JP2813315B2 - Siphon coffee maker - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a siphon type coffee maker having a heater, and more particularly, to a siphon type coffee machine capable of appropriately adjusting the timing of separating a coffee liquid after boiling from a coffee raw material. It is about the manufacturer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 10 to 12 show a conventional siphon type coffee maker equipped with a heater. In such a siphon type coffee maker, as shown in FIG.
A heater b is provided, and a siphon-shaped lower container c as shown in FIG. 12 is placed on the heater b, and water contained in the lower container c is boiled. The boiling water moves into an upper container to be described later, comes into contact with a coffee raw material contained in the upper container, and is subjected to boiling treatment to extract coffee.

In a conventional siphon-type coffee maker, the movement of hot water from the lower container c to the upper container is detected by a temperature detector d provided at the center of the heater b. As shown in FIG. 11, a temperature detecting element g pressed against the upper case by a spring e is provided in the temperature detecting section d.

The temperature detector d contacts the bottom surface h of the lower container c shown in FIG. 12 to detect the temperature of the hot water in the lower container c, thereby moving the hot water from the lower container c to the upper container. Was to be detected.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional siphon-type coffee maker with a heater does not directly detect the movement of hot water from the lower container c to the upper container. It was detected indirectly by changes in hot water temperature. For this reason, an error occurs in the detection depending on the amount and temperature of the hot water put in the lower container c.

[0006] For example, when the amount of water is small or when the temperature of the filled water is higher than the initial temperature, the relationship between the temperature of the hot water and the amount of the hot water transferred to the upper container varies, and the amount of the hot water in the lower container is reduced. For the most part, the timing of detection of the moment when it moves to the upper container is too early or too late, causing a deterioration in the taste of the finished coffee.

In order to improve the detection accuracy, a stainless steel plate is caulked on the bottom surface h of the lower container c as shown in FIG.
Efforts have been made to increase the adhesion with heater b,
A manufacturing error between the concave curved surface of the stainless steel plate and the convex curved surface of the upper surface of the heater b becomes a problem, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to directly detect the movement of hot water from the lower container to the upper container, thereby to optimize the timing for turning off the heater and to improve the quality of the finished coffee. It is to plan.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the main means adopted by the present invention is to heat water stored in a lower container by a heater provided in a coffee maker main body and supply the water to the lower container. In a siphon-type coffee maker for flowing water in a lower container into an upper container through an inserted water pipe and boiling the coffee material contained in the upper container, the siphon-type coffee maker is located above the heater and on the side of the lower container. A water amount detection sensor that is provided on the coffee maker body to be located at a lower portion and optically detects that the amount of water in the lower container has decreased to a detection level, and a water amount detection signal from the water amount detection sensor. Accordingly , the present invention provides a siphon-type coffee maker that includes a power supply control unit that controls power supply to the heater.

[0010]

When the water in the lower container is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the heater is continuously energized by the signal from the water amount detection sensor to heat the water and move the hot water from the lower container to the upper container. Is continued. When the water in the lower container decreases to the detection level of the water amount detection sensor, the water amount detection sensor detects the reduction of water only by the light generated when the water decreases to the detection level of the receiving means, and the power supply to the heater is turned off.

As a result, the temperature of the lower container decreases, and the coffee liquid from which the coffee is extracted is returned to the lower container. Since the amount of water remaining in the lower container is directly detected in this way, it is possible to optimize the timing of stopping the power supply to the heater.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the whole siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a mounting state of a water amount detection sensor in the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a change in water level in the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of an improved mounting position of a water amount detection sensor in a siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a siphon type coffee machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing another mounting state of the water amount detection sensor of the coffee maker, FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a light beam passing state in the water amount detection sensor shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a view shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the water level and light transmittance in a water amount detection sensor.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a water amount detection sensor in a siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 uses a water amount detection sensor in a siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows a water amount detection procedure. The following embodiments are merely examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

First, a schematic configuration of a siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a coffee maker main body, which is provided with a heater 2 on an upper surface of a central portion. The lower container 3 heated by the heater 2 has a siphon shape and stores water to be heated. The upper container 4 set in the lower container 3 integrally has a water pipe 5 to be inserted into the lower container 3.

