JP2011010937A - Electric water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric water heater which can extract coffee restraining the variation in the concentration and the taste every time.SOLUTION: The electric water heater has a hot water spouting means 3 for spouting hot water from a hot water spout 2, a hot water spouting switch 3c for manually operating the hot water spouting means 3, an automatic hot water spouting control means 4 for controlling the hot water spouting means 3 to automatically pour hot water into a coffee extractor 9 just below the hot water spout 2, and an extraction start switch 5 for starting hot water spouting for extracting coffee, an extraction surface detection means 6 for measuring a distance to the surface of a coffee powder. The automatic hot water spouting control means 4 automatically controls the flow of the spouted hot water, hot water spouting time, and hot water spouting timing and makes correction such that the quantity of hot water poured in the manual hot water spouting process is excluded from the quantity of spouted hot water to be automatically controlled, on the basis of: a coffee extraction sequence configured of a first dripping process in which hot water for steaming is spouted, a manual hot water spouting process in which hot water for steaming can be additionally supplied as needed, a steaming process in which hot water spouting is stopped to perform steaming, and a second dripping process in which main extraction is performed; and the distance detected by the extraction surface detection means 6.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric water heater, and more particularly to an electric water heater with a coffee extraction function capable of automatically extracting coffee using hot water in a water heater container.

  In recent years, there has been proposed an electric water heater with a coffee extraction function that is designed so that hot water can be easily poured into a drip-type regular coffee extractor using a paper filter. Conventional electric water heaters of this type are designed to reduce the flow rate of the hot water when the hot water switch is pressed down so that the coffee powder does not scatter, or to automatically discharge a certain amount of hot water to prevent overfilling of hot water. There is something like that (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2-111327

  However, in the configuration of the conventional electric water heater that automatically pours a certain amount of water as described in Patent Document 1, it is not automatically performed until the steaming is performed, and the tapping flow rate is adjusted according to the freshness of the powder. Is not done. That is, if the flour is freshly ground after roasting, the swell of the powder at the time of extraction is large, so if the flow rate is too high, coffee will overflow from the extractor. Moreover, since the extraction pattern is fixed, the finished taste will change if the number of cups changes. In addition, since the hot water is automatically discharged in accordance with a predetermined hot water discharge sequence, the concentration of the coffee when the method of pouring the hot water for steaming, which greatly affects the concentration and taste of the coffee, is not poured into the powder, There was a problem that the taste fluctuates every time.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and automatically discharges hot water according to an extraction sequence until all the coffee has been extracted, and detects the swelling of coffee powder so that the coffee does not overflow from the coffee extractor. Automatically adjusts to automatically extract a stable coffee that does not change in taste even if the number of cups changes, and even during automatic hot water extraction, the user can optionally add additional hot water for steaming. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric water heater with a coffee extraction function to which a manual hot water function is added.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the electric water heater of the present invention comprises a water heater container that heats and retains hot water, a hot water discharge means that discharges hot water in the hot water container from a hot water outlet, and manually operates the hot water means. A hot water switch, an automatic hot water control means for controlling the hot water means to automatically pour hot water into a coffee extractor installed immediately below the hot water outlet, and a coffee extractor for detecting that the coffee extractor is installed A detection means, an extraction start switch for starting the extraction of coffee dedicated to coffee extraction, and an extraction surface detection means for measuring the distance to the coffee powder surface, the automatic hot water control means, the extraction start switch is turned on, When the coffee extractor detection means detects the set of the coffee extractor, the first drip process for hot water for steaming and the hot water for steaming are entrusted. Detected by the extraction surface detecting means, a manual extraction process that can supply additional hot water, a steaming process that stops steaming and steaming, and a second drip process that performs main extraction. Based on the distance, the hot water flow rate, the hot water time, and the hot water timing of the hot water discharge means are automatically controlled, and the amount of hot water poured in the manual hot water discharge process is corrected to be excluded from the hot water amount automatically controlled. Even if you do not keep pressing the tapping switch, you can automatically pour hot water according to the extraction sequence until all the coffee has been extracted, so that you can easily brew delicious and stable coffee every time and detect the swelling of the coffee powder. Since the hot water flow rate is adjusted, the coffee can be prevented from overflowing from the coffee extractor. Also, if the method of pouring hot water for steaming is not uniform to the powder, you can manually add steam for hot water along the way and pour it uniformly into the powder, so the coffee concentration It is possible to extract coffee with less variation in taste.

