JP2009066245A - Beverage brewer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage brewer capable of brewing a beverage even in a place having no commercial power source. <P>SOLUTION: The beverage brewer includes: a heating means 2 for heating liquid 1a inside a container 1; a motor-driven pump 5 disposed in the middle of a water discharge route 4 for discharging the liquid 1a, for discharging the liquid 1a; a pump driving means 9 for driving the motor-driven pump 5; a beverage fixing part 6 for installing a beverage pack 12 or beverage powder to be brewed by the liquid 1a discharged by the motor-driven pump 5; a backup power source 7 for supplying power at least to the motor-driven pump 9 when the commercial power is not inputted; a discharge time timing means 25 for timing the discharge time required for the prescribed voltage range of the backup power source 7 when the motor-driven pump 9 is operated; a voltage detection means 10 for detecting the voltage of the backup power source 7; and a control means 11 for controlling the pump driving means 9, wherein, after water is boiled, the beverage such as coffee or tea can be brewed by supplying the power to the motor-driven pump 5 even in a place having no commercial power source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage extractor that extracts beverages such as coffee and tea.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a beverage extractor has been put on the market by boiling a liquid in a container with a commercial power source, discharging the liquid with an electric pump, and extracting a beverage pack content or beverage powder (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional beverage extractor described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional beverage extractor includes a container 1, a heating unit 2, a temperature detection unit 3, a water discharge path 4, an electric pump 5, a beverage fixing unit 6, and a pump driving unit 9. , Control means 11, notification means 13, extraction switch 14, and power cord 16 connected to a commercial power source. A beverage pack 12 is attached to the beverage fixing unit 6.
JP 2002-85258 A

  However, in the configuration of the conventional beverage extractor, since there is no backup power source, there is a problem that, after boiling the water, the beverage extractor is moved to a table or the like and the beverage cannot be extracted in a place where there is no commercial power source even if an attempt is made to extract the beverage. Had.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a beverage extractor that can extract a beverage such as coffee or tea even in a place without a commercial power source after boiling.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a beverage extractor according to the present invention includes a container for storing a liquid, a heating unit for heating the liquid in the container, a water discharge path for discharging the liquid, and the water discharge. An electric pump arranged in the middle of the path for discharging the liquid in the container, a pump driving means for driving the electric pump, and a beverage in which a beverage pack or beverage powder extracted by the liquid discharged by the electric pump is installed A fixing unit; a backup power source that supplies power to the electric pump when no commercial power is input; and a discharge time timing unit that counts a discharge time required for a predetermined voltage range of the backup power source during operation of the electric pump. And a voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the backup power supply, and a control means for controlling the pump drive means, after boiling, Also in use the power there is no place, to supply power to the electric pump can extract a beverage such as coffee or tea.

  The beverage extractor of the present invention can extract beverages such as coffee and tea even in places where there is no commercial power supply after boiling.

  A first invention is a container for storing a liquid, heating means for heating the liquid in the container, a water discharge path for discharging the liquid, and a liquid disposed in the water discharge path. An electric pump for discharging, pump driving means for driving the electric pump, a beverage fixing part for installing a beverage pack or beverage powder extracted by the liquid discharged by the electric pump, and at least when commercial power is not input A backup power source for supplying power to the electric pump; a discharge time measuring means for measuring a discharge time required for a predetermined voltage range of the backup power source during operation of the electric pump; and a voltage detection for detecting a voltage of the backup power source. And a control means for controlling the pump drive means, and the electric pump even in a place where there is no commercial power supply after boiling Power supplies can be extracted beverages such as coffee or tea.

  According to the second invention, in particular, when the commercial power supply is not inputted, the control means of the first invention detects that the voltage detection means detects the first predetermined voltage corresponding to the time measured by the discharge time measurement means. The pump is stopped, the amount of energy remaining at each voltage of the backup power supply can be predicted by the discharge time, and extraction can be stopped before the power supply voltage drops rapidly due to aging of the backup. Thus, extraction failure due to a rapid decrease in the rotational speed of the electric pump can be prevented in advance, and it becomes easy to use.

  In the third invention, in particular, the control means of the first or second invention does not stop the driving of the electric pump until the extraction operation is completed during the extraction, and the operation stops during the extraction. Because there is no, dissatisfaction of the user due to the suspension of extraction can be solved.

