JP3052672B2 - Coffee extractor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulatingly heated drip coffee extractor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a coffee extractor with an electric mill that can automatically grind coffee beans, the coffee beans contained in a hopper are sent to a mill containing a cutter, and the high speed of the cutter is used. It is ground by rotation to be coffee powder and stored in the extractor. On the other hand, the water in the water storage tank was heated by a heater, pumped by the steam pressure generated at this time, and was mostly extracted by the mill and the extractor.

[0003] A conventional coffee extractor will be described below. FIG. 3 shows a conventional coffee extractor and a hopper 1.
Is sent to the mill 3 containing the cutter 2 and is ground by the high-speed rotation of the cutter 2 to be coffee powder and stored in the extractor 4.

On the other hand, the water in the water storage tank 5 is sent to a heater 8 of a main body 7 through a check valve 6, and is heated and pressurized to rise in a hot water supply passage 9. The tip of this hot water supply channel 9 is 2
The water is branched into two, one of which is set as a circulation path 10 to the water storage tank 5 and the other is set as a hot water path 12 to a hot water outlet 11.

[0005] The hot water from the tap hole 11 is supplied to the coffee powder to which the filter is attached to extract coffee liquid.
The coffee liquid is received by the container 13 and is kept warm by the heater 8.

The hot water rising in the hot water supply path 9 is switched by the flow path switching means 14 so as to flow selectively to the circulation path 10 or the tapping path 12.

A water temperature detector 15 such as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the hot water in the water storage tank 5 is provided in a water channel system below the water storage tank 5.

In the above configuration, when the temperature of the hot water in the water storage tank 5 is low, the hot water in the hot water supply path 9 flows to the circulation path 10 by the flow path switching means 14. Therefore, the hot water in the water storage tank 5 is heated by the heater 8 while circulating and flowing, and the temperature gradually rises.

When the temperature of the hot water in the water storage tank 5 reaches the set temperature, the hot water temperature detector 15 detects the hot water and the flow path switching means 14 responds to the hot water. Is poured into the coffee powder stored in the container 13 and the coffee is extracted into the container 13.

[0010]

However, in the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional coffee extractor, hot water is simply poured into the extractor 4 at the time of extraction, so that the extraction required for more delicious coffee extraction is performed. There was no fine control over time.

Further, in the case of a coffee extractor with an electric mill, since the oil of coffee beans sticks in the mill 3 after use, frequent care is required. On the other hand, when pouring hot water into the extractor 4 at the time of coffee extraction, the cutter 2 was rotated to wash the inside of the mill 3 in a shower state, and washing was performed by dropping. The noise was high and the washing itself was insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. In addition to extracting delicious coffee by performing fine extraction control at the time of extraction, a coffee extractor which is easy to use by improving the washing effect in the mill is provided. The purpose is to provide.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water storage tank, a water temperature detecting means for detecting a water temperature in the water storage tank, and a check valve. A heater that heats the water supplied from the water storage tank and sends it out to the hot water supply path; ,
Flow path switching means for flowing hot water from a hot water supply path to a circulation path or a hot water path according to the water temperature in the water storage tank; an extractor provided corresponding to the hot water outlet and having a filter; A container for receiving the extracted coffee liquid, wherein the heater is provided with control means for controlling the input thereof, and the control means controls the input value of the heater in the latter half of tapping.
Coffee controlled to be set lower than the first half
Let it be an extractor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mill including a cutter driven by a motor, a water storage tank, a water temperature detecting means for detecting a water temperature in the water storage tank, and the water storage via a check valve. A heater that heats the water supplied from the tank and sends it out to the hot water supply path, and a circulation path and a hot water supply path branched from the hot water supply path, one of which is guided to the water storage tank, and the other is guided to the hot water outlet, respectively. Flow path switching means for flowing hot water from a hot water supply path to a circulation path or a hot water path according to the water temperature in the water storage tank; control means for controlling an input of the motor; An extractor having a filter for accommodating coffee grounds crushed in a mill, and a container for receiving the coffee liquid extracted by the extractor, wherein the control means taps the flow path by the flow path switching means. Fixed time delay after switching to road It has been is obtained by controlling so as to drive the motor.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect , the rotational speed of the motor is temporarily reduced until a predetermined time is reached after the flow path is formed in the tapping path by the flow path switching means. Controlled.