  The electric water heater according to the present invention automatically discharges the hot water according to the extraction sequence until all the coffee has been extracted, and can easily squeeze delicious delicious coffee every time regardless of the number of cups. The flow rate is adjusted so that coffee does not overflow from the coffee extractor. In addition, if the method of pouring hot water for steaming is not uniform, additional hot water can be added manually during the process, making it easier to extract coffee that can further suppress fluctuations in coffee concentration and taste each time. An electric water heater with a function can be provided.

Configuration diagram of electric water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Sectional view of extraction surface detection means of the same electric water heater The figure which shows the operation part of the powder surface height adjustment means of the electric water heater

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kettle container for boiling and keeping hot water, a tapping means for tapping hot water in the tapping container from a tapping outlet, a tapping switch for manually operating the tapping means, and a position directly below the tapping outlet. An automatic hot water control means for controlling the hot water means for automatically pouring hot water into the installed coffee extractor, a coffee extractor detecting means for detecting that the coffee extractor is installed, and a hot water dedicated to coffee extraction An extraction start switch for starting, and an extraction surface detection means for measuring the distance to the coffee powder surface, wherein the automatic hot water control means is turned on when the extraction start switch is turned on, and the coffee extractor detection means is a set of coffee extractors. , A first drip process for pouring hot water for steaming, a manual hot water process for optionally adding additional hot water for steaming, Based on the steaming process in which the hot water is stopped and steamed, the coffee extraction sequence configured in the second drip process in which the main extraction is performed, and the distance detected by the extraction surface detecting means, The system automatically controls the hot water discharge time and the hot water discharge timing, and corrects the amount of hot water poured in the manual hot water discharge process so that it is excluded from the amount of hot water automatically controlled. Since the hot water can be discharged automatically according to the extraction sequence until all of the coffee is extracted, a stable and delicious coffee is easily brewed every time, and the amount of discharged coffee is detected and the flow rate of the hot water is adjusted so that the coffee can be removed from the coffee extractor. Can be prevented from overflowing. Also, if the method of pouring hot water for steaming is not uniform to the powder, you can manually add steam for hot water along the way and pour it uniformly into the powder, so the coffee concentration It is possible to extract coffee with less variation in taste.

  In the second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the automatic hot water control means of the first aspect of the invention, the maximum powder level when the coffee powder measured by the extraction surface detection unit swells does not exceed a preset powder level. The amount of discharged water is controlled so that the amount of discharged water is not suppressed when the swelling of the coffee powder is small, and the amount of discharged water is prevented so that the coffee does not overflow from the coffee extractor only when the swelling of the coffee powder is large. In addition to preventing the coffee from overflowing from the coffee extractor, the hot water can be discharged so as not to reduce the extraction speed as much as possible, so that it is possible to put in a delicious coffee with less mischief due to long-time extraction.

  In particular, the third invention is provided with a powder surface height adjusting means for changing the set powder surface height of the second invention, and is bulging due to differences in freshness and amount of coffee powder actually used. In addition, since the set powder surface height can be arbitrarily changed, the brewing amount of the coffee powder can be changed to the desired height, so that the extraction speed can be changed to adjust the coffee to the desired taste.

  The fourth aspect of the invention is the electric water heater of the third aspect of the invention, in which the powder level height to be selected is displayed in the vicinity of the powder level height adjusting means in association with the freshness of the coffee. When the freshness of the coffee is poor, the powder level is set low, and when the coffee powder is good, the powder level is set high, so the user can adjust the powder level. Even if you don't think directly, setting only the freshness of the coffee will suppress fluctuations in the coffee extraction speed, so you can add delicious coffee with a stable taste.

  In particular, the electric water heater according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention includes cup number selection means for selecting the number of coffee cups to be extracted, and the automatic tapping control means is configured to select the number of cups. When the number of cups selected by the means is less than or equal to the predetermined number of cups, the hot water temperature in the kettle container is discharged at a temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature. When the number of cups is small, the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature. Since hot water can be discharged and the extraction rate can be increased, it is possible to avoid the extraction of tasteless coffee.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, the electric water heater according to any one of the first to fourth aspects includes a cup number selection means for selecting the number of coffee cups to be extracted, and the automatic hot water control means is the cup number selection means. When the selected number of cups is equal to or less than the predetermined number of cups, the steaming time of the steaming process is increased. When the number of cups is small, the steaming time is increased, so that swelling of the powder can be promoted. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the tasteless coffee having a light taste when the coffee powder is small.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, the electric water heater according to any one of the first to fourth aspects includes a cup number selection means for selecting the number of coffee cups to be extracted, and the automatic hot water control means is the cup number selection means. When the number of selected cups is less than the predetermined number of cups, a second steaming process is added during the second drip process, and when the number of cups is small, a steaming time is added during the second drip process. Therefore, the swelling of the powder can be further promoted. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the tasteless coffee having a light taste when the coffee powder is small.