  The fourth invention is provided with voltage boosting means for boosting the voltage of the backup power supply and supplying power to the electric pump, particularly when the commercial power supply of any one of the first to third inventions is not inputted. Thus, even if the power supply voltage of the backup power supply decreases, the voltage can be boosted by the boosting means, and it becomes possible to supply a stable power supply voltage to the electric pump, thereby preventing poor extraction due to a decrease in the rotational speed of the electric pump. be able to.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, the control means of the fourth invention stops the boosting operation by the voltage boosting means when the voltage detection means detects the first predetermined voltage or less when the commercial power is not inputted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in circuit current of the voltage boosting means due to boosting from a state where the residual energy of the backup power supply is low, and the electronic components constituting the voltage boosting means are highly reliable without being overloaded. It becomes a beverage extractor.

  In the sixth invention, in particular, the control means of the fifth invention does not stop the boosting operation by the voltage boosting means until the extraction operation is completed in the middle of extraction. Since the voltage does not decrease, it is possible to prevent extraction failure due to a decrease in the rotational speed of the electric pump.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, when the voltage detection means of any one of the first to sixth aspects detects a second predetermined voltage or less, a notification means for visually or audibly informing is provided. The notification means can prompt the user to charge or replace the backup power supply before the backup power supply voltage drops and the extraction operation becomes impossible, so that the commercial power supply is not connected. , The chances of sudden extraction becoming impossible can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a beverage extractor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a control circuit of the beverage extractor. In addition, about the same part as the said conventional drink extractor (FIG. 3), the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 1, the container 1 of the beverage extractor in the present embodiment contains a liquid 1a such as water, and the heating means 2 boils the liquid 1a in the container 1 and then keeps the temperature. The temperature detection means 3 is composed of a temperature detection element such as a thermistor, and detects the temperature of the liquid 1a in the container 1. The water discharge path 4 is a path for discharging the liquid 1 a in the container 1 to the outside, and the electric pump 5 is installed in the middle of the water discharge path 4 and discharges the liquid 1 a in the container 1.

  The beverage fixing part 6 is a place where a beverage pack 12 or beverage powder (not shown) is installed. 7 is a backup power source composed of an electric double layer capacitor or the like, and supplies power to the electric pump 5 and each electric component described later when commercial power is not supplied to the beverage extractor through the power cord 16.

  The discharge time measuring means 25 measures the discharge time required for the voltage of the backup power supply 7 to fall within a predetermined voltage range when the electric pump 5 is operating when no commercial power is input.

  The pump drive unit 9 drives the electric pump 5 by a signal input from the control unit 11. The voltage detection means 10 detects the voltage of the backup power supply 7. The notification means 13 is composed of an LED, an LCD, a buzzer, or the like, and the operation state of the beverage extractor and the remaining energy state of the backup power source 7 are visually or audibly notified to the user by a signal from the control means 11. Information is provided. The extraction switch 14 is operated to send a signal to the control means 11.

  About the drink extractor in this Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, when commercial power is input through the power cord 16, the control means 11 determines that the temperature detection means 3 determines that the temperature of the liquid 1a in the container 1 is lower than the second predetermined temperature. A signal is sent to the means 2 to start heating the liquid 1a. Thereafter, the control means 11 performs control so that when the temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature is detected or a predetermined temperature gradient is detected, the water heating operation is terminated and the heating means 2 performs the heat retaining operation.

  Next, when the extraction switch 14 is operated when there is no outlet or the like and no commercial power is input, the signal is input to the control means 11. The control means 11 controls the voltage of the backup power supply 7 supplied to the electric pump 5 and outputs an operation signal to the pump drive means 9. When the electric pump 5 is driven by the pump driving means 9, a predetermined amount of the liquid 1a in the container 1 is discharged and supplied to the beverage pack 12 or beverage powder in the beverage fixing section 6 for extraction.

  The discharge time counting means 25 is required for a predetermined voltage range of the backup power supply 7 (for example, a period in which 5 to 3 V is detected by the voltage detection means 10) during operation of the electric pump 5 when no commercial power is input. Count the discharge time. The control means 11 determines the first predetermined voltage from the discharge time (for example, as the determination method, when the time measured by the discharge time measuring means 25 is less than 2 minutes, the first predetermined voltage is set to 3V. When the measuring time is 2 minutes 1 second to 2 minutes 30 seconds, the first predetermined voltage is set to 2.5 V, and when the measuring time is 2 minutes 31 seconds or more, the first predetermined voltage is set to 2 V in advance. deep).

  Next, when the extraction switch 14 is operated when there is no outlet or the like and no commercial power is input, the signal is input to the control means 11. The control means 11 supplies the voltage of the backup power supply 7 to the electric pump 5 and outputs an operation signal to the pump drive means 9. When the electric pump 5 is driven, a predetermined amount of the liquid 1a in the container 1 is discharged and supplied to the beverage pack 12 or beverage powder in the beverage fixing unit 6 for extraction.