[0016]

[Action]

[0017] In the first means of the present invention, the input control means of the heater controls the latter half of the tapping so that the input value of the heater is set lower than that of the first half. Even so, coffee extraction can be reliably continued without being heated more than necessary.

Further, in the second means of the present invention, by controlling the motor to be driven with a certain time delay after switching the flow path to the hot water path by the flow path switching means, the motor is wasted immediately after the extraction. There is no rotation.

Further, in the third means of the present invention, coffee is controlled by temporarily reducing the number of revolutions of the motor until a predetermined time is reached after the flow path is formed by the flow path switching means by the flow path switching means. It is possible to reduce the noise caused by the motor when cleaning the inside of the mill at the time of extraction.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a hopper for accommodating coffee beans disposed on a main body 17;
A mill 20 including a cutter 19 attached to a motor 18 is provided in connection with 6. An extractor 22 equipped with a filter 21 is detachably provided on the lower surface of the mill 20, and the coffee powder crushed by the mill 20 is stored in the extractor 22.

On the other hand, reference numeral 23 denotes a water storage tank mounted on the main body 17, and a water temperature detector 24 such as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the water in the water storage tank 23 is disposed below the water storage tank 23. . Then, the water in the water storage tank 23 is sent to the heater 26 of the main body 17 via the check valve 25, and is heated and pressurized to rise in the hot water supply passage 27. The end of the hot water supply path 27 is branched into two paths, one of which is set as a circulation path 28 and the other is set as a hot water path 30 to a hot water outlet 29.

The hot water rising in the hot water supply path 27 is switched by the flow path switching means 31 so as to flow selectively to the circulation path 28 or the tapping path 30.

The flow path switching means 31 is configured such that its flow path is switched by the operation of an actuator 32 such as a solenoid.

The operation of the actuator 32 corresponds to the output information from the hot water temperature detector 24, and an ON-OFF control means 33 for that purpose is provided.

Further, the amount of water in the water storage tank 23 is estimated by performing arithmetic processing by the water amount estimating circuit 35 based on the information from the hot water temperature detector 24, and the first note before "Mura" during coffee extraction. The amount of hot water and the "mura" time correspond to this.

The heater 26 is provided with input control means 34 for controlling its input, and the motor 18 is provided with rotation control means 36 for controlling the rotation thereof to control the number of rotations of the motor 18.

In the above configuration, the coffee beans accommodated in the hopper 16 are supplied to a mill 20 containing a cutter 19.
And is ground by the rotation of the cutter 19 to become coffee powder and is incorporated in the extractor 22.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the hot water in the water storage tank 23 is low, the high temperature signal is not output from the hot water temperature detector 24, and the actuator 32 does not operate. Therefore, the flow path switching means 31
Flows the hot water in the hot water supply path 27 to the circulation path 28. Therefore, the hot water in the water storage tank 23 is heated by the heater 26 while circulating and flowing, and the temperature gradually rises (circulation step).

Thereafter, when the hot water temperature detector 24 detects a set temperature, for example, 70 ° C., the hot water temperature detector 24 outputs a high temperature signal, and the actuator 32 operates according to this signal. Therefore, this time, the flow path switching means 31 causes the hot water in the hot water supply path 27 to flow into the hot water supply path 30, and extracts the coffee liquid (extraction step). The coffee liquid is received by the container 37 and is kept warm by the heater 26.

During the extraction step, the motor 18 is energized, so that the hot water is dispersed by the rotational energy of the cutter 19 attached to the motor 18 and enters a shower state to collide with the inner wall surface of the mill 20. The inner wall surface of the mill 20 is dropped onto the extractor 22 while being washed (washing step).

At this time, energization of the motor 18 is performed with a certain time delay from the start of the extraction process.

This is because immediately after the flow path is switched to the hot water path 30 by the flow path switching means 31, the hot water flowing out of the hot water path 27 needs to pass through the hot water path 30 and the hopper 16 in order to reach the mill 20. There is a time delay. As a result, the motor 18 immediately after extraction can be rotated efficiently without unnecessary rotation.

After the extraction step is started and a small amount of hot water is poured into the coffee powder, the flow path switching means 31 returns the flow path to the circulation path 2 again.
8 to perform the "blurring" of the coffee powder for a predetermined time (blurring step).

By providing this "Mura" step,
By swelling the coffee powder, it is easy to extract the delicious components of the coffee, and the subsequent coffee extraction can be made delicious.

