JP2007034501A - Beverage extractor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage extractor 11 for preventing the residue of beverage in a beverage path 43. <P>SOLUTION: Beverage extracted by an extracting means 15 is sent to an extraction port 45 at the tip of a beverage path 43, and poured into a cup C. When beverage is sent, a sending pump 46 of the beverage path 43 is operated, and beverage in the beverage path 43 is pressurized and sent, and an extraction time is shortened. The sending pump 46 is temporarily stopped in timing immediately before the end of the beverage sending operation in which the beverage flowing from the extracting means 15 to the beverage path 43 is interrupted, and air enters. While the sending pump 46 is temporarily stopped, beverage attached to the inside of the beverage path 43 or the sending pump 46 flows downward and gathers. The flowing and gathering beverage is sent in a batch from the inside of the beverage path 43 according to the reoperation of the sending pump 46 so that the residue of the beverage in the beverage path 43 can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage extraction device that quickly delivers an extracted beverage by a pump.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, cup-type beverage vending machines that provide and sell beverages in cups have been known that include a beverage extraction device that extracts regular coffee using coffee powder obtained by grinding coffee beans.

  In this beverage extraction device, a predetermined amount of coffee beans are fed out from a canister that stores coffee beans, the coffee beans that have been fed out are ground in a mill, and the ground coffee powder and hot water discharged from a hot water tank are placed from the top of the mixing container. After a certain steaming time, the piston of the extraction cylinder disposed through the filter at the bottom of the mixing container is lowered from the raised position, and the coffee liquid is extracted from the mixing container through the filter and extracted into the extraction cylinder. The coffee liquid is sent to the extraction port at the tip through a beverage passage such as a hose, and the coffee liquid is poured into the cup from this extraction port.

Compared to the case where a pump is arranged in the middle of the beverage passage, and the pump is continuously operated for a certain period of time so that the coffee liquid in the beverage passage is sent to the extraction port and sent using only the head. Thus, the flow rate of the coffee liquid is increased so that the coffee liquid can be sent in a short time (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-38446 (page 10, FIG. 1)

  By the way, immediately after the extraction of the coffee liquid, the amount of the coffee liquid in the extraction cylinder is large, and the inside of the pump is filled with the coffee liquid flowing from the extraction cylinder into the beverage passage. Therefore, the coffee liquid can be efficiently delivered by this pump.

  However, when the coffee liquid in the extraction cylinder decreases, air enters the beverage passage, so that air is sent by the pump and the pump is idled. In a state where the pump is idling, the coffee liquid tends to adhere in a small granular shape in a place where the flow of the beverage passage is poor or in the pump. Therefore, even if the pump is operated continuously for a certain time, the coffee liquid tends to remain in the beverage passage.

  In this way, the remaining coffee liquid in the beverage passage causes variations in the amount of coffee liquid poured into the cup, or another type of coffee liquid and the remaining coffee liquid are mixed during the next extraction, for example. There is a problem that affects the flavor.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the drink extraction apparatus which can prevent that a drink remains in a drink channel | path.

  The beverage extraction device according to claim 1 is provided in the beverage passage having an extraction portion for extracting the beverage, an extraction opening at the tip, and a beverage passage that sends the beverage flowing from the extraction portion to the extraction opening at the tip, A delivery pump for delivering the beverage in the beverage passage toward the extraction port at the tip, and a beverage pump for delivering the beverage extracted by the extraction section to the extraction port at the tip by the beverage passage, And a control unit that temporarily stops during the operation and restarts after the suspension.

  The beverage extraction device according to claim 2 is the beverage extraction device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the delivery pump just before the end of the beverage delivery operation in which the beverage flowing from the extraction unit is interrupted and the air enters the beverage passage. It is a temporary stop.

  According to the beverage extracting apparatus of claim 1, when the beverage extracted by the extractor is sent to the leading extraction port through the beverage passage, the beverage adheres in the beverage passage or the delivery pump in the continuous operation of the delivery pump. Even when the delivery pump cannot be delivered, the beverage that has adhered to the beverage passage or the delivery pump during the pause is collected by flowing downward and gathering during the pause. Beverages that have flowed out and collected by the re-operation can be delivered collectively from within the beverage passage, and beverages can be prevented from remaining in the beverage passage.

  According to the beverage extraction device of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the beverage extraction device of claim 1, the timing immediately before the end of the beverage delivery operation in which the beverage flowing from the extraction unit into the beverage passage is interrupted and the air enters. By temporarily stopping the delivery pump, the beverage can be reliably prevented from remaining in the beverage passage.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a beverage extractor, which is a beverage extractor 11 that extracts regular coffee made from coffee beans, and is a cup-type beverage vending machine that provides and sells beverages to the cup C. Installed in the aircraft.