  The voltage detection means 10 detects the voltage of the backup power source 7 as needed, and the control means 11 stops driving the electric pump 5 when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 23 denotes a commercial power supply which is supplied to the control circuit 26 through the power cord 16 and is supplied to the microcomputer 11 a in the control means 11 through the rectifier circuit 17, the transformer circuit 18, the reverse current blocking diode 19 and the regulator 20. The output of the diode 19 (hereinafter referred to as Vu power supply) is also connected to the electric pump 5 and the control IC 8c.

  8a to 8j are components of the voltage boosting means 8 that boosts the backup power supply 7 and uses it as a Vu power supply. 8a is an input smoothing capacitor, 8f is an output smoothing capacitor, 8b is a choke coil, 8d is a switching transistor, and 8e is a diode. The control IC 8c inputs the reference voltage obtained by the resistors 8g and 8h to the Vu power source, and determines and controls the switching duty of the transistor 8d or the boost ratio of the voltage boosting means 8.

  The control means 11 is composed of a microcomputer 11a. The microcomputer 11a includes a central control room 11b, an AD converter 11c, and a power supply recognition device 11d, and that the commercial power supply 23 is supplied through the power cord 16 through the current limiting resistor 22. When recognized by the power source recognition device 11d configured in the computer 11a, the central control chamber 11b controls heating based on the voltage dividing signals of the thermistor 3a and the resistor 3b which are components of the temperature detecting means 3 (FIG. 2). (The control circuit configuration of the heating means 2 is not shown).

  Upon receiving a signal input from the extraction switch 14, the central control chamber 11b drives the electric pump driving transistor 9a via the resistor 9b, operates the electric pump 5, and discharges the liquid 1a in the container 1. The central control room 11b monitors the value obtained by dividing the power supply voltage of the backup power supply 7 by the resistors 10a and 10b with the AD-converted value, and outputs a signal to the charging means 21 when it detects a preset value. To control.

  Next, when the power recognition device 11d recognizes that the commercial power supply 23 is not supplied to the beverage extractor, the microcomputer 11a enters a signal input waiting state from the extraction switch 14. At this time, the power of the microcomputer 11a is supplied from the backup power source 7 without being boosted. At this time, the switching operation (ON / OFF control of the switching transistor 8d) by the control IC 8c is stopped when the central control chamber 11b outputs a control signal via the resistor 8j (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as a backup mode). ).

  When a signal is input from the extraction switch 14 when the beverage extractor is in the backup mode, an operation start signal is output from the central control room 11b to the control IC 8c through the resistor 8j, and the switching operation of the switching transistor 8d, that is, The voltage boosting operation of the backup power supply 7 by the voltage boosting means 8 is started. The output (Vu power supply) of the voltage boosting means 8 during the boosting operation is fed back to the control IC 8c in the form of the divided voltage of the resistor 8g and the resistor 8h, and the output is always controlled to be a constant voltage regardless of the change of the input voltage. The IC 8c controls the switching operation of the switching transistor 8d.

  Simultaneously with the above-described boosting operation, the central control chamber 11b drives the electric pump driving transistor 9a through the resistor 9b to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid 1a in the container 1. Further, when the electric pump 5 is in operation, the central control room 11b measures a discharge time required for a predetermined voltage range based on a signal from the voltage detection means 10, and determines a first predetermined voltage based on the measured time.

  In the above-described embodiment, the voltage of the backup power supply 7 is boosted and supplied to the electric pump 5 in the backup mode. However, the voltage boosting means 8 is not provided and the voltage of the backup power supply 7 is supplied to the electric pump 5. Is also possible.

  Further, the microcomputer 11a recognizes the voltage of the backup power source 7 detected by the resistors 10a and 10b of the voltage detecting means 10 by the AD converter 11c in the microcomputer 11a, and determines a predetermined first predetermined voltage. When the following is detected, the central control room 11b stops driving the transistor 9a via the resistor 9b and stops the operation of the electric pump 5.

  As described above, the beverage extractor in the present embodiment has the backup power source 7 that supplies power to the electric pump 5 and the like, the charging means 21 that charges the backup power source 7 with a predetermined current, and the commercial power source 23. When there is no commercial power supply 23 by providing the control means 11 for supplying the voltage of the backup power supply 7 to the electric pump 5 and driving the electric pump 5 to discharge a predetermined amount of liquid 1a and performing the extraction operation when not However, the beverage can be extracted, and the range of use of the user is widened, making it easy to use.