  In an eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, the electric water heater according to any one of the first to seventh aspects includes a concentration selection means for selecting the concentration of coffee to be extracted, and the automatic tapping control means is selected by the concentration selection means. Depending on the concentration, the hot water in the kettle container is changed and discharged.For example, when the selected concentration is high, the hot water in the kettle container is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher. If extraction is performed using hot water, the extraction rate can be increased and the resulting coffee concentration can be further increased.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, the electric water heater according to any one of the first to seventh aspects includes concentration selection means for selecting the concentration of coffee to be extracted, and the automatic hot water control means is selected by the concentration selection means. Depending on the concentration, the steaming time of the steaming process is increased or decreased. For example, when the selected concentration is high, the steaming time can be increased by increasing the steaming time. Therefore, the coffee extraction rate is increased, and the finished coffee concentration can be further increased.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, the electric water heater according to any one of the first to seventh aspects includes a concentration selection means for selecting a concentration of coffee to be extracted, and the automatic tapping control means has a concentration selected by the concentration selection means. When selected high, a second steaming process is added during the second drip process.When the selected concentration is high, the steaming time is added to the second drip for extraction. Swelling can be further promoted. Therefore, the coffee extraction rate is increased, and the finished coffee concentration can be further increased.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an extraction surface detection means of the electric water heater, and FIG. 3 is a powder level height adjusting means of the electric water heater. It is an operation part.

  1-3, 1 is a water heater container that boils hot water and keeps it warm. The hot water means 3 is composed of a hot water motor 3a and a hot water pump 3b. When the hot water means 3 is operated, hot water is poured into the coffee extractor 9 from the hot water outlet 2.

  The extraction start switch 5 is a switch that starts a hot water for coffee extraction installed in an operation unit (not shown) of the electric water heater.

  The cup number selection means 7 is a switch for selecting any one of 1 cup to 5 cups. The density selection means 8 is a switch for selecting whether to make the coffee density thicker or lighter than the standard. The coffee extractor detecting means 10 is composed of a magnet 10a attached to the coffee extractor 9 and a reed switch 10b attached to the inside of the electric water heater body 15, and the magnet 10a and the reed switch 10b are in contact with or close to each other. Then, the contact (not shown) of the reed switch 10b is turned on, and it can be detected that the coffee extractor 9 is installed in the electric water heater body 15.

  The extraction surface detection means 6 is an infrared sensor composed of an infrared light emitting diode 6a and a phototransistor 6b. As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 6a It is installed so as to return to the phototransistor 6b after being reflected by the powder surface. Further, since the distance between the coffee powder surface and the photodiode 6b is measured based on the reflectance, the amount of coffee powder stored in the coffee extractor 9 and the swelling of the powder during extraction can be detected.

  In FIG. 3, the powder surface height adjustment means 11 installed in the operation part of the electric water heater is shown. In the present embodiment, the powder surface height can be selected from three types of “high”, “medium”, and “low”. When the powder surface height is selected to be “high”, the powder surface during extraction is detected by the extraction surface detection means 6 so that the powder surface height is about 1 cm above the upper end surface of the coffee extractor 9. At the time of expansion, the driving of the hot water motor 3a is interrupted. Similarly, when the powder surface height is selected as “medium”, the same height as the upper end surface of the coffee extractor 9 and when the powder surface height is selected as “low”, the top of the coffee extractor 9 is selected. The height is about 1 cm lower than the end face.

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

  First, the user uses the cup number selection means 7 to select and set the number of cups to be extracted from 1 to 5 cups. Next, the density selection means 8 selects from “come”, “standard” or “light”.

  Then, when the extraction start switch 5 is turned on, the automatic hot water control means 4 starts hot water discharge in accordance with an extraction sequence stored in advance. The extraction sequence is shown in (Table 1).

  As shown in Table 1, in the present embodiment, it is composed of a first drip process for extracting hot water for steaming, a steaming process, and a second drip process for extracting hot water for extracting a specified amount of coffee. The time for driving the hot water motor 3a and the intermittent on / off duty and the time for the steaming process in which the hot water motor 3a is stopped and steamed are stored in advance in the automatic hot water control means 4 according to the number of cups and the selected concentration. Has been.

  For example, when the number of cups selected by the cup number selection means 7 is 2 cups and the density selected by the density selection means 8 is small, the sequence 123 of Table 1 is selected. First, in the first drip process, the hot water motor 3a is turned on for 3 seconds.