  Beverage extraction device 11 includes mixing container 12, extraction raw material supply means 13 for supplying extraction raw material to mixing container 12, hot water supply means 14 for supplying hot water to mixing container 12, and mixing of raw material and hot water from mixing container 12 It has an extraction means 15 as an extraction unit for extracting an extracted liquid, that is, a coffee liquid as a beverage, and a beverage delivery means 16 for sending the coffee liquid extracted by the extraction means 15 to the cup C.

  The mixing container 12 has a mixing chamber 19 formed in the lower part and a receiving part 20 formed in the upper part. The lower surface of the mixing chamber 19 and the upper surface of the receiving portion 20 are opened, and the mixing chamber 19 and the receiving portion 20 are communicated with each other. The mixing container 12 is driven up and down by a lifting mechanism (not shown).

  The extraction raw material supply means 13 has a plurality of canisters 23 for storing coffee beans by type and feeding the stored coffee beans by a predetermined amount. Below these canisters 23, the coffee beans fed from the canister 23 are moved downward. A chute 24 for guiding is disposed, and a mill 25 for grinding the coffee beans guided below the chute 24 into powder is disposed. Therefore, the extracted raw material supply means 13 supplies coffee powder as a raw material to the receiving unit 20 of the mixing container 12.

  The hot water supply means 14 has a hot water tank 28 for boiling and storing hot water at a predetermined hot water temperature, and a hot water supply path for supplying hot water to the receiving portion 20 of the mixing container 12 on the upper side of the hot water tank 28. 29 is connected. An electromagnetic valve 30 is disposed in the hot water supply path 29. Hot water is supplied when the electromagnetic valve 30 is opened, and hot water supply is stopped when the electromagnetic valve 30 is closed.

  The extraction means 15 has a cylindrical cylinder 33 disposed below the mixing container 12, and a piston 34 is slidably disposed in the cylinder 33 in the vertical direction. By driving (see FIG. 2), it moves up and down via a transmission mechanism 36 such as a crank.

  A filter 37 is inserted between the mixing container 12 and the cylinder 33, and the filter 37 is sandwiched between the mixing container 12 and the cylinder 33 when the mixing container 12 is lowered. When the filter 37 sucks the mixing chamber 19 through the filter 37 as the piston 34 moves downward, the filter 37 captures the coffee powder in the mixing chamber 19 and filters the coffee liquid as the extract to filter the inside of the cylinder 33. The used portion which has been formed into a strip shape and is fed by a feed mechanism 39 from a roll portion 38 wound in a roll shape and captures coffee powder for each beverage extraction operation is mixed with the mixing container 12 While being fed out from between the cylinders 33, unused portions are supplied between the mixing container 12 and the cylinders 33.

  A trough 40 through which the coffee liquid sucked into the cylinder 33 flows out is formed on the lower side of the cylinder 33.

  Also, the beverage delivery means 16 has a beverage passage 43, and this beverage passage 43 is constituted by a hose 44 as a pipe. The base end on the upstream side of the hose 44 is connected to the trough 40 of the cylinder 33, and the downstream side. The tip on the side is connected to an extraction port 45 constituted by a nozzle disposed on the cup C. The hose 44 is arranged so that the coffee liquid flows from the trough 40 to the extraction port 45 even by a drop between the trough 40 and the extraction port 45 of the cylinder 33.

  In the middle of the hose 44, a delivery pump 46 such as a gear pump for forcibly feeding the coffee liquid in the hose 44 to the cup C side is disposed.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the beverage brewing apparatus 11, and the control unit 51 includes an extraction raw material motor 52, a mill 25, a solenoid valve 30, an extraction motor 35, and a delivery pump 46 for feeding coffee beans from each canister 23. It controls the feed motor 53 that rotates and the like.

  The control unit 51 operates the delivery pump 46 during the beverage delivery to send the coffee liquid extracted by the extraction means 15 to the extraction port 45 at the tip through the beverage passage 43, and pauses during this operation and restarts after the pause. It has a function to make it. The timing of temporarily stopping the delivery pump 46 is immediately before the end of the beverage delivery operation in which the beverage flowing from the extraction means 15 into the hose 44 of the beverage passage 43 is interrupted and the air enters, and the time during which the beverage is paused is It is set as the time when the beverage adhering to the inside of the hose 44 of the beverage passage 43 or the gear groove in the delivery pump 46 can flow down and gather.

  Next, regular coffee extraction operation in the beverage extraction device 11 under the control of the control unit 51 will be described.

  When regular coffee is selected by a selection button provided on the front face of the cup-type beverage vending machine, the driving of the extraction raw material motor 52 and the mill 25 of the canister 23 that stores the selected type of coffee beans is started. A predetermined amount of coffee beans in the canister 23 is fed by driving the extraction raw material motor 52, the coffee beans are ground by the mill 25, and the ground coffee powder falls into the mixing chamber 19 through the receiving part 20 of the mixing container 12.