In addition, the most suitable for each amount of water "
The amount of hot water and the time of "Murashi" can be set, which can contribute to more delicious coffee extraction.

In the extraction step, the input value of the heater 26 is set lower in the extraction process than in the first half by the control means 33 of the heater 26.

Thus, even if the amount of hot water in the water storage tank 23 decreases due to the extraction, the coffee can be stably extracted until the end without excessive heating.

Further, control is performed so that the number of revolutions of the motor 18 is temporarily reduced from the start of the extraction process until a predetermined time is reached.

This is because the motor 18 during the washing process does not need to rotate at high speed as in the case of pulverizing coffee beans, and only needs to make the flowing hot water into a shower.
This can reduce the noise caused by the motor 18 when cleaning the inside of the mill 20 during the extraction process, and at all discomfort to the user even if the motor 18 is rotated for a longer time to perform cleaning. It is also possible to improve the cleaning effect without imparting water.

In this embodiment, a coffee extractor with an electric mill is used. However, a coffee extractor that can set coffee powder into the extractor 22 without an electric mill in the "Murasushi" step or the like. I just need. Further, in the present embodiment, the hot water temperature detector 24 is arranged in the water channel system, but the arrangement position is not limited. For example, the hot water detector 24 may be installed in the water storage tank 23 and operated.

Further, steaming time is not limited to those hot water temperature detector 24 is to estimate to determine the amount of water reservoir 23 from time to reach a predetermined temperature as in the present embodiment, for example, the body 17 Attach the "Murashi" time setting button to
It may be manually operated such that the user selects it.

[0043]

As is clear from the above embodiment, the present invention
In the first invention, the input value of the heater in the latter half of the extraction
By setting the lower than the first half,
Coffee extraction.

Further, in the second aspect of the present invention, by controlling the motor so as to rotate the motor with a certain time delay after the flow path switching means forms the flow path to the tapping path, waste of the motor immediately after extraction is achieved. This prevents unnecessary idle rotation, improves the durability of the motor, and eliminates unnecessary electricity.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the noise caused by the motor when cleaning the inside of the mill at the time of extracting coffee and to improve the cleaning effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a coffee extractor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the coffee extractor.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional coffee extractor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 16 hopper 18 motor 19 cutter 20 mill 22 extractor 23 water storage tank 24 hot water temperature detector 25 check valve 26 heater 27 hot water supply path 28 circulation path 29 tap hole 30 tapping path 31 flow path switching means 32 actuator 33 ON-OFF control Means 34 Input control means 35 Water amount estimation circuit 36 Rotation control means 37 Container

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-197415 (JP, A) JP-A-61-280815 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 31/42 A47J 31/057

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water storage tank, a water temperature detecting means for detecting a water temperature in the water storage tank, a heater for heating water supplied from the water storage tank via a check valve and sending the water to a hot water supply path, A branch line from the hot water supply path, a circulation path and a hot water path, one of which is led to a water storage tank and the other of which is directed to a hot water outlet, and a hot water from the hot water supply path according to the water temperature in the water storage tank. Flow path switching means for flowing to the path, an extractor provided corresponding to the tap hole, having an extractor having a filter, and a container for receiving the coffee liquid extracted by the extractor; Control means for controlling, wherein the control means
In the latter half of hot water supply, the input value of the heater
Coffee extractor controlled to be set lower . 2. A mill containing a cutter driven by a motor, a water storage tank, water temperature detecting means for detecting a water temperature in the water storage tank, and water supplied from the water storage tank via a check valve. And a heater that feeds the water to the hot water supply path, a branch path from the hot water supply path, one to the water storage tank, and the other to the circulation path and the hot water supply path respectively led to the hot water outlet, and the water temperature in the water storage tank. Flow path switching means for flowing hot water from a hot water supply path to a circulation path or a tapping path, control means for controlling the input of the motor, and a tapping port provided in correspondence with the tapping port, and pulverized in the mill. and extractor having a filter for accommodating the coffee powder, and a container for receiving the coffee liquid extracted by this extractor, the control means constant from switching the flow path to the hot water passage by the flow path switching unit Drive the motor with a time delay of A coffee extractor controlled to move. 3. The control means for controlling the input of the motor controls the motor speed to be temporarily reduced until a predetermined time is reached after the flow path is formed in the tapping path by the flow path switching means. Item 3. A coffee extractor according to Item 2 .