  In the present embodiment, since about 20 ml of hot water is discharged per second when the hot water motor 3a is driven, about 60 ml of hot water is discharged in 3 seconds. At this stage, the automatic hot water control means 4 temporarily stops its operation, and gives a notification for 10 seconds to prompt the user to confirm how the hot water is poured into the powder in the first drip process. During this 10 seconds, the hot water switch 3c that has been disabled during automatic hot water extraction by the extraction start switch 5 can be accepted.

  In general, when the user puts the powder in the coffee extractor 9 in a biased manner or when a hot water flow path is formed in a part of the powder, the steaming hot water poured in the first drip process is used. Often it is not evenly poured into the powder. Even if steaming is performed in such a state, the concentration and taste of the coffee may change significantly because the whole powder does not become steamed. For this reason, in this embodiment, the user confirms how the steaming hot water is poured, and if it is not sufficient, the user can operate the hot water switch 3c to arbitrarily add hot water.

  Next, in the steaming step, the hot water motor 3a is turned off for 60 seconds. When the steaming is finished, the process proceeds to the second drip process, and the hot water extraction motor 3a is driven at an intermittent duty cycle of 2 seconds on and 10 seconds off until the total on-time reaches 12 seconds to extract hot coffee. Do. Here, if the user remembers that the additional hot water after the first drip process has been performed for 3 seconds, the total time of the second drip process is decreased by 3 seconds and changed to 9 seconds to control the final finished amount not to increase. .

When the number of cups is 2 cups or less and when selecting the number of cups, the second drip hot water is steamed again when half of the total time has elapsed. 2 steaming processes are performed. This is to allow more time for steaming so that the hot water penetrates into the powder.If the number of cups is small, the extraction will be completed before the powder is sufficiently swollen and the extraction rate is improved. This is to prevent it from becoming.

  It is also effective when you want to make it difficult. During the second drip process, when the swelling of the coffee powder surface exceeds the height selected by the powder surface height adjusting means 11, the hot water is temporarily stopped. When the powder level is below the selected height again, the hot water is resumed. In this way, automatic extraction is performed so that coffee does not overflow from the coffee extractor 9.

  The coffee powder has a large bulge when hot water is poured immediately after roasting and crushing the beans, and the bulge is smaller as the storage time after the powder is made is longer because the gas in the powder is released. Therefore, as a guideline for adjusting the powder surface height, it is “high” when the powder is within 3 days of bean grinding, “medium” when it is within 1 week of bean grinding, and “low” when it is 1 week or more of bean grinding. "Is displayed so that it may be selected. Fresh powder is easy to swell, so if the powder level is lowered, the powder level reaches the set height with a small amount of hot water, and the extraction speed is slowed down, resulting in a fine coffee.

  In addition, since the coffee powder that has passed the time does not swell, if the powder surface height is increased, even if a large amount of tapping water is used, the powder surface height is not reached, so that the extraction speed is increased and thin coffee is completed. As described above, by adjusting the powder surface height, it is possible to prevent the coffee from overflowing from the coffee extractor 9 and to always discharge the hot water immediately before it overflows. You can add a refreshing coffee with little taste. Conversely, if you adjust the powder height to your liking, you can easily add dark coffee with a bitter taste.

  In addition, by making it possible to adjust the powder level based on the freshness of the coffee, the user can adjust the powder level sensuously, so even if the freshness of the coffee powder changes, the coffee concentration remains stable. Can be extracted. In this way, automatic extraction is performed, and when the second drip process is completed, the fact that the hot water has been discharged is notified by a piezoelectric buzzer (not shown).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the automatic hot water control means 4 determines the hot water flow rate, the hot water time, and the hot water timing of the hot water means 3 based on the predetermined coffee extraction sequence and the measurement distance of the extraction surface detection means 6. By automatically controlling, it is possible to automatically pour hot water according to the extraction sequence until all the coffee has been extracted without having to hold down the tapping switch 3c. You can check the level of steaming hot water and manually add additional hot water.

  In addition, since the amount of hot water discharged is adjusted by detecting the swelling of the coffee powder, the coffee can be prevented from overflowing from the coffee extractor 9, and the hot water can always be discharged immediately before overflowing to increase the extraction speed. Because it can, you can put in a clean coffee with little miscellaneous taste. In addition, if the powder surface height is adjusted as desired, coffee can be added to the desired taste. Moreover, by making it possible to adjust the powder surface height with reference to the freshness of the coffee, even if the freshness of the coffee powder changes, it can be extracted with a stable coffee concentration.

