water extracts coffee components as it passes through the compressed ground beans to form a coffee liquor. The extracted coffee liquid is sent out via the beverage supply pipe 30A. Main control unit 1
At 00, the supply of hot water is stopped when the time according to the sales amount has elapsed, and after a predetermined time (0.5 seconds) has elapsed, the piston drive motor 33 is driven to further raise the piston 39. The piston 39 moves the cap 37 based on the upward movement.
The coffee beans are squeezed (packed) in cooperation with, and the coffee liquid is squeezed out to the beverage supply pipe 30A (FIG. 8e). Next, the main controller 100 opens the hot water valve 24 shown in FIG. 1 and drives the piston drive motor 33 to lower the piston 39. Based on the negative pressure generated by the lowering of the piston 39, the liquid remaining in the pipe 6A is sucked into the ground beans packed in the cylinder 32 (FIG. 8F). Next, the main control unit 100 supplies power to the cap motor 35. The cap motor 35 drives the gear 36 to rotate in the direction of the arrow by rotating based on the supply of electric power (FIG. 8G).
The cap 37 is separated from the cylinder 32 based on the driving of the cap motor 35. After the cap 37 is detached from the cylinder 32, the main control unit 100 temporarily stops the cap 37 by stopping the power supply to the cap motor 35. Next, the main controller 100 drives the piston drive motor 33 to raise the piston 39. The piston 39 pushes up the extracted slag A obtained by solidifying the ground beans by packing so as to be exposed to the outside of the cylinder 32. The main controller 100 supplies power to the cap motor 35 again. The cylinder unit D rotates clockwise about the shaft 34A, and shifts from the inclined state to the upright state. In the process, the extracted slag A exposed to the outside of the cylinder 32 falls into the slag bucket 17 (not shown) by being wiped by a wiper (not shown). Main control unit 1
When the cylinder unit D returns to the upright state, the power supply to the cap motor 35 is stopped. In addition, electric power is supplied to the piston drive motor 33. The piston drive motor 33 is supplied with electric power and rotates to move the piston 39 to a lowermost position in the cylinder 32. Thus, a standby state is set. The coffee liquid sent to the cup is mixed with auxiliary materials such as sugar and cream and sold as a coffee beverage.

FIG. 9 shows a change in current when the ground bean is compressed. A is the current characteristic when a cylinder 32 having a sleeve 32B made of PTFE is used (after extracting 100,000 cups), and B is 4 shows current characteristics (after extracting 30,000 cups) when a cylinder made of only polysulfone is used. In the extractor 30 of the present embodiment, the piston drive motor 33 is driven when the ground beans supplied to the cylinder 32 are tamped, and the current is applied to the piston 39 when the current detection circuit 74 detects a current of 0.5 A. The compression load is 12.5 kgf, and the compression load applied to the piston 39 when a current of 2 A is detected is 50 kgf. In general, when the amount of ground beans is compressed, the passing speed of hot water becomes small and a thick coffee liquid is extracted, and when the amount of compressed beans is small, the passing speed of hot water becomes large and a thin coffee liquid is produced. Is extracted.

As shown in B, the compression load at the same current value is lower in the cylinder made of only polysulfone than in the cylinder 32 having the sleeve 32B. In addition, it was confirmed that when the cylinder was disassembled, fine scratches were generated on the inner wall surface and compression leakage occurred. On the other hand, in the cylinder 32 having the sleeve 32B, the inner wall surface was not damaged and was in a good condition.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. (A) The sleeve 32B made of fluororesin is inserted into the cylinder 32 so that the inner wall surface of the sleeve 32B and the piston 39 are in contact with each other. Of the current value detected by the current detection circuit 74 based on the compressive load, the amount of current increase due to frictional loss can be reduced, and the state can be maintained continuously and stably. As a result, the compression load of the ground beans can be accurately detected, and the fluctuation of the concentration of the coffee liquid can be prevented. Further, since the sleeve 32B is strongly reinforced by the cylinder 32, it is possible to prevent the fluororesin sleeve 32B having a low mechanical strength from being damaged by the pressure at the time of extraction. Further, since the compression state of the ground beans can be grasped based on the current value of the motor, it is not necessary to provide a sensor or the like. (B) Since the inner wall surface of the sleeve 32B is hardly damaged,
Extracted residue is less likely to remain, suppressing the progress of contamination, and increasing the durability of the seal member 37A attached to the piston 39, thereby preventing the occurrence of airtight leakage during coffee extraction. When the cylinder 32 is formed of polysulfone, since friction resistance with the piston 39 is large in a non-lubricated state, a lubricant such as silicon grease is applied to the O-ring 39E of the piston 39 to maintain a certain initial operability. After the initial stage, the extraction operation is repeated, so that the fats and oils contained in the coffee beans adhere to the inner wall surface of the cylinder 32 so that stable extraction can be performed. When oils and fats are removed by
The frictional resistance between the cylinder 32 and the piston 39 increases, and the extraction operation becomes unstable. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of such troubles, reduce maintenance work such as disassembly and cleaning,
The frequency of component replacement can be reduced. (C) Since the cylinder 32 and the sleeve 32B can be formed of different materials, an inexpensive material having good workability (for example, polyacetal or the like) can be used when the cylinder 32 is formed.
Equipment cost can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the cylinder 32 provided with the sleeve 32B made of fluororesin has been described. However, heat resistance, hot water resistance, low friction, no damage from coffee extract residue, and no contamination of foods. Any material can be used as long as it can overcome conditions such as not being affected by coffee oil generated during coffee extraction. The inventor has confirmed that the coefficient of friction of the portion forming the sleeve is 0.2 or less as an essential condition, and preferably 0.15 or less. Also, instead of providing the sleeve 32B, the cylinder 3
The same effect can be obtained by using a cylinder structure in which a fluorine coating layer is formed on the inner wall surface of No. 2.