  The discharge time measuring means 25 measures the discharge time required for the voltage detection means 10 to decrease in a predetermined voltage range during operation of the electric pump 5 when no commercial power is input, and the control means 11 Makes it possible to predict the amount of residual energy at each voltage of the backup power supply 7 based on the discharge time by setting the voltage corresponding to the time measured as the first predetermined voltage, and the rapid power supply voltage due to aging of the backup power supply 7 can be predicted. Extraction can be stopped before it decreases, and extraction failure due to a rapid decrease in the number of revolutions of the electric pump 5 can be prevented in advance, making it easy to use.

  Further, when the commercial power supply 23 is not inputted, the voltage boosting means 8 that boosts the voltage of the backup power supply 7 and supplies the power to the electric pump 5 is provided, so that the voltage boosting means even if the power supply voltage of the backup power supply 7 decreases. 8, the voltage can be boosted, a stable power supply voltage can be supplied to the electric pump 5, and extraction failure due to a decrease in the rotational speed of the electric pump 5 can be prevented.

  Further, when the commercial power supply 13 is not inputted, if the voltage detecting means 10 detects the first predetermined voltage or less, the voltage boosting means 8 stops the boosting operation, thereby boosting the backup power supply 7 from a state where the remaining energy is low. It is possible to prevent an increase in circuit current of the voltage boosting means 8 due to the above, and the electronic components constituting the voltage boosting means 8 are not overloaded and a highly reliable beverage extractor.

  Further, the control means 11 does not stop the electric pump 5 during the extraction, but postpones until the predetermined amount of drainage is completed and the extraction operation is completed, so that the user dissatisfaction due to the sudden stop during the extraction. Can be prevented.

  In addition, the control means 11 does not stop the voltage boosting operation during extraction, but postpones until a predetermined amount of drainage ends and the extraction operation is completed, thereby reducing the rotation speed of the electric pump 5 during extraction. Extraction failure can be prevented and it becomes easy to use.

  Further, when a voltage higher than the first predetermined voltage is set in advance as the second predetermined voltage, and the second predetermined voltage is detected by the AD converter 11c, the central control room 11b causes the resistor 24 to be connected. Through the flashing of the notification means 13 (here, the LED), the user can be notified that the remaining energy of the backup power supply 7 is low, and the user can be backed up before the extraction operation becomes impossible. Since the power supply 7 can be urged to be charged or the backup power supply 7 replaced, the chance that the backup power supply 7 cannot be suddenly extracted when the power cord 16 is not connected to the commercial power supply 23 is reduced. be able to.

  As described above, the beverage extractor according to the present invention can extract a beverage even in a place where there is no commercial power source, and can provide a user-friendly beverage extractor with a wide range of use by the user.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the drink extractor in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Configuration diagram of control circuit of the beverage extractor The figure which shows schematic structure of the conventional drink extractor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Heating means 3 Temperature detection means 4 Water discharge path 5 Electric pump 6 Drink fixing part 7 Backup power supply 8 Voltage boosting means 9 Pump drive means 10 Voltage detection means 11 Control means 13 Notification means 25 Discharge time counting means

Claims (7)

A container for storing liquid, a heating means for heating the liquid in the container, a water discharge path for discharging the liquid, an electric pump arranged in the water discharge path and discharging the liquid in the container, A pump driving means for driving the electric pump, a beverage fixing part for installing a beverage pack or beverage powder extracted by the liquid discharged by the electric pump, and at least a power source for the electric pump when no commercial power is input. A backup power supply to be supplied; a discharge time measuring means for measuring a discharge time required for a predetermined voltage range of the backup power supply during operation of the electric pump; a voltage detection means for detecting a voltage of the backup power supply; and the pump drive A beverage extractor comprising control means for controlling the means. 2. The beverage according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops driving the electric pump when the voltage detection unit detects the first predetermined voltage corresponding to the time counted by the discharge time counting unit when the commercial power is not input. 3. Extractor. The beverage extractor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means does not stop the driving of the electric pump during the extraction until the extraction operation is completed. The beverage extractor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising voltage boosting means for boosting the voltage of the backup power supply and supplying power to the electric pump when no commercial power is input. 5. The beverage extractor according to claim 4, wherein when the commercial power is not input, the control unit stops the boosting operation by the voltage boosting unit when the voltage detecting unit detects a voltage equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage. 6. The beverage extractor according to claim 5, wherein the control means does not stop the boosting operation by the voltage boosting means during the extraction until the extraction operation is completed. The beverage extractor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a notification means for visually or audibly notifying when the voltage detection means detects a second predetermined voltage or less.

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