A filter 7 is attached to the inlet of the water pipe 5 by a wire 6 with a spring to separate the coffee liquid flowing from the upper container 4 into the lower container 3 and the coffee raw material contained in the upper container 4. I do. The lower container 3 is made of a transparent material such as transparent glass.

In this embodiment, as a method for determining whether or not water has moved from the lower container 3 to the upper container 4, the amount of light transmitted through the lower container 3 is detected. In other words, it utilizes the fact that the amount of transmitted light is significantly changed depending on the presence or absence of water in the lower container 3 by utilizing the refraction or reflection of light when traveling in water.

Therefore, in this embodiment, on the upper surface of the coffee maker main body 1 , that is, on the lower side of the lower container 3,
In order to position, the light emitting unit 8 having light-emitting diodes D ₁
And an optical water amount detection sensor comprising a light receiving section 9 having a phototransistor Tr ₁ are provided so as to face each other with the center of the heater 2 interposed therebetween. Light detection circuit according to the light emitting diode D ₁ and the phototransistor Tr ₁ is shown in FIG.

In an embodiment based on such a structure, FIG.
As shown in (a), when a predetermined amount or more of water is present in the lower container 3, the light emitted from the light emitting section 8 travels through the water in the lower container 3. The light is reflected and does not reach the light receiving unit 9 at all. Therefore, FIG.
The emitter and collector of the phototransistor Tr ₁ shown in - between the voltage V ₁ is equal to the applied voltage Vcc. Therefore,
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the energization of the heater 2 is continued.

When the water in the lower container 3 is heated in this way, the lower container 3 is gradually heated by the vapor pressure in the lower container 3.
The water inside is pushed up into the upper container 4 through the water pipe 5, and the water level of the lower container 3 decreases. Fig. 3
As shown in (b), when the light is lower than the detection line 1 connecting the centers of the light emitting unit 8 and the light receiving unit 9, the light passing through the lower container 3 does not pass through the water, and the phototransistor Tr ₁ shown in FIG. during voltages V ₁ is lower than the applied voltage Vcc - emitter and collector of. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the power supply to the heater 2 is stopped, and the lower container 3 is cooled.

The light emitting section 8 and the light receiving section 9 in the above embodiment are configured as shown in FIG. That is, the light emitting diode D ₁ forming the main part of the light emitting part 8 and the phototransistor Tr ₁ forming the main part of the light receiving part 9 are both housed in the cover 8 a and the cover 9 a formed integrally with the coffee maker main body 1. These elements are configured so that they do not hit an external object and have earthquake resistance.

In particular, the phototransistor Tr ₁ in the light receiving section 9 is formed by the closing cylinder 1 formed by the cover 9 a.
Provided within 0, by the shielding閉筒10 is directed to the light emitting diode D _1, the phototransistor T
r ₁ receives only light from the light emitting diode D ₁ , and other disturbance light is blocked by the blocking cylinder 10 as a receiving means, thereby preventing adverse effects due to disturbance.

In the above embodiment, the detection line 1 connecting the light emitting portion 8 and the light receiving portion 9 is described as passing through the center of the heater 2. In some cases, the line 1 intersects the water pipe 3. For this reason, there is a possibility that the detection accuracy decreases due to the detection light passing through the hot water in the water pipe 5.
In the water amount detection device shown in FIG.
The light emitting section 8 and the light receiving section 9 are attached to one side so that the detection line l toward the center does not pass through the center of the heater 2. Thereby, the influence of the water pipe 5 can be eliminated.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the core of the light emitting diode D ₁ , which is the main part of the light emitting unit, and the center of the phototransistor Tr ₁ , which is the main part of the light receiving unit, are shifted in the vertical direction, so that This is to prevent adverse effects due to reflection. That is, when the light emitting diode D ₁ and the phototransistor Tr ₁ are mounted at the same level when viewed in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 13, the lower container 3 reaches the water level as shown in FIG.
When the water of the inner went decreases, part of the light from the light emitting diode D ₁ is reflected or totally reflected to the water surface, the phototransistor Tr ₁ becomes conductive.