Further, in this embodiment, the temperature of hot water used for coffee extraction is set to a standard of 3 cups or more as shown in Table 1, and thin is 93 ° C. or higher. I try to get out with the above hot water. In addition, the standard of 2 cups or less, the thinness is set to 95 ° C. or higher, and the sweetfish is discharged by hot water of 97 ° C. or higher, which is 2 ° C. higher. The higher the hot water temperature at the time of extraction, the higher the extraction rate. Therefore, the hot water temperature at 2 cups or less is set higher than at 3 cups or more. In addition, the hot water temperature is set higher than the standard, light, even at the time of Komei. Therefore, when the extraction start switch 5 is turned on, if the set hot water temperature of each extraction sequence is not reached, the automatic hot water control means 4 does not start the hot water until the hot water is heated and the set hot water temperature is reached. Then, when the boiling is completed and the set hot water temperature is reached, the hot water is started in accordance with the extraction sequence.

  As described above, when the hot water temperature in the kettle 1 is lower than the predetermined temperature, the automatic hot water control means 4 starts the coffee extraction sequence after boiling the water until the predetermined temperature is reached, thereby ensuring the proper temperature. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the coffee concentration from fluctuating depending on the number of cups. In addition, it is easy to extract frequently.

  As described above, since the electric water heater according to the present invention can automatically perform hot water suitable for coffee extraction, it can also be applied to uses such as a heated extractor for beverages.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water container 2 Hot water outlet 3 Hot water means 4 Automatic hot water control means 5 Extraction start switch 6 Extraction surface detection means 7 Cup number selection means 8 Concentration selection means 9 Coffee extractor 10 Coffee extractor detection means 11 Powder surface height adjustment means

Claims (10)

A hot water container for boiling and keeping hot water, a hot water discharge means for discharging the hot water in the hot water container from a hot water outlet, a hot water switch for manually operating the hot water means, and a coffee extractor installed immediately below the hot water outlet Automatic tapping control means for controlling the tapping means for automatically pouring hot water, coffee extractor detecting means for detecting that the coffee extractor is installed, and an extraction start switch for starting tapping water dedicated to coffee extraction And an extraction surface detecting means for measuring the distance to the coffee powder surface. The automatic hot water control means is for steaming when the extraction start switch is turned on and the coffee extractor detecting means detects a set of coffee extractors. First drip process to pour hot water, manual hot pour process that can add additional hot water for steaming, and stop hot water Based on the coffee extraction sequence configured in the steaming process for performing the brewing, the second drip process for performing the main extraction, and the distance detected by the extraction surface detecting means, the tapping flow rate, tapping time, tapping timing of the tapping means An electric water heater, wherein the amount of hot water poured in the manual hot water discharge step is corrected so as to be excluded from the amount of hot water automatically controlled. 2. The electric hot water control means according to claim 1, wherein the automatic hot water control means controls the hot water so that the maximum powder level when the coffee powder swells measured by the extraction surface detection means does not exceed a preset powder level height. Water heater. The electric water heater according to claim 2, further comprising powder level height adjusting means for changing the set powder level height. The electric water heater according to claim 3, wherein the powder surface height to be selected is displayed in the vicinity of the powder surface height adjustment means in association with the freshness of the coffee. A cup number selection means for selecting the number of coffee cups to be extracted is provided, and the automatic hot water control means has a predetermined hot water temperature in the kettle when the number of cups selected by the cup number selection means is less than or equal to a predetermined number of cups. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hot water is discharged at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature. Cup number selection means for selecting the number of coffee cups to be extracted is provided, and the automatic tapping control means increases the steaming time of the steaming step when the number of cups selected by the cup number selection means is equal to or less than a predetermined number of cups. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A cup number selection means for selecting the number of coffee cups to be extracted, and the automatic hot water control means, when the number of cups selected by the cup number selection means is less than or equal to the predetermined number of cups, during the second drip process, The electric water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a steaming step is added. Claims comprising: a concentration selection means for selecting the concentration of coffee to be extracted, wherein the automatic hot water control means changes the hot water temperature in the kettle according to the concentration selected by the concentration selection means. The electric water heater according to any one of 1 to 7. Concentration selection means for selecting the concentration of coffee to be extracted is provided, and the automatic tapping control means increases or decreases the steaming time of the steaming process according to the concentration selected by the concentration selection means. The electric water heater according to any one of the above. Concentration selection means for selecting the concentration of coffee to be extracted is provided, and the automatic tapping control means adds a second steaming step during the second drip step when the concentration selection means selects a high concentration. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images