  Simultaneously with the selection of regular coffee, the solenoid valve 30 of the hot water supply means 14 is opened for a predetermined time, and a predetermined amount of hot water in the hot water tank 28 is supplied from the hot water supply path 29 to the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing container 12.

  Coffee powder and hot water are mixed in the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing container 12 to extract the coffee liquid.

  Thereafter, the extraction motor 35 is driven, the piston 34 that has been waiting at the rising position in the cylinder 33 is lowered, and the coffee liquid in the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing container 12 is filtered by the filter 37 and forced into the cylinder 33. The coffee powder is captured by the filter 37.

  When the upper surface of the piston 34 descending in the cylinder 33 reaches the height of the trough 40, the coffee liquid in the cylinder 33 flows out to the beverage passage 43 through the trough 40, and the hose 44, the delivery pump 46, and the hose 44 in the beverage passage 43 And flows in the order of the extraction port 45 and poured into the cup C from the extraction port 45.

  At this time, the delivery pump 46 in the beverage passage 43 is driven, and the coffee liquid in the hose 44 is forcibly pumped to the cup C side by the delivery pump 46. Immediately after the extraction of the coffee liquid, the amount of the coffee liquid in the cylinder 33 is large, and the inside of the delivery pump 46 is filled with the coffee liquid flowing from the cylinder 33 into the beverage passage 43. Therefore, the delivery pump 46 can efficiently deliver the coffee liquid. . Therefore, by sending the coffee liquid by the delivery pump 46, it is possible to send the coffee liquid in a shorter time compared to the case where the coffee liquid is sent using the drop, and the coffee liquid extraction time can be shortened.

  Thereafter, when the amount of the coffee liquid in the cylinder 33 decreases, air enters the beverage passage 43 from the trough 40, so that air is sent by the delivery pump 46, and the delivery pump 46 is idled. . In the state where the delivery pump 46 is idling, there is an air flow, so that the coffee liquid adheres in a small granular shape to the place where the flow of the hose 44 in the beverage passage 43 is poorly flowed or to the gear groove of the delivery pump 46. It tends to remain.

  Therefore, the control unit 51 temporarily stops the delivery pump 46 at a timing immediately before the end of the beverage delivery operation in which the beverage flowing from the extraction means 15 into the hose 44 of the beverage passage 43 is interrupted and the air enters.

  Since the flow of air stops during the temporary stop of the delivery pump 46, the hose 44 in the hose 44 connecting the trough 40 of the cylinder 33 and the delivery pump 46 is caused by a drop between the trough 40 and the delivery pump 46. The coffee liquid that adheres in small particles in the inside gathers into large particles and flows downward and gathers in the delivery pump 46. In the delivery pump 46, the upper side of the gear groove and the like in the delivery pump 46 The coffee liquid that has adhered to the small particles flows to the lower side of the delivery pump 46 while gathering into large grains, and the coffee liquid collected in these delivery pumps 46 becomes the priming water when the delivery pump 46 is reactivated. Become.

  Then, after the suspension time has elapsed, the delivery pump 46 is restarted. At this time, since the coffee liquid collected in the delivery pump 46 acts as priming water, the collected coffee liquid can be delivered all at once without the delivery pump 46 spinning around, including in the hose 44 and the delivery pump 46, etc. It is possible to prevent the coffee liquid from remaining in the beverage passage 43.

  Therefore, since it is possible to prevent the coffee liquid from remaining in the beverage passage 43, the amount of the coffee liquid poured into the cup C varies, and for example, another type of coffee liquid and the remaining coffee liquid at the time of the next extraction Can solve the problem of mixing and affecting the flavor.

  The beverage to be extracted is not limited to regular coffee but may be a tea beverage using tea leaves.

It is a lineblock diagram of a beverage extraction device showing one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of a drink extracting device same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

11 Beverage extractor
15 Extraction means as extraction unit
43 Beverage passage
45 Extraction port
46 Delivery pump
51 Control unit

Claims (2)

An extractor for extracting beverages;
A beverage passage having an extraction port at the tip, and sending the beverage flowing from the extraction unit to the extraction port at the tip;
A delivery pump provided in the beverage passage, for delivering the beverage in the beverage passage toward the extraction port at the tip;
A control unit for operating the delivery pump during a beverage delivery to send the beverage extracted by the extraction unit to the extraction port at the tip by a beverage passage, and temporarily stopping the operation during the operation and re-operation after the suspension. A beverage extraction device characterized by comprising: The beverage extraction device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit temporarily stops the delivery pump immediately before the end of the beverage delivery operation in which the beverage flowing from the extraction unit is interrupted and the air enters the beverage passage.

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