As a result, erroneous detection occurs as if the level of water in the lower container 3 had dropped to the detection level. FIG. 14 shows a change in light transmittance due to such total reflection. Figure peak P ₁ indicates the effect of reflection or total reflection at the water surface.

On the other hand, the heights of the light emitting part and the light receiving part are shown in FIG.
When shifted as shown, the light totally reflected on the water surface as shown in FIG. 6 is blocked by the閉筒10 shielding, so that hardly reach the phototransistor Tr _1. And
Only when the water surface drops to the level L ₁ (FIG. 6) so that light from the light emitting diode D ₁ is directly incident on the phototransistor Tr ₁ via the shielding cylinder 10, the light transmittance increases and the phototransistor Tr ₁ The voltage between the emitter and collector drops significantly. Therefore, in this case, FIG.
Permeability of the peak P ₁ is not generated as shown in (Fig. 7).

[0027]

According to the siphon-type coffee maker of the present invention, the water amount detecting sensor for optically detecting that the amount of water in the lower container has decreased to the detection level is located above the heater and at the side of the lower container. Since it is located in the lower part of the coffee maker, it can detect the movement of water in the lower container quickly and accurately, and the detection error due to the initial temperature of water in the lower container and its amount etc. This does not occur at all, and therefore, the power supply to the heater can always be stopped at an appropriate time, the quality of the finished coffee can always be kept high, and the water amount detection sensor can be provided stably and compactly. , Can reliably prevent adverse effects due to external vibrations and the like when detecting the amount of water, and even if the installation state of the lower container is slightly poor.
Accurately detects changes in the water level in the lower part of the container with the water amount detection sensor
And therefore always have the heater at the right time.
The energization to be performed can be reliably stopped at this point as well .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an entire siphon-type coffee maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a mounting state of a water amount detection sensor in the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a change in water level in a siphon-type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of an improved mounting position of the water amount detection sensor in the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing another mounting state of the water amount detection sensor of the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a light beam passing state in the water amount detection sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a water level and light transmittance in the water amount detection sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a water amount detection sensor in the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a water amount detection procedure using a water amount detection sensor in the siphon type coffee maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a coffee maker main body of a conventional siphon type coffee maker.

11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a temperature detecting unit provided in the coffee maker main body illustrated in FIG.

12 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a conventional lower container placed on the coffee maker main body shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the progress of light when the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged at the same level in the vertical direction.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the relationship between the water level and the light transmittance indicating the progress of light when the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged at the same level in the vertical direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 coffee body 2 Heater 3 lower chamber 4 the upper container 5 water communicating tube 8 light-emitting section 8a cover 9 receiving portion 9a cover 10 shielding閉筒D ₁ light emitting diode Tr ₁ phototransistor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naofumi Kondo 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (56) References JP-A-49-112772 (JP, A) JP-A-60- 179021 (JP, A) JP-A-59-209318 (JP, A) JP-A-54-114374 (JP, A) JP-A-62-23522 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁶ , DB name) A47J 31/00-31/60

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heater provided in a main body of a coffee maker heats water stored in a lower container, and causes water in the lower container to flow into an upper container through a water pipe inserted into the lower container. in siphon coffee maker to handle boiled coffee raw material accommodated in, above than the heater, and under side of the lower chamber
A water amount detection sensor that is provided in the coffee maker main body to be located at the portion , and optically detects that the amount of water in the lower container has decreased to a detection level, and a water amount detection signal from the water amount detection sensor. And a power supply control means for controlling power supply to the heater accordingly.