The extractor 30 having the above-described cylinder 32 can be used for a machine such as a coffee maker other than the cup vending machine.

[0035]

As described above, according to the apparatus for producing a coffee beverage of the present invention, ground beans are supplied to a cylinder having an inner surface formed of a low friction member such as a fluororesin, and the ground beans are moved upward by a piston. Since the load fluctuation of the compression operation is detected based on the compression amount based on the concentration of the coffee liquid by performing the compression based on the pressure, it is possible to accurately measure the compression amount of the ground bean without complicating the structure. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a cup-type vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the extractor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the extractor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the extractor in a state where a piston is inserted into a cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a front view in which a part of a torque transmission unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is cut away.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a current detection circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a control block of the cup-type vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A to 8H are schematic configuration diagrams showing the operation of the extractor.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the compression load of ground beans and the current value of a piston drive motor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, intake pipe 1A, intake valve 2, systan 2A, float switch 3A, piping 5, measuring instrument 5A, measuring motor 5B, measuring encoder 5D, optical sensor 6A, piping 6B, piping 6C, piping 7, coffee bean supply unit 7A , Bean storage container 7B, Coffee mill 7C, Mill motor 7D, Chute 9, Cup 10, Hot water tank 10A, Power supply unit 10
B, float switch 10D, hot water temperature sensor 11, sugar container 12A, cream container 12B, cream container 13, chute 14, mixing bowl 14A, supply pipe 15A, pipe 15B, pipe 17,
Slag bucket 18, Drain bucket 19, Flow meter 20, Solenoid valve 2
1, resistance valve 22, extraction hot water valve 23A, hot water valve 23B, hot water valve 24,
Hot water valve 25, pressure sensor 30, coffee brewing machine 30
A, beverage supply pipe 31, guide plate 32, cylinder 32A, engagement projection 32B, sleeve 33, piston drive motor 34, torque transmission unit 34
A, shaft 35, cap motor 35A, gear 36, gear 3
6B, optical sensor 36C, optical sensor 36D, optical sensor 37, cap 37A, seal member 38, rod 39, piston
39A, piston head 39A, O-ring 39E, filter 39F, optical sensor 39H, optical sensor 60, pump 60A, bypass pipe 60B, valve 7
0, motor drive circuit 72, detection resistor 73, converter 74, current detection circuit 100, main control unit 101, sales control unit 102, memory 103, timer 341, gear 342A, gear 342B, gear 34
3, shaft 344A, gear 344B, worm gear 345A,
Gear 345B, gear 345, shaft 346, shaft 346A,
Gear 346B, Gear 347A, Gear 347B, Gear 3
48, rack

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Uehara 5-20-8 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo Sanyo Electric Vending Machine Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3E047 EC01 EC07 EC09 4B027 FB21 FB24 FQ08 FQ19 FR17

Claims (3)

[Claims] A bean crushing unit configured to crush coffee beans to form ground beans; and a cylinder having an inner surface formed of a low-friction member for receiving the ground beans supplied from the bean crushing unit. A coffee extractor that compresses the coffee liquid to a compression amount corresponding to the concentration of the coffee liquid extracted by a piston provided to be able to ascend and descend, and passes hot water through the compressed ground beans to extract the coffee liquid; An apparatus for producing a coffee beverage, comprising: a compression amount detection unit configured to detect the compression amount based on a load change during compression of beans. 2. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the compression amount detecting means includes a cap provided to be engageable with the cylinder, a drive motor for generating a drive torque for moving the piston up and down in the cylinder, and the cylinder sealed with the cap. 2. The coffee beverage manufacturing method according to claim 1, further comprising a current detection circuit that detects a current value of the drive motor when the ground beans accommodated in the container are compressed based on a rising operation of the piston. apparatus. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the low friction member is formed of a fluororesin.